german shepherds
- Thread starter Paige
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Its the trend in the show lines. All typically have some slope, but the American show lines are the ones with the really funky back ends. I've actually heard people say they look crippled, which means they have some very extreme conformation.
The German dogs will have less slope, but they do tend to be harder to live with as they usually have more working drive.
The German dogs will have less slope, but they do tend to be harder to live with as they usually have more working drive.
Yes the shepherds sure have been sqrewed with! These last few days after going with Rick too look at a few GSDs I have learnt alot!
American Show lines extreme over angilation, running on pasterns, just crippled all over the place. Then the German working dogs nice square forum but have an over extreme attitude.
We finally found a breeder with some real nice pups. Parents down to earth, great temperments and sociable but yet ready to do the job. Not to extreme in structure a great combination all the way around.
Rick is now making his decision, I hope he goes with the last breeder. She sure has her ducks in a row. The guarentee's 4 pages long, all the dogs are tested and have passed evaluation. I hope he brings that young man home. Sasha would have a friend to play with.
American Show lines extreme over angilation, running on pasterns, just crippled all over the place. Then the German working dogs nice square forum but have an over extreme attitude.
We finally found a breeder with some real nice pups. Parents down to earth, great temperments and sociable but yet ready to do the job. Not to extreme in structure a great combination all the way around.
Rick is now making his decision, I hope he goes with the last breeder. She sure has her ducks in a row. The guarentee's 4 pages long, all the dogs are tested and have passed evaluation. I hope he brings that young man home. Sasha would have a friend to play with.
It is amazing what health issues they have. Over extreme health issues. But hey they just want to breed too get rich any way. We bumped into one breeder of GSDS. The breeder acted as if she new it all, the dame was white and the sire was black. How insane!:spam: Then wanted an extreme amount of money for the pups. Can you believe the female was only 10 months old at the first breeding, then bred right back again! Then the breeder had the gul to ask my friend to pay her $1200.00 for a pup thats mom was burnt out already. This is so frustrating and nuts its crazy!
I wondered about that as well, and got some very informative replies. I also thought that a lot of the hip dysplasia was related to the conformation.
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31292&highlight=conformation
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31292&highlight=conformation
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The slope being described is because of angulation in the hind legs of a shepherd. Shepherds have more angulation in the hind legs than most breeds and it's proper that they have more angulation as that's part of why the breed is what it is. The problem comes when people breed for extreme angulation, usually in an attempt to produce a very flowing trot for the show ring. Extreme angulation creates problems.
This angulation is not hip dysplasia, however. There are a lot of breeds that have a much higher percentage of dysplasia problems.
One of the huge mistakes in breeding for a particular look is that any breed bred for looks first will eventually "dummy down" - and our shepherds are no exception. The instincts and intelligence that are typically attributed to the breed are sometimes lacking in this extremely angulated dog .. which, to me, is more of a travesty than the physical appearance.
On the other extreme, you have dogs that are bred strictly for as strong of a drive as possible. These dogs may make wonderful working dogs but generally make lousy pets. They have too much energy and personality for the typical pet owner.
There are many many nice middle-line shepherds, however. People can find whatever they want in the breed for the most part. Just be sure to ask for OFA numbers (not just say "have they been tested?") on sire and dam - both for hips AND elbows - as well as thyroid testing, etc. Ask for health history on the line. If a breeder says "there's been no problems" then I would politely walk away - every line has a problem somewhere and a good breeder will acknowledge that and then explain how they bred away from it.
Meet the dam at the very least, assess her for temperament - and find out how the breeder has handled the puppies for socialization and training from three-eight weeks.
My shepherds have all been healthy overall and they range from full German and Belgian lines to a mix of American and German. None of them are over-angulated.
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
This angulation is not hip dysplasia, however. There are a lot of breeds that have a much higher percentage of dysplasia problems.
One of the huge mistakes in breeding for a particular look is that any breed bred for looks first will eventually "dummy down" - and our shepherds are no exception. The instincts and intelligence that are typically attributed to the breed are sometimes lacking in this extremely angulated dog .. which, to me, is more of a travesty than the physical appearance.
On the other extreme, you have dogs that are bred strictly for as strong of a drive as possible. These dogs may make wonderful working dogs but generally make lousy pets. They have too much energy and personality for the typical pet owner.
There are many many nice middle-line shepherds, however. People can find whatever they want in the breed for the most part. Just be sure to ask for OFA numbers (not just say "have they been tested?") on sire and dam - both for hips AND elbows - as well as thyroid testing, etc. Ask for health history on the line. If a breeder says "there's been no problems" then I would politely walk away - every line has a problem somewhere and a good breeder will acknowledge that and then explain how they bred away from it.
Meet the dam at the very least, assess her for temperament - and find out how the breeder has handled the puppies for socialization and training from three-eight weeks.
My shepherds have all been healthy overall and they range from full German and Belgian lines to a mix of American and German. None of them are over-angulated.
Melanie and the gang in Alaska