My wife and I are heavily involved in rescue organizations that are ‘reputable’ and ‘do follow ups’ and ‘screen potential homes and owners’. I can give you a list of reputable ones for every state nationally if you need it, just freepmail me.
Its been my experience over the last five decades that temperment is directly related to upbringing, and enviroment, not genetics. Thats not to say its ‘foolproof’ as we had to put a beloved five year old black lab mix down last spring because of ‘red rage’.
Its my opinion we have way to many ‘breeders’ and they are a primary reason rescue organizations exist in the first place. They contribute to the problem of unwanted dogs, perhaps combined to the level of the ‘puppy mills’ which I also find abhorrent.
But the bottom line is Dogs Deserve Better. My life is better because they are such a big part of our life, and our family, literally.
I disagree with you, genetics does play a part in the temperment of the puppies you're going to get and within GSP's know several breeders that have voluntarily removed dogs from the breeding pool that physically have fantastic conformation, but are lacking in some way in the temperment area.
We do have too many breeders. I've seen it in the dog show world; there are those that have almost a hoarding personality, and then there are those that I believe think along the lines "just this next litter and I'm going to have the next Westminster winner!" It has become a hobby of mine and my hope is to keep the pick bitch from the litter and continue the line with her. When "vetting" people for purchase of puppies I take into account, among other things, if the dog is going to be just a pet, if the owner is interested in getting involved in showing, agility, hunting, tracking, etc. as GSP's are a very versatile breed. I'm considering asking to see their long form birth certificate as well. ;)
I just looked up Red Rage- it sounds like what the Cocker Spaniel my cousins had as kids had. That was one of the scariest dogs I have ever known. Usually Labs are fairly even tempered (although ours is kind-of neurotic and co-dependent), so that must have been a shock.