Mike Schoonbrood said:
I have yet to see a large GSD who has enough strength to lift his big ass off the ground to do anything that requires agility with any amount of grace or efficiency :lol: You say that your current dog runs too much and knee problems, well a high energy working dog needs to run alot, run run run run run, thats all my dogs do. My advice: Figure out what you are trying to achieve before picking what dog you want. If it's protection (you state not personal.... so what kinda protection are you talking about? property? or are you wanting to sell to police? which would be a whole different and unlikely ball game). If you want to train for sport, pick a sport then pick a dog who can do the sport. I really can't tell from any of your posts what you want out of a dog other than big and purposeful.
I like commencing in activities with animals. I love to initiate in playing, training, and other working activities.
protective
I know what I'm wanting is quite confusing. If I received a dog which had a protective(non-alert, pro-attack) personality, the dog would not be bred for residential people. Residents who think they need a protective dog don't need a dog, they need a gun. Unless the protection is family oriented. Many people I see are single wanting "protection". The dog usually ends up at a shelter, and killed because the dog can't be integrated in family life. *sigh*. I don't necessarily need a protective or alert dog, but would be great if the dog had the extra characteristic.
strength
a dog which could pull its weight, not unnecessarily being the iditarod champion running long distances. This would be work like pulling bundles of firewood, equipment from house to road, *grin* pulling kids or me on a small sled. Even my friend's american mastiff can seem to just go a few good miles when there is kids attached, heh.
obedience
I know malamutes aren't recognized as obedient, however my current girl listens to me very well. I've a very strict personality and won't put up with the "I want to do it my way" crap. She tried pulling the 7 year old routine and the drag dog routine, didn't last with her. I've a good strong hand

In other words obedience doesn't matter with me, I'll shape the dog up. Break and rebuild.
breeding
Either way there could be health issues by neutering or not neutering a dog. I usually have kept intact, and I believe with a good diet and exercise a good breed can go a long way. I want to also think about breeding in which case I definitely need a good well rounded dog. I realize the significance of breeding and what is encumbered with the privilege of breeding. I love to raise animals, if I lost a bitch during delivery I'd simply feed them milk myself.

I'd certainly not be a backyard breeder, I'd only breed for the right reasons. If I want money, I'll write more software or do more tech work. I want to become a grade A reputable breeder.
I'd keep my own girl, but it is a long story. There are tons of small little problems sure, but one which hurt me was the breeder taking back her word on allowing me to breed her. I feel she was trying to "bum" her off on me than ever now. I'm sure my girl would be okay for breeding, but she is not the standing example. The breeder over the phone agreed to allow breed, there was also no contract. When I went to her house I read her face once more and it was lying to me. I took her anyway, how naive of me. Alls hurt and nothing gained, cept now I just need to find her a new home(*easy*).
medical
I'd like a well rounded dog, not a dog which is prone to ear infections or gets some skin rash every time the wind blows the wrong way. I can take care of all types of cuts, injuries, sticks through body/limbs. Just as I'm taking care of my current girl's incised paw. I know the bigger could also result to problems like abscesses, benign tumors, cancer, or other lovely giant dog illnesses. I don't mind them, I never cry over them. I've had several animals which killed over from cancer to kitty aids(I don't remember what it was). Why I asked about a giant dog with less medical problems was I didn't want a dog which was a dog which I'd have to be a regular at the vets.
looks
The dog could be the ugliest animal on the planet and I wouldn't care. However I'm a big showoff and even if the dog looked odd I'd still take him to the local dog show. As long as the dog is a AKC breed I'd take it at least.
stamina
I love to run, I like to go to the beach. However there are those days when I am in pain and I don't want to do anything but relax. I'm looking for a dog which will not need tons of exercise to keep a good form. My girl is great, she does lay and relax. However I fear her being so lazy will make her develop health problems. Malamutes are supposed to be all run run run run. This one runs when she is with the neighbors dog, and I'm looking for a dog which will be able to get a proper amount of exercise in a very large fenced house yard(stretches from half-front to back).
intelligence
Must have okay intelligence. The most retarded dog I've ever owned was a beagle. I swear I'll never ever EVER EVER!! own a beagle, ever again. The dumb thing was one of the family dogs, *shrug*. Died a grim death at age 8. Just killed over, probably because nobody would give it attention. It had a wart face.... *shrug*
car travel
One thing I haven't been able to cure my girl of is car sickness, I've done with with dogs in the past. She is just terrified of the car. Just utterly terrified. No matter what methods I use she is terrified. I try driving to the beach, and each time there ends up a puddle of stomach contents. Could be because I received her at 7 months and she had some programming already. I need a dog which does okay at car travel. I know american mastiffs do alright if trained early. Try getting a 200lb lb mastiff out of the car saying, " no no out out I don't want you to come with me!"
I don't mind dog hair, drool, or any body fluids which might exit.
Did I forget anything?