Barb Williams has more knowledge of this breed in her pinky than 98% of us have in our whole bodies. In the last few years, she has helped me understand pedigrees, where certain desirable (and undesirable )traits have originated. What a wealth of information. I have come to believe that almost everything is genetic in origin--many do not want to hear this. Many keep using the same (tired) bloodlines over and over again, like a farmer continually planting the same crop year after year without fertilizing the field to strengthen his result. Aren't some of us doing the same with our breeding? Check your pedigrees--they all go back to the same 2 or 3 dogs. Maybe, just maybe our breed needs to be revitalized by something new. Penny in NY Penny & Bill Landsend Kennels Since 1974 ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2004. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================