Regarding cropping and docking, there are a couple of breeds that I strongly prefer to be cropped. Dobermans are one for sure, I love the look of a well done crop and honestly don't like the aesthetics of an uncropped Doberman at all. They just don't have the same beauty and appeal as a well cropped Dobe to me. I prefer Beaucerons cropped as well but their floppy ears are so silly that I find them cute uncropped too.
Docking I'm fine either way, I like Aussies and Rotties with or without tails (prefer Rotties with tails, actually, but see Rotties without them often enough that it barely registers).
Honestly I'm just glad I don't own a breed that's traditionally docked or cropped, because of 1) the care and expenses that come with cropping and 2) the debates.
I hate showline GSD's and their stupid ugly backs and how they can't walk ever and have no drive and bite people all the time (Not bite suit people, other people) and are scared of everything cause they are ugly and stupid.
Are you angry yet Grace?!?
<rage>
SO MUCH RAGE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW. YOU TAKE YOUR SUBTLE MERLE DOGS AND JUST GET OUT. GEEET OUUUUUUT.
*shakes fist*
I'll give you rage and quietly mutter obscenities the whole time.
This! It makes me so sad when I see an 8 month old GSD puppy that can barely walk because his back is so sloped. And they all are so nervous and freaky! I once had a neighbor that had/has the two most beautiful GSD's. They both have/had great hips/elbows/backs and temperaments. Great watch dogs, but they would never hurt anyone. I think they were imported from Germany.
lol yeah
no. You don't actually see a problem with making a huge, extreme generalization about an entire type? Also the "cannot barely walk because his back is so sloped thing", like sassafras pointed out, it's not the "slope of his back" that's forcing his legs down it's the angulation of the legs/rear and maybe loose ligamentation.
"Great watch dogs, but they would never hurt anyone", well that's just not correct for a GSD unfortunately.
"Imported from Germany", I'd wager there are just as many if not more show lines imported from Germany as there are working lines. Those two dogs could very well have been show lines or part show lines, as some people incorrectly assume that just because the dogs have IPO/SCHH titles in their pedigree, they are working bred.
Not denying show lines have their problems (working lines do too) but a huge, broad generalization like that attacking an entire type of dog? Let's not.
Originally it was meant to give them a long, easy stride length but some breeders have taken it to a pretty absurd extreme, yes.
Yep.
Yep! Sorry, I was trying to rile Equinox up with telling her mean things about her dog. She didn't come and yell though so apparently it's not working.
Well you didn't say anything mean about my dog!!
But THERE. RAGE.
</rage>
I'm not going to lie. If I ever decided to get a breed that was cropped. I would totally get the pup cropped.
Same. I don't believe cropping is a wonderful thing, but honestly I would almost certainly get a Doberman or Beauceron cropped if I ever owned one. I doubt I ever will though, and the whole cropping/docking debate is certainly a contributing factor.
But... Trent is a working line. Right? RIGHT? Oh god have I been missing something?
LOL no you're not missing anything, Trent is 100% working lines. Linds just wanted to incite rage and I failed to deliver until now LOL We were talking about pet peeves on forums and what usually generates the biggest debates, and I mentioned that talking about show lines can usually get messy on the GSD boards.
I think what irks me about it is that a first time dog owner is not a first time dog owner is not a first time dog owner. Other qualities like problem solving, flexibility, and commitment are more important than how many or what kinds of dogs someone has owned IMO.
I suspect a lot of the people who have problems and/or complain about their dog's behavior would be complaining regardless of what breed they actually had. Also, someone might find "easy" breeds enraging and "hard" breeds engaging.
I don't have overflowing faith in the general masses of humanity but at the same time, it's just so oversimplifying to me to talk about people as suitable or unsuitable based on whether they've leveled up or not.
Really, really agree with this. Exactly how I feel about the topic.
As long as well all agree that Mia is the specialist most awesome dog.
Mia is the only dog I will ever accept as a Special Snowflake.