dogs bred for looks lose mental bite - Page 5

HighDesertGSD, I really enjoyed your story!   

And Uglydog is correct about the poodle, as it is generally believed to have originated as a German water dog. The fancy haircuts were designed to keep the joints warm while the shaven parts reduced the weight of water. It was the French who went foo-foo!

The American Showline is NOT in a mess.

The mess is "no line".

Showline means at least the pups' sire and the dam's sire, and her dam's sire are AKC champions.  The dam must be of good conformation and have a stable mind herself.

Showline frequently have good OFA records, but it varies. I have rejected a few champion studs because one grandparent is not OFA.

Officially, the GSD is NOT a working dog. It is a herding dog, officially.

"TAKE THIS TROUBLE FOR ME:  MAKE SURE MY SHEPHERD DOG REMAINS A WORKING DOG, FOR I HAVE STRUGGLED ALL MY LIFE LONG FOR THAT AIM"   Captain Max von Stephanitz

Actually, this is what we are talking about when we say a "working dog".  We are not referring to a group.  As for herding, I did a little bit of that with my old Tiekerhook dog.  A good working dog is capable of so much more than "looking pretty in your back yard".

Honestly, I am really glad you are happy with your American Show Shepherds.  I believe this is the right dog for you, if all you want is something that looks pretty trotting.  Please never get yourself a true working shepherd, it would be so unfair to the dog.

>by HighDesertGSD on 24 January 2009 - 02:01
>
>Officially, the GSD is NOT a working dog. It is a herding dog, officially

Are you saying that a herding dog, officially, is NOT a working dog? Isn't herding working? What IS it then, playing around?

>by HighDesertGSD on 23 January 2009 - 02:01
>
>Different stroke for different folks, "original purpose" is a worthless concept.

How can you discard "original purpose"? The original purpose is what laid the foundation for the abilities our dogs have today, and by loosing this out of sight one also looses future direction. If some people wants to maintain the original purpose why on earth criticize that? THAT might be the thing that saves our breed from getting dumb and useless. Having the original purpose in mind when planning and striveing for betterment of the breed is also something that maintains the usefullness.
Why do you discard the "original purpose"?

Why do you discard the "original purpose"?

1. Herding is not done much anymore

2. In the USA and other affluent countries, a dog no longer has to earn its keeps. The role of the loved pet for a dog comes into existence.

3. The movement of the GSD, its long stride in high speed trotting before galloping, was once a very desired feature. The angulation and fluid gait derives from its herding heritage, modified into a feature of visual delight for the owner now. It also looks nimble.

4. As a pet, much of the bodyline of the American showline is achieved to please the owner, who has a certain judgement on beauty, frequently linked to the  predetermined concept of "natural beauty" for the GSD.

5. Accentuated role in protection can be, and I believe is, ONE very apt MODIFICATION from the "origoinal purpose". One the other hand, some diminition in the natural protective instinct of the breed in exchange for beauty that satisfies the owners visual satisfaction in a pet is NO less apt.

Why is there any more discussion on the aptness of beauty? I agree that there is no less aptness in accenbtuated protection role, just NOT any more.

Easy answer

About show and field labs.

For this breed, I find the field dogs better looking than the show ones.

Not true for the GSD, the American Showline is, IMO,  better looking than any showline, day and night better looking than most working line imports.

Why is there no discussion on the aptness of beauty???/If you are not smart enough to figure that out then it reflects on your opinions......I asked you if you owned the book German Shepherd in word in picture....you neatly avoided answering me....if you had you would have chapter and verse and pictures of German shepherds doing police work, red cross work under gunfire, military work, including sentry dogs, back in the twenties, thirties, and forties, when the dog was doing work in line with the ORIGIN of the breed. So protection work was done back in the twenties even. Your lack of knowledge of the uses of the breed in the past and even today are part of the reason for no discussion on beauty. If the originator of the breed wanted the protection instincts to be developed, and the founding club of the breed(SV) want the protection instincts of the breed to be developed to even register the dog to breed, WHY should I listen and have a dialogue with Highdesert in putting beauty above working.........What shapes your views besides your limited opinion? ....though we are all entitled to our opinion, people have informed opinions and uninformed opinions and I will leave it at that!