OK, I'm not a player. I have a very nice male who may, or may not finish. I'd like him to finish because I adore him, but if he doesn't, no big deal. So, I'm not a player. I respect breeders enormously. What a crapshoot. That you have the intelligence, the eye, the common sense, the commitment awes me. I celebrate you! That said, I vote for type. Secondary sex characteristics -- that gorgeous male/female head; pigment; strong back; good tail set; intelligence; temperament. I see dogs that are touted by the fancy -- and I'm unimpressed. They don't LOOK like GSDs. They're not pretty. There's a current GSD, much touted by the West Coast, who leaves me totally cold. I guess he can MOVE, but . . . I know "pretty" is shallow, but a zillion times a day, I look at my dogs and think, "They are SO beautiful." I need that. Given, of course, that temperament is first. I, personally, think that sidegait is overrated. I'm not talking dogs too crippled to work., But, what is the difference between a super-star in movement and a super-star in all the rest?? I want, #1, temperament #2, type; #3, sidegait. MOST OF ALL, I want that loving bond that happens between good GSDs and their owners. The bond that means the dog will protect you to the death., What an awesome responsibility!!!!!! Fran ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. 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 ============================================================================