What do you think of this dog? - Page 3

Hutchins - you seem to set up a premise about length of pastern causing weakness , in your first paragraph, then
argue against yourself with examples of why it does not matter, then come back to your original conclusion.  ??
Can you try and clarify, please ?
Reason - I agree,  Max is spinning like a top !

Seems to me that with this type of dog, the (American) infatuation with making the coat appear as 'plush' as
possible may or may not make the dogs appear 'fat' and only a judge, hands-on, could be sure - but if the
dog is TOO DEEP in chest to start with,  it will always look big n saggy to people used to the international
show dog or working dogs.
                                                                                                                                                                             
Chaz - he has much better pigment than Rinty   ('bout the only nice thing I can say about him !)

We can make excuses and rationalize  to explain his faults all we want, ( he stands cowhocked, but doesn't trot that way????) fact is, this is the dog, America and Canada are holding above all others as the standard for the German Shepherd Dog.   A very sad testament. 
When I saw the German Shepherds there (10 of them) all  extremely angulated, extremely unattractive IMO, many with poor heads and weak pasterns,  I was embarrassed for the breed. 

I guess I missed the period when it became acceptable for a dog to stand so cow hocked as long as it didn't move that way. Thats like saying the ears don't flop when a dog stands still, so they are ok.

There is really not much to find correct about the dog, back looks weak, croup is short and very steep and that's a body built for the couch.

susie, it is very expensive to campaign dogs to this level (in the U.S.) is the reason you often see multiple owners. I can promise that no one argues with this handler and he is very good at what he gets paid for.

Rik

I´m not used to AKC regulations, but handling a German Shepherd in a suit gives me the feeling that this dog is no Shepherd but a poodle....

The handlers at AKC all breed shows normally wear suits/ties.

I do think the American Show Shepherd/poodle comparison is very astute, though unfair to poodles.

jmo,
Rik
 

I agree with Euro & Hutchins on pasterns & hocks, 

It is hard to give an opinion on the dog when it is not standing stacked and the picture is taken from above. Many GS dogs stand this way when at rest. This is from all bloodlines (Am/WG Show/DDR) . It is not appealing. The type and the head are nice, but that is all you can really see from this type of image. I'm not abolutely sure who the dog is, however the photographer needs practice.

I like your comments Susie 

If the hocks and being too heavy are this dog's only problems and if he can kick butt then he is a good dog. 

The photographer needs practice to make the dog look better? LOL

I am all for natural stand, shows the dog. I have seen people manufacture better look in dogs and that is OK but things show if the judge sees these dogs just standing around also. That is the time they need to look, not when the dog is shoved into the stand that hides it all...

The dog appears fat and cow hooked to me, with no muscle mass and no... nothing, kinda blobish... and yah the pasterns are weak.

I shall remain with my short croup WL in top condition with some muscle definition..

This dog is fat.  Probably 90% of his problem is his weight;  weak pasterns, cow hocked, etc.  MOST GSD on this forum stand cow hocked when at rest, I personally don't like it much but it does not mean they move that way.

Yep, you need to wear suit/tie in the AM. show ring, and in the GSD ring shoe's that are appropriate also.  Knowing how Jimmy Moses handles, he will probably get this dog in shape in time.  Nan