Author Topic: Character worries  (Read 8384 times)

Offline AnnaCrew

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Character worries
« on: July 10, 2007, 04:46:11 am »
I need an advice on the bitch that will be mother of my future puppy.
She is beutiful, and HD results are just perfect, but she is quite a watchdog, not a sweetie. She is alert alpha and completed obedience at the gsd training group on equal level (great for her but actually not exacly what Saints meant to be).
She likes most of the humans, and she likes all "her" dogs at home, but do not like most of the "outside" dogs.

The choosen sire is very mellow boy, complete sweetie, ideal Saint by character.

As character and temperament of my future pup is really important for me, I'm a bit concerned.
How is your opinions? Is there any hope that it will be possible to get a mellow, complete Saint out of litter with such parents?

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Offline happiday

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2007, 06:21:49 am »
Hello, AnnaCrew, and welcome to BPO!  I'm Salli, mom to Annie, my 7-year-old Saint rescued from a shelter in March.  We also have Grace, my daughter's 6-year-old Golden Ret. mix.  Also, 2 cats and 1 new kitten.  We live in Southern California, USA.
I have a question for you about the mama dog:  Has she always been a watchdog, or could she be just like this while pregnant?  I think you have a good chance of having a pup that is true to standard since papa is a sweetie.  Just my opinion.  Watch the pups carefully, if you are able to observe them several times before they are ready to go home, and you should get a good idea of each one's temperament.  Are you able to choose which pup you want?  Or does the breeder decide?
I've always had a special place in my heart for Saints, and now that Annie is here with us, I'm smitten!  She is so much fun!  I wish you all the best with your new pup, and look forward to seeing lots of pictures! 
Salli, Annie's mama!

Offline AnnaCrew

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2007, 07:19:20 am »
Noo, I will probably not be able to watch puppies as the breeder lives in another country, but she is honest and responsible so I am really willing to trust her.
One girl form the previous litter already lives in my country and she is great dog.

My choice is LH male pup if any will be in that litter so no hope for a big choice anyway. Mother is SH, sire – LH, so probably there will be at least some LH pups to choose from. I just do not really like SH Saints, very personal thing. And I never had great relationship with bitches so only male and only LH. I would like to get complete coach potato as I have enough alert dogs around to work with. :D The show quality is desired but not requited.
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Offline Moni

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2007, 11:27:32 am »
I think that its definitely a possibility that you can still get a calm male.  Does the breeder do puppy temperment testing?  My GSD, Faust, was a lucky draw.  He was from a BYB, the mom was gorgeous, but not very friendly and the dad was kind of funny looking, but had a Golden type personality.  Good luck with your pup.
BPO does not have my permission to use my photos.

Offline AnnaCrew

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2007, 11:30:14 pm »
Yessss! Now anticipation is the word! :D
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Offline Duramax

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2007, 12:08:24 am »
well there's always a chance, but even then. the whole litters character is not going to be the same, there's usualy a varriation of character within the litter, so even if the parents do breed mellow dogs, that doesnt mean every single dog in the litter will have that disposition. i'd say it could go completly either way. but biggest factor (i believe) in how your pup acts towards other people and dogs is how you raise it.
Christina
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2 great danes -Duramax
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"Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant." -Unknown

Offline AnnaCrew

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2007, 03:20:44 am »
Of course, socialization is the word, but it is not working 100 pct. All of my 3 GSD are so different. 

Our oldest rescue Barry (he soon will be 4 years old) is completely mellow boy, slow and not active at all, not good for GSD, but ideal for me.
He loves every stranger and every dog. His last socialization course was 2 days at the huge farming fair where he was staying in the stand of our company and was petted, petted and petted all day by strangers. And he loved it! I presume his faworite place to live would be a supermarket.

Betty, our princess is a bi*ch... sorry, in more than one meaning of this word. She is camera shy, she is training shy (?), she is yealous, cheatig, stealing food from the counter behind our backs.. all in all... As a dog she has strong nerves and quite mellow temperament, if not only these dark sides of her life...

Cedrik, our youngest, is still a puppy at 18 mo, the happiest dog ever I had seen. He is so excited about life, dream for training, willing to please, very alert, but not agressive... Dream dog for people who love working lines of GSD. He is really really good.
Nerves and temperament is Ideal, and for example, my niece now every morning is brushung his teeth... And he takes even that with pride... they play shops, doctors and all other games with niece, and she is never left alone even at toilet.
All three got the same socialization level, the same love, the same food and training and still I was not able to conquer Betty's tantrums.

« Last Edit: February 05, 2008, 08:28:12 am by DaneInsane »
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Re: Character worries
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2007, 03:58:13 am »
I personally think I would pass. Good breeders breed for the whole package.

My female Saint Lola sounds similar to the mother of your future puppy. She is an insanely good watchdog, and isn't too keen on most strangers and dislikes more strange dogs than she likes. In those ways she is soooo un-saint like, but with her family she's loving, tolerant, sweet and cuddly like a Saint should be. We got her at 10 weeks old and we socialized her like crazy and she has improved but I'll never trust her 100% with a stranger or another dog. :(

Lola's behaviour didn't rear it's ugly head until 7-8 months old. So with 8-9 week old pups it's a gamble in my opinion.

Offline PennyK

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2007, 08:23:16 pm »
I met Teddy's father when I went to pick him out.  He was a good watchdog - loud and standoffish.  None of us could put a hand on him (not that I really wanted to - he made me a bit nervous as he was the first Saint I saw up close in about 20 years!  LOL)  That said, I did the temperment tests on Teddy and so far (at 18 months) he's the sweetest, most loving dog I ever met - he loves everyone, dogs and people - as long as he's on his leash.  He's been known to chase a few utility workers away from the house when he's tied up - LOL! So, he's a good watch dog too.  He also passed top in his class for obedience.

All you can do is take the recommendation s from the breeder, add your own insight, and socialize like CRAZY!!!!  I'm sure you will get the prefect puppy!!!!!
Every girl needs a Teddy bear!

Offline AnnaCrew

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Re: Character worries
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2007, 06:08:02 am »
Thank you all...
I really appraise all your opinions and I now I believe more that I will be able to grow him into a really sweetie... I have 3 GSD and they are much more serious watchdogs in comarison with saints, and all 3 of mine would be easy petted by strangers - not that they all actually would like to have it, but socialization is a right thing. And more I communicate with mybreeder, more I like her attitude and knowledge.
So now I just need to eep my fingers crossed until November january and then - March! Ouch, I bet the first months of the next year wil be some of the hardest in my life! :D
http://ozolkalni.blogspot.com/
Come and pat Grace athttp://en.uniteddogs.com/dog/16498