Toplines - Page 10

Silbersee, as usual you make good sense.  I for one cannot stand artificial stacking.  This posing is by far the worst in the American Shepherd (AKC) showring, where handlers typically overstretch the GSDs and pull one rear leg so far forward they often stress and even injure the spine, which is usually too long and weak to start with. Just examine all the AKC GSD stacked photos being posed on Oli's site now.  

The SV showring is not near as bad, but there is now too much hand-work setting the dogs up for the judges.   Only a markedly faulty GSD needs to be tweaked and set up, and this is always done to cover up faults.  The AKC American Shepherds are stretched so far in their trophy photos that the upper arm follows a straight line upward from their lower leg, and they appear to have no angulation at all in the front (ie a near vertical upper arm, which is usually in reality far too steep or near vertical anyway).  Thus these AKC winners couldn't be made to look any worse than the handlers now do when they set them up, and these GSDs typically look pretty bad naturally posed without any help.  Not only do the American AKC GSD specialty judges like this overstretched posing (stacking), but they strongly prefer it and penalize any GSD who is not overstretch during the class exhibition.

Watsondog, the dog you specify as correct is attractive but has some noticeable shortcomings.  Yes,a nice short back and good proportions, except for a somewhat short neck, and the croup is far too steep and appears a bit too short.  If this is a puppy, then the croup may flatten out with maturity (many GSDs go up in the rear at 6-16 months old, and some come out of it later).  Also, I would like to see a bit shorter rear hock.  The upper arm in front is a bit steep for me, and I would like a little bit more angulation in the rear.  However, one must see the dog moving to assess the actual true rear angulation. 

Take Gero von Haus Dexel for example.  This dog had only moderate angulation and yet was an extreme side-gaiter with superb movement (a sight to behold).

I should have stated,  Dingo von Haus Gero, as the ideal moving Dog.  You can see his classic video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIFpKL0qRQ0

The only fault one can see is a very slight twisting of the rear hocks, but that is minor for such an extreme moving side GSD.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc132/eddyhdy/brokenleg034.jpg

this is lucy,

( not a great pic ) i think it's the only one i have of her standing up.

I agree w/Preston and Silbersee on the artifical overstacking of dogs today. What I find most disturbing is when breeders start breeding dogs that look like they are already stacked even when they are not! How many of you have seen American showline puppies that literally walk (or hop) on their hocks? How any sane person can see these pups and think they are normal is beyond me.

PRESTON--that was MY IDEA of a nice looking gsd ---(watsongsd just posted it for me)----yes, maybe neck a little short---but compared to whats out there---IMO  she looks great ----thanks for critiqueing  for the board

WATSONGSD---thanks for posting the picture for me

*******DEE********

DDRShep, you make a very good point.  The GSDs you described are typically suffering from an overly long lower rear thigh bone, thus causing sickle hocks, and weakness and degeneracy in the rear.

Jekyl8, congratulations on owning such a beautiful male stallion GSD as Harras.  Do you have a web site and if so what is it?  What have you concluded so far about what Harras can improve a bitch on?

It would probably be smart for owners to not use photos of dogs showing what appears to be a roached topline if they really have a straight back.  I'm not sure how handlers do that or why they do that.

Hello Preston,

sure I have, klick on my Banner, it will lead you to http://www.schlossbuldern.de.

His sister has very nice puppies from Rico Altenberger Land (don't ask, long time sold).

So the only thing I would suggest to look for is good black mask. As you can see his roots are from Jeck Noricum over Cary Fiemereck, he represents the absolut correct anatomie of his ancestors and should be able to produce very good angles and long croup with a lot of temper.

If you look on his motherline and siblings you will find that this is not by accident.