provide some examples of any endurance based animal (dog or not) that is shaped like a gsd. - Page 22

vonnisk - yes i would personally find yr dogs easy on the eye, but that again is my opinion and others may well disagree. my point is beauty IS in the eye of the beholder and as such is subjective, i could state that a dog is an excellent example of whatever breed and personally find it ugly - if you get what i am saying. 

the beauty for me is in the work ultimately otherwise it is just a pathetic caricature mocking the breed. 

anyhoo, nice pics thanks for sharing.

Having beautiful working line dogs and also conformation dogs that can work is truly doable! IMO, as breeders we should strive for this.

Doable? I think many would argue that these dog's already exist. The problem is that working ability and strength of character are not high on the priority list of kennel clubs and the SV, so breeders are not obligated to focus on these traits in order to win in the show ring. Kudos to those breeders who make working ability a priority, but IMO the type of conformation being promoted in the winners circle by the kennel clubs and the SV, create physical limitations on a dog's ability to do it's job. There are some excellent examples of "working type conformation" in SL's, however these don't appear to be the dog's placing well in the ring. 

IMO, the best decision a breeder can make is to distance themselves from the organizations and the standards that have caused the greatest harm to the breed. Focus on the important attributes that the breed is supposed to posses and ignore what is popular if it goes against these principles. It's not rocket surgery, but it does involve going against the grain in many circles.

Even though I disagree with part of your post felloffher overall it is a very good post. I do not believe I have ever described a dog as being beautiful in the showring, nor do a believe a show should be a beauty contest. I am not going to bore you with a long post but suffice it to say that SV judges do have the knowledge and power to reward working ability and do to a certain extent. I for one would be proud of my dog no matter what the placing if it had a strong working constitution. There are always people in attendance to these shows who can benefit from seeing good dogs.

Fell this is nuts, it would mean you will severely lose the low hanging fruit market, ie the typical and majority clueless buyer.

by following this strategy means breeders will actually have to put some thought into breeding combinations about what traits might emerge and have to continually test, train, test, train..... and find the small minority of buyers that will test, train, test, train ..... all that takes brains and effort and anything that requires brains and effort has to lose in favor of the low hanging fruit for  the dim & chronically stupid imo.

Fellofher said "IMO, the best decision a breeder can make is to distance themselves from the organizations and the standards that have caused the greatest harm to the breed. Focus on the important attributes that the breed is supposed to posses and ignore what is popular if it goes against these principles. It's not rocket surgery, but it does involve going against the grain in many circles."

Felloffher, excellent post and I agree one %.

Excellent post Fell and I definately agree there are those dogs out there--just gotta search them out...................

Joan said;

Felloffher, excellent post and I agree one %.

so you disagree 99% and still call it an excellent post??????



jk                :-)

Oooooooppppppsssss !!!!
No, that was a major typO, LOL.

I agree ONE HUNDRED % ! felloffher made an excellent post. And Vk, you did too.
And thanks for catching my screw-up. I generally check before I leave it. :-)