Is it not possible to have an intelligent, fact based discussion ........... - Page 8

True hackney movement looks like this: http://chambordhackneys.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=5&Itemid=41

 So, I'd prefer the term 'lifting the front', too, although the 'heil Hitler' description made me laugh!

Julie, the dog you're saying has such awful structure is a VA rated dog. Surely he can't be that bad? 

I said it before..Tiltles don't mean that much too me.  With all the politics and bullshit going on in shows I don't care if the dog is VA or Grand Victor..even working titles can be bought!!

So he's got a nice head and nice colors.that's about all I can say!  Do you have a video of him in motion?? I would be please to correct my statement if i'm wrong (but unfortunatly I don't think so).

Indeed July....that Aquamarin bitch that was the 2007 (?) Siegerin....one of the worst shepherd gaits I have EVER seen x.x

Nope Sunsilver I'm a dyed in the wool New Englander originally from Massachusetts ( tho my heart lies in Vermont on the Canadian border).  Family obligations brought me here to dear old flat, hot, brown California 20+ years ago but I still live in hope that one day, one day I will be transported to a greener place on earth. I miss those green meadows I was talking about and it's especially hard during summer with our 110 degree days with no wind and no cooling down at night.

I'm just the opposite of Shelley. I would happily have winter and rain and wind and grey days again. Enough with the sun already yet. Plus they don't even bother to use it when they could. Gov. Grey Davis instead of paying off the utility companies could have given free solar to a million houses in California who would now NOT be on the grid using electricity but I guess that was just too logical to do. So instead we now have them are trying to entice us to let the utility control our AC from the central office. Unfortunately they have already installed meters ( w/o permission) that can be read from the Central office which means they can be controlled from the Central office which in the future will allow them to do selective "deservice". Whoops sorry don't get me going on the great and glorius and f--- up State of California.

I think you may have thought I was from England for two reasons. I butted heads with VIdex on the JRD issue that he was flagging to destroy a competing stud dog (and approaching it w/o any scientific validity) so he of course got extremely paranoid and thought I was one of his local enemies despite the fact that I have always been open as to who I am , my dogs and my location.  Secondly, there is a lady in England who also has a dwarf who has posted several times. She is my inspiration since her guy is older than my Nemo. And thank you for asking about Nemo.

Nemo will be 11 in 3 weeks and knock on wood is doing ok tho he sleeps more these days. As an early birthday present we took him herding with Linda Rorem up in Pescadero a couple weeks ago. He is a hoot and Linda smiles and laughs the entire time she's working him. This was extra special because now she has some Nubian pygmy goats and his little face just lit up and said aha sheep my size ( tho he had never ever been intimidated by stock - facing down full size rams with not a care in the world). He was soooo bad every once in awhile because there was this little black and white one with a curly cue tail that she would flick at him and of course that just had to be addressed.  When he was a puppy he used to grab onto sheep tails and go for a ride a trick that he later transferred to adult GSD tails ( esp coated ones). Julia had a fantastic bitch V Cora v Sontausen Sch3 who actually ran 6 blinds with Nemo hanging on for the ride!

Julia had a fantastic bitch V Cora v Sontausen Sch3 who actually ran 6 blinds with Nemo hanging on for the ride!

Aww, what a hoot that little guy is!   


Julie, did a search for Ronaldo in motion, but couldn't find anything.  However, a comment on his picture on the data base here said he 'looked like a goose',  (i.e., goose stepping) and they should get a better photo with a better handler. Apparently they did replace the photo..... with the one above!

I had asked Linda to bring her ducks figuring we would try him on those because it would be less stressful, less energy. Unfortunately they just disn't have enough attitude for him. He thought it more important to help the lady in the next paddock over put the sheep away - working the fence line back and forth.  Next time just for giggles we may have to try him on the geese - they should have enough attitude for him.

He really does deserve to have a herding title but economics are a problem. Plus we don't know if AKC would register him after all this time. We talked about ILPing him but the problem would be the picture would reveal his somewhat short stature for a GSD. So joking someone suggested we should take him to one of those kids playgrounds with the minature houses and stand him in front of that and take his picture. But now we have a new optionif we can get Linda out of the picture and get one of him working the pygmy goats - there you go. :)))))

Can you tell he's my heart dog.  He's very special and his other talent is true shepherding -taking care of the people that need it. Apparently this is something that his Dad, Lasso produced - and we really need to find a way to preserve because it is an element of the GSD temperament that we are losing today.

I'm not saying he's a soft smoozer by any means. He actually is quite discriminatory in who he bestows his attention on. Many people are attracted to him because he's just so darn cute and with most he displays quite proper GSD aloofness. Polite but with the attitude - who the heck are you and why do you think you have permission to touch me - I don't know you.
But with the wounded of spirit - ah now that's another thing.

