German Shepherds

**DrewNE** · 25-06-2011, 07:23 PM

Hi all - I'm new to the forum and hope to be over in Melbourne by October of this year.

I want to ask a few questions but realise that they may be to specific for this forum and I may need to post elsewhere, but I'd appreciate any views or advice from here all the same.

I own German Shepherds here in the UK and with the intention of becoming a breeder, I had my 2 foundation bitches, however my plans when I got the girls had not included Australia, I had considered bringing them out to Oz, however, thought that trying to secure a rental with 2 GSD's and then breeding from them would be difficult. I have re-homed my girls into fantastic homes and am as happy as I can be that they are not coming with me but will be well looked after and loved.

I'm passionate about the breed and would like to breed myself in the future in Oz when I settled. I've looked at breeders, dogs and pups in Oz and have some questions. One of my girls was black and red but she carried the blue gene, she would produce blue, sable and possibly solid. My other girl was blue/cream she would carry blue, possibly solid and sable she also carries the liver gene.

Everywhere I have looked I have seen no Blue or Liver GSD's in Oz and I wondered if there are any owners/breeders out there that know more about this?

Thanks
Drew

**newjez** · 25-06-2011, 10:11 PM

I had a friend who had a Shepard years ago. Apparently the breed in Oz suffered from many genetic defects, (hips and such) due to the small gene pool.

I would imagine that it is easier to import dogs now due to chipping and such. Also I imagine that there are better ways of breeding, with IV and so forth.

But I think to get answers to your questions you should contact a dog club. Try the links below.

www.gsdcsa.org.au

www.gsdl.info

**Petals** · 25-06-2011, 11:23 PM

The Dog scene is big in Melbourne and every weekend http://www.dogsvictoria.org.au/About...DogCentre.aspx there is something on at KCC Park
Dog Breeding is big and there are designated areas where you can have kennels and breed or boarding kennels. Pearcedale is an area that is very popular and zoned for dogs. Acreage type properties.

If you had brought your dogs you probably could have rented a property on acreage where you could have had the dogs in this area.

German Shepherds are not as popular now as they used to be as I believe they are on the dangerous dog list. The most popular dogs these days seem to be the cross breeds of popular breeds like maltest, ****zu, labradors, snauzers, spaniels etc.

Good luck

**parleycross** · 26-06-2011, 01:29 AM

Just curious.
Do you call them German Shepards in the UK now ? Or are they Alsatians ?

**Mandy28** · 26-06-2011, 05:06 AM

Originally Posted by parleycross

Just curious.
Do you call them German Shepards in the UK now ? Or are they Alsatians ?

In the UK people still call them by both names. Although In 1977, following numerous campaigns by breeders the name of the breed was changed back to the German Shepherd Dog by which it is known in the USA, Australia, and most other countries.

***Moving 2 Melbourne*** · 26-06-2011, 05:25 AM

Originally Posted by Petals

The Dog scene is big in Melbourne and every weekend http://www.dogsvictoria.org.au/About...DogCentre.aspx there is something on at KCC Park
Dog Breeding is big and there are designated areas where you can have kennels and breed or boarding kennels. Pearcedale is an area that is very popular and zoned for dogs. Acreage type properties.

If you had brought your dogs you probably could have rented a property on acreage where you could have had the dogs in this area.

German Shepherds are not as popular now as they used to be as I believe they are on the dangerous dog list. The most popular dogs these days seem to be the cross breeds of popular breeds like maltest, ****zu, labradors, snauzers, spaniels etc.

Good luck

The KCC is a great place and they hold GSD training down there every week.
GSD's are not on the dangerous dog list as such. The Dangerous Dogs list is for any dog who is a public nuisance or threat to society, believe me there are more small breeds on there than large dogs.

***Moving 2 Melbourne*** · 26-06-2011, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by parleycross

Just curious.
Do you call them German Shepards in the UK now ? Or are they Alsatians ?

It was only during the war when the name was changed as people weren't buying them because they were German, so the name was changed to Alsation, after the war they reverted back to GSD, however, some still call them Alsation.

***Moving 2 Melbourne*** · 26-06-2011, 05:44 AM

Originally Posted by DrewNE

Hi all - I'm new to the forum and hope to be over in Melbourne by October of this year.

I want to ask a few questions but realise that they may be to specific for this forum and I may need to post elsewhere, but I'd appreciate any views or advice from here all the same.

I own German Shepherds here in the UK and with the intention of becoming a breeder, I had my 2 foundation bitches, however my plans when I got the girls had not included Australia, I had considered bringing them out to Oz, however, thought that trying to secure a rental with 2 GSD's and then breeding from them would be difficult. I have re-homed my girls into fantastic homes and am as happy as I can be that they are not coming with me but will be well looked after and loved.

I'm passionate about the breed and would like to breed myself in the future in Oz when I settled. I've looked at breeders, dogs and pups in Oz and have some questions. One of my girls was black and red but she carried the blue gene, she would produce blue, sable and possibly solid. My other girl was blue/cream she would carry blue, possibly solid and sable she also carries the liver gene.

Everywhere I have looked I have seen no Blue or Liver GSD's in Oz and I wondered if there are any owners/breeders out there that know more about this?

Thanks
Drew

Hi Drew
I have been out of the GSD world in Oz for a few years now, but, although you are probably aware blue and liver are a dilute of black they are classed as faults in the breed and should be placed on the limited register (non active) There is the same issue with whites, they are not recognised, a group of white GSD breeders have started their own club especially for them: http://www.whiteshepherdsaustralia.com
I would highly recommend joining the GSD of Victoria http://www.gsdcv.org.au/ and getting in touch with Ian or Val also have a look here: http://www.gsdcouncilaustralia.org/

**parleycross** · 26-06-2011, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by moving2melbourne

It was only during the war when the name was changed as people weren't buying them because they were German, so the name was changed to Alsation, after the war they reverted back to GSD, however, some still call them Alsation.

I lived in the UK until 1978 and never ever heard German Shepherd. Everyone called them Alsatians in the 70's so I don't think they changed just after the war.

***Moving 2 Melbourne*** · 26-06-2011, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by parleycross

I lived in the UK until 1978 and never ever heard German Shepherd. Everyone called them Alsatians in the 70's so I don't think they changed just after the war.

It goes on personal preference, in the breeding/veterinary world they were changed back to GSD's however, Joe Bloggs may still have called them Alsations, there is no right or wrong