STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES OF THE GSD - Page 1

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES OF THE MODERN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG LECTURE BY PETER VAN OIRSCHOT Supervisor Breed Affairs S.V. Netherlands. Firstly I want to introduce myself to you. My name is Peter van Oirschot; I have admired dogs from childhood. The most impressive birthday present I ever received was on my 12th birthday. It was a purebred GSD bitch and from that time I became involved in the breed. In l968 my kennel affix was registered “Van de Herderskring” and I became a youth member of both VDH-NL and SV Germany. I have trained about 12 different dogs for SchH and have had different tasks in VDH Vereeniging van Fokkers en Liefhebbers van Duitse Herdershonded (my society for breeders and enthusiasts of the GSD) in the Netherlands. In l984 I became a GSD Judge appointed by the Kennel Club NL and SV Zuchtrichter appointed from the SV Germany. In l988 I became Kormeister VDH Netherlands and since l990 I am Breed Warden (Vereinschzuchtwart supervisor Breed Affairs) of the VDH Netherlands. My career within the GSD scheme you can call classic … starting from the bottom and based on practical experience. I work with GSD, I breed them, I show them … and I spoil them. I am very lucky to meet GSD people all over the world and to share with them the common enthusiasm and sincere involvement with our breed. I felt, and still feel, a deep respect for the working Shepherd dog: searching for mines and explosives, as a rescue dog, tracking using his senses and intelligence and alertness in a variety of tasks as helpers for mankind, the embodiment of man’s best friend. Though, maybe his most important duty is his source of joy in thousands of homes as a lovely, reliable, intelligent companion. Secondly; Mr. Brian Wootton gave me three interesting themes to start up the discussion: (1) Strength and weaknesses of the modern GSD – actual animals and bloodlines and, of course, an open interaction and discussion about this theme, guided by your Chairman. (2) We will refresh our knowledge about conformation, why and what are we judging? Do we as judges do our utmost to fill in aspects of health, soundness, working abilities in conformation, standard type … how do we judge and why? We will refresh our knowledge by watching a video and discussing it. Is modern judging going for the cosmetic dog or do we have other aims? (3) The GSD; Is it a divided breed? Strength and weaknesses in continental breeding and showing. the full article - with pictures can be read here: http://www.videxgsd.com/STRENGTHS_AND_WEAKNESSES.htm

I actually posted a link here to that article on another site several days ago. Some discussion ensued here: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/63547.html#63559 Very interesting article.