He has been pinch hitting as my service dog lately 'cause Rem is in heat. We were at the library and were approached by a Mom and two little girls ( who had spotted Nemo under the table).  Mom told me that they had recently had to "place" their two Jack Russells due to financial constraints. Reading between the lines, I suspect they lost their home to foreclosure and while the girls thought their dogs had new homes, I'm not quite sure that's what happened 'cause you could see the heartache in Mom. Mr. Nemo even tho he was tired from a long day's work, came out and sat with all three  of them giving gentle gentle little kisses and letting them pat him and love on him with just the most serene patience. He is truly an empath in these situations and I thank God every day for his special little soul and for the brightness he brings not only to my life but to so many he touches as we travel thru the day. Even just looking at him, people's face brighten and smile and they feel good for that moment in time. It is truly magical to see.

Tig, that darn near brought a tear to my eye! I hope you don't mind if I post his picture from Linda Shaw's site? (Nemo's the one on the right, of course!)



Apologies to Rik and everyone else for dragging this thread OT, but I think everyone needs to know that dwarfs don't necessarily have to be euthanized as soon as they are identified. With the right veterinary care, and TLC, they can make wonderful pets, though their lifespans are usually shortened by the genetic defects that come with the dwarfism.
 
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6074/

Xeph,
I usually chose to ignore your self-rightous know-it-all posts, because it is not worth my effort. But saying that the 2007 World Champion Gina vom Aquamarin had one of the worst gaits you have seen, really tops the cake. Big question: Where in Germany have you seen her? She has never been shown in the U.S. or in Canada? So, where was it? And please do not refer to that stupid youtube video, it does not show her gait off. I happen to know that bitch very well, and I can assure you that her gait is breath taking. Plus, I would never ever dare to base my opinions on little amateur clips! Your new pet quality bitch certainly will never ever come close to that. I bet that she will fall on her forehand as soon as she is tired, after about 10 minutes or so. You and your kind are unbelievable, stealing photos without permission to post here and pick other people's dogs apart.
Please refresh my memory: What the hell are your accomplishments, so I can at least respect your so-called opinions?

Video of Gina gaiting: http://izzet.com//play.php?vid=715  I think this shows her gait at the trot quite well. There are several other videos of her on that webpage, too.  The start of this one is quite interesting. I've never seen a GSD walk like that before:http://izzet.com//play.php?vid=646

This is a well-known bitch. These videos and pictures are readily available online where the public can access them. I think we can all learn by watching them, and critiquing them. Not all of us can afford to go to Germany!

And I mean critiquing them, NOT trashing them!

The purpose of this thread is to discuss and learn.

Sunsilver,
when you posted your derogatory remarks about Gina last year (for your convenience, I include the link to that: www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/239787.html#240523 ),I contacted the most important person in Gina's life directly with that and the request to get involved. His answer: "No way! That is beneath Gina!"
You call her gait strange in the protection video!  BTW, your link does not work for me, so here it is again: izzet.com//play.php  Any person who trains in Schutzhund can tell you why: She is under complete tension: Obedience and the drive to go to the helper! That is a conflict in a dog who has the true desire to work! Gina is not only a beautiful dog, she truly can work as well. She participated in a DVG competition and has SchH3 IP3 FH2! But I guess a person who also calls workinglines unsuitable as pets would not see that. The first link you posted shows a dog who still has a great topline and high withers after running for hours (!!!) without any exxageration. Have you or know-it-all Xeph ever been to the German Sieger Show? I can tell you that these dogs have to run for hours, it does not compare with your Nationals. Ask Rik or Bill Leonhard, they will confirm that. When you see the best compete in the working classes, they have an already grueling day of running behind them.
I am going to extend my request to you as well: What are your accomplishments in the breed? American or Canadian showring? Have you ever been to a show with an SV judge? Are you a breeder, exhibitor, handler or judge? My guess is no, otherwise you would not make remarks like that. The handling alone makes all the difference. In the AKC ring, a dog is "strung up" and the head is held up in an unnatural swanlike position. In the SV ring, a dog is taught to pull really hard, with the help of double handling. That way, a dog really digs his rear in and comes up in the front, therefore throwing his legs up, if he is not restricted with a steep upper arm and shoulder. I guarantee you that this will cease after running for 10 to 15 minutes. That is why judges make them run and run and run. I have translated for so many judges over the years, I know. A lot of judges do not look at these dogs, until they tire a bit. This is the reason for all that running in the circle. Judges want to see what a dog has left after the digging in and pulling ceases. Only then can you see the true structure of a dog. Any skilled handler can make a dog look good strung up or on tight lead. Any talented handler can stack a dog to look like a top V-rated contender, but the truth comes out after running for a while.
What do you think would happen to your dog or the one Xeph brags about?
Yes, I do like interesting threads to learn and discuss, but here I only see a couple of people who have not accomplished anything other than alienating people with their so-called critiques!