My Goal
Some call me extreme in my standards, but I think we have to be. When we start making excuses for weaknesses and faults of any kind, we are essentially weakening future generations. Many will argue that for sports or PSD work, they don't need perfect structure, and they need only have high prey/play drive, or aggression, etc. Or some may say that a show dog doesn't need to have a balance of prey/defense and it is perfectly acceptable for him to behave like a Golden Retriever. This may be true for the individual, but when we then breed those dogs, where do we draw the line at what is acceptable and what is not? It becomes a slippery slope that crosses into temperament, health, and beyond and causes the breakdown in the German Shepherd that we see today- too many single-purpose, weak dogs in both body and mind.
I strive to produce balanced dogs with proper temperament. Aggression is a necessary part of this temperament, and one that seems to be rapidly diminishing in favor of over-the-top prey/play driven dogs who are not capable of reacting properly in a serious situation. Sure, they may do fine on the sports field, but what will they do in a real situation? If a dog is balanced, aggression can be controlled and utilized in a productive manner. If a dog is balanced, he can vigilantly defend his handler/family, and still be perfectly stable and safe in public, provided his handler possesses some common sense. A balanced dog can be steered in nearly any direction the handler wants to take him, whether it be herding, police work, sports, personal/home protection, or just a very active, loyal companion. This versatility should be the norm, not the exception.
Alice, Anza, and Aria vom Eisenherz
Vom Eisenherz
German Shepherds
European Working Bloodlines
