What have they DONE to the German Shepherd ?

[Catchawave]

This is just too ugly and looks painful.

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. It looks like a bad angle

.

[Catchawave]

2. From the Westminster then ?

[philosophie_en_rose]

3. It's the posture???

It's sort of in a "push up" position. His or her back legs are extended. It's back would be even if it stood up straight.

Just guessing, though. Maybe German Shepards are now bred to have freaky extended legs and low butts. :shrug: That would be strange.

[Catchawave]

4. Googling now...

found another one....



I know it's a breed that'suseptable to overbreeding and hip problems, this doesn't look too good for this wonderful breed :(

[alphafemale]

5. I think that's the show standard

But aren't dogs bred to actually work sturdier?

Seems like Police G. Sheps f'instance are much heavier and healthier looking.

[alphafemale]

6. Looking for K-9 images, found this....Too Cute!

http://www.cedarwoods-k9.com.nyud.net:8090/images/home/murphy.jpg

[Catchawave]

7. Guess I worked for a vet too long.....

hip problems were a killer for this breed. It just breaks my heart to see this "standard" then. :cry:

[alphafemale]

8. Okay, here's a working G. Shep.

http://www.cityoforlando.net.nyud.net:8090/police/police-images/k-9powell2.jpg

[Sanity Claws]

9. That is the AKC standard

I've heard many people talk about this standard on the sloping hind legs as not being good for the breed. I've been told that other countries' Kennel Clubs do not use this standard on the hind legs. If you're interested, you might want to do a google search on standards for GSD and see they are different from AKC standards.

[Dave Reynolds]

10. I think it tends to lead to more hip problems.

My shepherd does not have the sloping back.

[alphafemale]

13. Does your dog look more like the pic in post #8?

I think that dog looks much healthier, but it would never win a show ribbon.

[Dave Reynolds]

25. Yes, much more "square".

GSD breeders are kind of hurting the dogs with that sloping back, much like horse breeders hurt horses by breeding for dainty hooves and legs.

[InvisibleTouch]

11. It's partially they way they're stacked.

Each breed has its own characteristic way that it's supposed to stand in the show ring, and unfortunately for the German Shepherd, they're stacked with the hind legs way out to emphasize the slope of the back. But even standing with their legs even, they're bred these days to have that slope in the topline. At least in the U.S. I do believe the standard carries a lot of the blame in the hip problems of the breed. Someone once told me that, if you buy a German Shepherd puppy, you have a 1-in-4 chance of not seeing some degree of hip dysplasia in adulthood.

Keep in mind that the American show Shepherd is a very different creature than the European working dog, both temperamentally and structurally. Most working Shepherds, for police work and such, are imported from Germany or are out of German bloodlines. But they'd never win an AKC title.

[BikeWriter]

15. Oh no, that's a terrible ratio! ;-(

[Lochloosa]

12. It's called an "Old World" Shepard..and that's what they are supposed to

look like.

[freethought]

14. The dog may have hip dysplasia

This is happening in a lot of purebred dogs. Breeders will inbreed with in family lines and certain genetic malformities, at one time repressed, start to show themselves.
Some years ago we had a beautiful female German Shepherd. She was too smart for her own good. At about 6 or 7 years old, not particularly old for a dog, she started slowing down. At years about 8, if you put even light to moderate pressure on her hip she would yelp in pain. The vet told us what we already suspected, her hip was badly displaced and was going to get worse. My father had her put to sleep.

Before the shepherd we had a Springer Spaniel, a real loopy one too. I don't recall how old she was but at some point she became to loose all control of her urinary function and would just let go at the worst times. A vet told us this was actually typical for the breed. At a certain age those genetic malformities kick in.

Truly a shame!

[misanthrope]

16. One of the basics of biology...

...is that genetic diversity and mixing all those genes up thoroughly makes for heartier and healthier critters. It's pretty damn simple and should be widely known. All this "purebred" dog breeding makes me ill and seems like a very callous feeding of the human ego at a creature's expense.

[alphafemale]

17. Mutts are best?

I think so.

They've been smarter and healthier in my experience.

Purebred dogs I've had have been sickly and not so smart.

[freethought]

18. Ever seen a Border Collie?

The American Kennel Club offered to recognize the breed for show purposes. Breeders turned the AKC down flat. Their whole argument was that the border collie is a working dog and is bred for physical endurance an intelligence. They feared the "dog show" influence would disrupt those qualities. Likely they were right. If you have ever seen one they are a mottled, multi-colored, mutty looking dog.

Word to the wise. If you ever hear of someone you know opting for a border collie for a pet, talk them out of it. Border collies are so smart that if they get bored they can be a first-class nuisance. Unless you keep them occupied somehow, they will very creatively entertain themselves. One article I did read said "If bored they will steal you car keys and your credit cards". A married couple I met learned this the hard way!

[alphafemale]

19. Good for the Border Collie then

The AKC is for in-breeding and condoning genetic mutations.

[Gold Metal Flake]

21. The AKC is also for chopping the beautiful tails off of Springer Spaniels.

That pisses me off.

[alphafemale]

23. AKC mutilates many animals. They suck.

At least they are starting to back off genocide of pups in a litter that don't meet standard.

Or are they?

[Gold Metal Flake]

20. Bored Border Collies also become neurotic.

Ever seen one that spends it's day sequestered in the backyard barking at everything and spinning in circles? It's a sad sight indeed.

[Gold Metal Flake]

22. My female GSD has the characteristic slope.

However, in normal movement she does not look much different than another breed, although she certainly looks more light footed than her 100 lbs would suggest. All GSDs have that to some degree, but the pose exagerates it. My dog does not pose, unless lying flat is a pose.

The pose in your picture is not a good one. Looks like that dog just stopped in mid rise when it spotted a plump, juicy, song bird-fed cat within striking distance. Hey, it's natural!

[Jamastiene]

24. That one looks beaten down to me.

I like to see a dog hold its tail and its head high in the air. I guess that is why I lean toward the poodles, proud little pups that they are. I do love German Shepherds too though. And schnauzers, and great danes, and cocker spaniels. Oh well, I'm a sucker for dogs as well as cats. I am just a sucker for animals in general. I need that dog in the photo. He looks like he needs some TLC and some pride in his beauty. He is beautiful. It just looks like no one has told him so yet. Poor thing.