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Promoting the German Shepherd Dog breed

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GSA Ireland promotes the German Shepherd Dog breed and working dog sport in Ireland.

The GSA represents one of 85 countries with affiliated membership of the World Union of German Shepherd Dog Clubs (WUSV). Local groups can provide handlers and dogs with the very best training and experience at well equipped facilities in disciplines which include obedience, tracking, agility, ring craft and protection work.

GSA Ireland awards internationally recognised WUSV titles and grades in both Performance and Show disciplines at the National, Landesgruppe (provincial) and local level.

In the sport of IGP, from the National events, these are:

  • Irish National IGP Champion
  • Irish National Tracking Champion
    (Accompanied by the relevant performance grade at National IGP Trial)

 

In the breed ring, exhibits can attain the following titles related to their WUSV equivalent age class, accompanied by a show grade:

  • Irish Sieger (VA IRL Excellent Select, only in the Working Male Class)
  • Irish Siegerin (VA IRL Excellent Select, only from the Working Female Class)
  • Young Sieger (SG IRL 18 – 24 mths)
  • Young Siegerin (SG IRL 18 – 24 mths)
  • Youth Sieger (SG IRL 12 – 18 mths)
  • Youth Siegerin (SG IRL 12 – 18 mths)

 

These titles can only be awarded at GSA Ireland events to animals which fulfil the correct WUSV criteria and attain the relevant health tests and/or performance results and breed survey.

For a copy of procedures relating to SV health testing, please email your request to info@gsaireland.com with full contact details.

Click HERE to go to our ‘Health and Wellbeing’ page for more details.

For more about our shows, click HERE

For more about our trials, click HERE

For trial rules, forms, and downloads, click HERE for our ‘Info for Members’ page.

Promoting the German Shepherd Dog breed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to buy a puppy?

Rather than promote individual breeders, we recommend that you visit one of our GSA Ireland local training groups or Ortsgruppe, and look at lots of different dogs in training before you make your decision.
GSA Ireland strongly recommends buying a puppy or adult German Shepherd from parents who have attained the relevant health tests*, working qualifications** and show grades*** for the breed, both in order to promote the healthy, versatile German Shepherd Dog, to reward those breeders who adhere to international breeding guidelines and to ensure the best chance of your dog living a long and happy life.

*GSA Ireland promotes the use of the parent organisation’s Health Scheme which provides hip, elbow and back x-ray assessments and permissible grades (A Stamp) from which animals are approved to breed. This is the SV HD/ED Health Scheme.

GSA Ireland would advise any potential purchaser of a German Shepherd to pay strict attention to the ancestry with regard to health requirements in regard to health schemes outside of WUSV (the World Body of German Shepherd Dog Clubs) approved schemes. For example; the British Veterinary Association/UK KC Scheme strongly recommends no higher than the following scores for RESPONSIBLE BREEDING:

Breed median score for – HD (Hips) Total of 11, ED (elbows) Total of 0

**The World Body – WUSV recognise the IPO Trial system providing the disciplines of tracking, obedience and protection as a suitable gauge to fulfil the retention and display of necessary traits required from a working breed such as the German shepherd dog. These qualifications are mandatory in the parent organisations prerequisites for breeding.

***Show grades should be achieved at suitable Breed Shows. These shows are licensed by WUSV organisations in their respective countries and should adhere to the parent clubs guidelines as all factors are taken into consideration for any animal to be awarded a grade.

Grades are as follows: –
VA Excellent Select
V Excellent
SG Very Good
G Good
NG Insufficient

Any German Shepherd Dog requires a minimum show grade of G to meet breeding requirements.

Why title, show, or health test my dog?

GSA Ireland affords German Shepherd Dog owners the opportunity to avail of health testing for hips, elbows and spine under the German SV system.

These results are logged under an international database and help contribute to future study of the health of the breed.

In addition, to take part in international competitions and to attain top honours in breed shows, or indeed be bred from under international guidelines, German Shepherds must meet a minimum standard of health tests and working titles.

What is IPO?

IPO, formerly known as Schutzhund, translates as International Prufung Ordnung, or International Working Examination.

IPO combines tracking, obedience and protection and is used to identify sound temperament and physical excellence of a dog over the three phases.

Designed as a way to select breeding animals, today IPO is a sport which takes place across the world and culminates in the WUSV IPO World Championships.

Over many years, GSA Ireland members have proudly represented the organisation at this prestigious competition, with a number of podium places, including second and third places – an amazing achievement.

GSA members can take part in the BH temperament test (‘Traffic-safe companion dog’), the AD endurance test (12 miles/20 kilometres beside the handler riding a bicycle) and IPO levels 1-3.

There is also the opportunity to take part in ‘standalone’ tracking and obedience phases.