Sore Subject - Page 3

Thank you for your nice words Sam1427 and Stephvdh. I appreciate that.

One can see that the profile of the GSD, which was offered in all documents and any official material to the judges, matched the absolute Standard.
In the DDR, one was doing a great job to keep the working abilities of the GSD AND its health.
Now that was proved by the HD-results too.
 
As I have written on my weblog, the ratio for all x-rayed GSDs in the DDR reached a peak of 95% of HD1-results, I think it was in the mid 80es, 1985 or something. They were in the midst of eradicating CHD.
The late Werner Dalm has written more about these results in his book: "Die Zucht des Deutschen Schäferhundes in der ehemaligen DDR" (GSD Breeding in the former DDR).
I'm very sorry to say that Mister Dalm passed away in December. We're losing a great man. I feel priveleged that I was able to at least speak to him a couple of times.

DebiSue! Also to you a thank you for your comforting words.
Now a lot of the gsd-fanatics will never admit their dog "has it too". But I remember that when we first came to my parents' house with our pup Indiana vom Wildsteiger Land, my Mom said: "Whats wrong with its back?"
And she has always repeated after that, that Indiana's back wasn't "natural".

To Bob-O, Max von Stephanitz has told us in his book, how the GSD must ne judged correctly. He explains exactly how the dog must rest on all 4 paws and elaborates without end. He did NOT, and I repeat, he DID NOT tell or show us, how we need to "stack" or "manipulate-him-until-he-goes-nuts". The awful manipulation by the handler must be rejected. It should not be allowed to lay hand on the dog. Judges are perfectly capable to see +ses and -ses of any dog, without you touching him or bringing him into the most akward position. A nice dog will stand naturally on all fours by itself!

Hope all your dogs will stay healthy!
Jan

for an example of horses.........

look at an american saddlebred and a tenneessee walking horse...............

 

 

Hi Jantie! As always, it's good to see you here and we send our best to you in these stressful times with family matters. I know the feeling as the wife just lost her oldest aunt and the last days were not good. I really like your animation of the canine anatomy-hats off to you for providing a great example of something that is difficult to explain so that it can be understood.

As I mentioned above (but should have added more detail) the "straight" back is not really straight, at least to the eye. The spine of the "straight" back is very nearly straight with a nearly negligible upward arch. Most of the visible curvature that we see is presented by the mass of muscular and connective tissue that lies adjacent to the spine.

I think the true "roach" is very easy to distinguish when the dog is moving at any speed, especially the speed required for the flying trot. At this speed the back must remain rigid and not "roll up" with each thrust of the hindquarters. The withers must remain higher than any part of the back or rump. The "roach" back will show a pronounced rollup and of course this causes lost motion = lost energy.

In our stateside A.K.C.-type GSD we see their interpretation of the "straight" back. To the eye it appears extremely straight which can be caused by a slight sag. This type of back will also suffer lost motion and in a way I would think is very detrimental to the dog's health-but that is just a theory of mine and not based on any science.

I certainly understand the reason about the long-ago promotion of the "straight" back over that of the "roach" back or the sagging back. From the established F.C.I. standard the S.V. took their interpretation of correct GSD spinal features past the point of interpretation and established their concept that tries to show why the more pronounced upward curvature is somehow correct and useful. As with all things it can be easily overdone and ignored by those who are charged to uphold the breed standards, but I digress.

Jantie, as always it is good to hear from you.

All our best,
Bob-O

Your words feel very good Bob-O, especially now that I have concluded my study and I'm dropping into a void.

People who wish to receive the "world premiere" of my Paper, prior to the internet publication, are very welcome to forward me their e-mail-address in a Personal Mail (PM).

My paper will bring wonderful footage of GSDs, stacked as well as in motion. Your explications fit like a glove to what you will see there!

Talk to you soon. I'm ready for the countdown.

Jan

Latest rumours: Henke has thrown in the towel, at least in the Landesgruppe 07.