will american breeders ever start breeding for a more well rounded GSD? - Page 7

I have to think that there are still people on this board who want to and can have a respectful and intelligent discussion about the quintessential GSD. If not, then maybe it's time to generate a new board or FB account where that can be accomplished?

the GSD breed standard has the most detailed description of character of any breed in the AKC and most likely the world. It reads that the breed [ not quoted, look it up] should have the character to do any job it is called on to do. That is an ideal and a goal. Maybe there is a couple of dogs who could lead the blind, not step on a mine, and be a kids valentine, but most well trained dogs are specialist. A perfectly straight back is an engineering mistake. The spine has curves to allow motion. The curves made by man's intervention can be extreme and faulty. The back should be level to the ground in motion but while standing you will see natures design and some necessary curviture of the spine.Think of a perfectly flat bridge over a canyon, under stress it is not as good as the bridge engineered with an upward curve. You can not be over angulated! The dog is either properly angulated or not! A pulling breed does not want a 90 degree angel for its shoulder, it will be straighter for strength. The pulling breed is properly angulated at less than 90 degrees. Over 90 degrees has it problems also for endurance [ reach] and is not wanted. I think there is plenty of balanced dogs in the population of GSD. These balanced dogs do not win in conformation or  training compitation they come in the middle of the pack and do not make the cover of the magazines or the web pages where the uninformed spend too much of their time! These balanced dogs are out there, at a local club being enjoyed by their owners and in many homes which never exploit the animal on the www.

 "A straight back is just as much of a hindrance as is over angulation
​Incorrect.  Lack of angulation is just as much a hindrance.  People need to learn to separate the anesthetic look of the topline from the angulation of the hindquarter, which is what is responsible for driving the dog forward."

Balanced angulation front and back.......if a dog is not balanced the gait, endurance and eventually joints will suffer



Ive seen some high scoring IPO3 dogs that do not have correct temperament off the field..... overly aggressive, nervous, no shut-off, and other issues. Training in a controlled environment and then trialing is the same type environment doesn't always prove that the most winning dog is the dog that has workability. I wonder how many of these dogs live in kennels 22 hours a day?

Please look at the statement ''over angulated'' in a different light. What is being deemed over angulated is really too long of length of the lower leg. The length of the tibia and fibula has been made longer thru selective breeding. There is a point where the lower leg is too long for muscle and ligaments to control. This is the ''break down'' in conformation. The angle of the upper leg to the  pelvis should approach 90 degrees. this 90 degree angle allows for better endurance by better reach of the rear assembly. I compare long limbs in the GSD to long fins on a fancy goldfish. Not much need in nature for longer fins. The slope back look is a product of a ''show stack'' to show off those long lower leg bones and should not be confused with a ''roach back'' seen in some GSD blood lines. Again it is my observation that the spine can not be arrow or 'poker'' straight to function properly, it needs curves for locomotion and strength.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nESyr_-M6po?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Could someone please imbed the aboveYouTube for me? I've tried, but can't do it. Thanks.....

http://youtu.be/nESyr_-M6po  link is easiest I think   

perfect for a shih tzu..........

Did you look at the entire video?  It applies to all breeds. This is just part of the Dog Steps DVD, accepted by most canine experts as the bible of dog movement.. Do you have a better video you can post here? Orion Shih Tzu is the kennel name of the person who coped this to the net.

Thanks, newbie.