I HAVE A 8 MONTH OLD GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG. HE IS EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD LOOKING WITH A VERY TEMPREMENT BOTH WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. HE IS LONG HAIRED AND BLACK AND TAN. I KNOW HE IS A BIT YOUNG AT THE MOMENT BUT I WANT TO FIND OUT ALL THE INFO I CAN NOW SO AS WHEN HE IS OLDER I KNOW WHAT TO DO.

PLEASE HELP.

Start showing him and talk to his breeder. :) But don't get too excited there are lots of v.nice GSD dogs out there that people will be wanting to take their bitches to. Your boy must have all the relevant health checks and be a v.good example of the breed and showing him, and getting constructive advice/comments via judges critiques, will help you decide if he is.
Nicky

First of all have a long chat with your dog's breeder - there may be restrictions on his pedigree that would prevent him being used at stud. Then enrol in ringcraft classes and join the merry band of doggie folk at shows all over the country each week. Here you will be able to find out how your boy stacks up against others in the breed. It is unlikely that any bitch owner would want to use a stud dog that had not proved himself in the ring to be a good example of the breed. Showing is great fun and you will meet lots of like minded people as well as being able to 'show off'your dog for expert opinions. I am not sure which health checks are necessary for G.S.D's but certainly he will need to be hip scored when he is at the right age. This is done using X-rays taken under anaesthetic by your vet. And then, and only then if he passes all his health checks and proves himself in the ring and has a good pedigree behind him, it will be time to 'vet' any approaching bitches!! I am sure that others on the board will offer more advice for you to sift through!
Good luck
Jackie

Sorry to say it but you can't show a long-haired GSD. This is actually classed as a fault since the long-coat is not considered as waterproof as the short haired hence the breed standard saying short coat. Enjoy your boy all the same:) Personally I wouldn't put a dog of mine up for stud- it'd drive me mad:) It's certainly not for me;)

Stacey x x x

You can show a long haired but as if is a coat fault then you will not do that well no matter how good he is otherwise. But you could still use him for stud but you will need to do the health tests and perhaps some sort of competitive sport with him so others can see him. The long coat is not just a show ring thing a GSD realy does need a waterproof coat and a long coat however beautifull to us is not considered good enough. Ja:)kie

Agility/Obedience Perhaps?:)

Stacey x x x

A puppy is a puppy is a puppy that means he is still a baby!!!
No doubt he is a very attractive baby,still with that baby puppyish look they all have.It is a fact that all puppies however beautiful do not fulfil their early promise and grow into nice but average specimans of their breed.One way of finding this out is to show him in competion.Your first stop would be to join a local
RINGCRAFT class where you will be taught how to show him.If he is as good as you say I`m sure you will be told sooner than later.
There you can chat and find out about shows and how to enter them.Lets assume he`s a stunner and does well in the showring,then you will have to consider having his hips scored (please take advice about what age to do this from experienced breed people or the breeder of your dog).Under the K.C. and B.V.A. it can`t be done until he is 12 months old
but personally I think this is too young for a large boned breed who take longer to mature.
When all this is done and you have a show winning,
low hip scored dog(by this I mean under the breeds mean average - this varies from breed to breed),
some other exhibitors may want to use him at stud but don`t hold your breath G.S.D.`s are a numerically
large breed and there must be many healthy winning dogs who have never been used at stud.One of the main reasons being is that you are never quite sure how the dog will be once he`s been used,you can get a change in temperament and make him so that . he is constantly on the lookout for a bitch.This can be both stressful for the dog and the owner and believe me a 6ft. garden fence will be no deterent!

There`s also the question of the puppies he produces,
will you take some responsibility for them?
So you see ther is more to owning a stud dog than you think and I am sure I have not covered every consideration but enough to be going on with I think.
Regards Carole

I really should learn to read properly - I thought this topic was called My Dog ate a Stud Dog :D

Ooops

Fiona
x x x

Fiona I do that all the time and some times it is most bizarre, if thats how it's spelt.
Ja:)kie

Hi
As Kash so rightly said...you can't show a long coat in the breed ring..well you can but as the coat is considered to be a fault you won't do very well.
Saying that there are always exemption shows which are a lot of fun..great prizes !!! better than the professional shows.You will meet lots of people with long coats..no you won't ....you will meet lots of dogs with long coats :)
Firstly get your boy hip scored..check his pedigree and get as much info as poss..look into his background for faults ( hips, missing teeth, haemophillia, etc ect) and decide wether he his good enough to breed with despite his looks.Please don't be swayed by people who own a female and want a litter by your dog..make sure they have hip scored their female and know about her background.
Even the top show dogs can produce long coats so don't be too put off by remarks made about his coat, he could be extremely well bred.
Have fun :)
Tracey