Roach Back vs Straight Back - show - Page 6

Ibraham, the video you posted of Gina.  I do agree that this is an improvement on many of the more exaggerated constructions we see on some GSDs but still, Gina to me is over done and far from ideal in movement.  

The topline is not excessively sloping or roached in movement by today's standard but if this degree had been present in a dog in the UK ring in the 80s, it would have been seen as too exaggerated.  It's the gradual progress into this type that has desensitised us to the serious movement faults that occur with this type of construction.  Yes we were getting long reach and drive back then but soundness was paramount in the ring.

If we compare Gina's movement with that of Dingo - first the forehand.  On Gina there is exaggerated lift of the foreleg, compensatory for the rear overangulation, producing overreach.  The hindquarters - hock walking on the forward step, sickle hock on the backward.  Excessive up and down movement of the croup.  Overall there is slackness seen mostly in flapping of the front pasterns.  All very different from the balanced stride and firmness of the more ecconomical gait of Dingo.

Pod,

I agree to a great extent, just I beg you take into account that this type of gaiting on leash does not do the dog justice, if she was gaiting freely she would look much better, but I agree with your analysis.

Ibrahim

I liked your post Joseph, and agree. :)

I am a little late commenting here Ibrahim on your post showing your dogs naturally and in stance. You know what I think of your dogs toplines - they are probably some of the best I have seen. You couldn't make them look roached no matter what stack you put them into LOL.

I agree with pod, we have become desensitised to certain faults along the path that the GSD has taken, and now accept them as just part of being a GSD. Here or on the other thread someone made a statement that we need to re-orient ourselves to what is 'normal', and that I think is very true.

Abby Normal,

You add richness to any thread you participate in and I usually agree more than I disagree with you.

Ibrahim

  
Ibrahim

My statement was not directed at you or your dogs I do not know you, I have made a general statment based on my knowalge of the breed and in respect to the purpose of its creation. This breed is special in many ways my hope is that all the folks involved here understand this and take very seriuosly there choices on mateing pairs and all the important carictoristics that make up the GSD. I would like to think we are all pulling the wagon in the same dirrection but what I see tells me otherwise.

Respectutfully

Von Savitch K9

How long have you been in GSD's, V Savitch?

conservitivly 20 years I am 44 years old.

I didn't see one dog on your website over 6 years of age. Have you started over?

BTW, isn't that a showline in your avatar?

Seems like all this back and forth-- show line vs working line and all this distaste/hatred of one camp for the other, could be resolved and ended by doing the logical thing; declare them TWO DISTINCT BREEDS. And every one can leave each to his/her own ideal to make better or worse what remains of a breed in trouble.