Let's talk structure - Page 2

I happen to like square dogs and dislike slanted backs. If you look at the old dogs they are quite square and strait backed, like a Malinois. Allot of dogs have a small dip in their sholders/back after the neck. Some people wig out over that (call it weak), I could care less.I hate the hare feet, they never self trim like square footed dogs. For me the rear end makes or breaks the dog and his looks. With a weak and wobbly behind, the dog is useless. He can get away with some East/West or shorter or longer pasturns like a horse can. Sure the movement will be different but at least he "can" move. The dogs with a low butt and frog legs look as if they will tip over if you pushed on their side, do tey even have enough strength to push forward well? IMO they can't jump as well as a squarer dog. I prefer a strait tail with a slight bend at the tip and darker dogs with shorter coats. I'm more of a stickler with smaller nice ears than worrying about light eyes.

I understand your point 4pack.everybody has their own taste.

But the standard do not call for square dog..

It is well balanced, with harmonious development of the forequarter and

hindquarter. The dog is longer than tall, deep-bodied, and presents

an outline of smooth curves rather than angles.

July9000,100% correct, soooooo well put !!!!!!! liz

I HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD BY MY CANINE FRIENDS, THAT THEY ARE LEAVING HOME. THEY HAVE JUST BEEN READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS ON THIS BOARD AND HAVE HIT BACK.  "MUM"  THEY SAID---YOUR BACKSIDE HAS GOT DECIDEDLY LARGER, YOUR HAIR COLOUR IS WASHED OUT, YOUR FEET LEAVE A LOT TO BE DESIRED (and they smell) YOUR MIDDLE PIECE LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE JUST GIVEN BIRTH, YOUR EARS ARE LOP SIDED, YOUR BACK IS BENT, AND YOU HAVE NO TAIL. YOU CANT EVEN DO A FULL DAYS WORK---WHATS THIS PARTTIME ALL ABOUT.

SO, WE SAW A GORGEOUS YOUNG BLONDE WITH ALL HER BITS IN THE RIGHT PLACES WALKING PAST THE HOUSE-----AND WE'RE OFF TO LIVE WITH HER.

I could sit and watch my dogs trot all day. They move so effortlessly and I am in ah!!

Also I like the intelligent look of a shepherd. They act as though they know what you are saying and probably do.

I don't know too much about standards and correct this or that. I just know I love my dogs the way they are.

I enjoy reading the comments from the experts.

Sandra

Like where you're coming from KC and can only add a couple of comments to your initial list:

Good bone - I like to see a dog that is solid limbed e.g. in the front leg & hocks - within the confines of the male/female type of course. Certainly agree with good feet - see www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/161322.html for previous foot fetish thread!

Rottie head - definitely don't like this, heavy lipped, squashed muzzle/face & drooping eyelids etc just don't look right to me. Hooked/thin tails would also put me off straight away.

An overly deep/wide chest  can also ruin an otherwise harmonious structure.

Cheers,

AandA

Brady Bee.....LOL!

I forgot eyes, I don't like a light eye either. I like small ears, but they are really pretty gratuitous. I would also take a squarish dog any day of the week over one that resembles a giant corgi.

 LOL..a giant corgi LOLOL never tought of this one..

I like bigger ears than too small earsthat look like a husky..And I don't like hocks that are too long..

And I like regular accepted colors..liver fawn blue or white..not for me..

One thing i've notice also is that solid black dogs always seem more narrow..less bony..but I think it is just the effect of the color..black makes you look thin..But maybe it's only my impression of it..

I really like what AandA said.
Bone matters; narrow-chested weakly dogs just don't cut it.
A dog has to be able to gait proper for more than just a couple of quick rounds to show true soundness in build & structure.
I can accept a slightly masculine female more than a feminine looking male in head profiling. Masculine females seem to produce nice masculine sons. I prefer darker masked face if possible, and proper alert ear carriage.
Dogs that can stack natural without needing posed, and have nice compact feet.
Dogs who weigh and stand well within the breed standard (no tiny dogs nor HUGE ones)
I, too, don't like the off-colors, nor do I personally want the long coat if avoidable.
Pigments preferred is blk/red and solid black. Sable is not a favorite in my book-merely a personal preference only.
A dog (male or female) should give an overall presence of power and harmonious impressiveness.

And I can't help but add this-a great dog with an arrogant, stuck-up owner/seller is a turn-off to me, regardless of how great the dog looks & moves.

I'll give it a shot.

I prefer a dog with a ratio of 9 to 10, height to length. Front leg should be about half the height to the withers. I like my dogs hard and dry, that is, muscular with little fat. I want to see those muscles ripple when the dog moves. I should be able to tell if the dog's a male or female just by looking at the head. Bitchy looking males are a problem in American show lines.  Good pasterns and feet, not overly angulated (no extreme length of upper and lower rear leg for me).  I don't need extreme reach (the front leg doesn't have to be a mile past the nose when the leg is extended in a trot.)  I like a good mover that looks like he could trot all day, well matched front and rear propulsion.  I prefer a level back, but a slightly convex back is preferable to a concave back since it's stronger and will level out as the dog works.

I like dark eyes, but it depends on the color of the dog's face. Darker eyes are pleasing in a dark face. Lighter eyes are okay in a light face. Erect ears. Tail with no hooks or "rings". Coat color: I prefer red and black, but strong colors are best.

A good front assembly is wonderul. I understand it's hard to change by selective breeding and when you get one, you want to propagate it. (Think Canto).

I dislike wobbly rears, overangulation, two-piece dogs, skislope toplines, weak-looking skinny dogs, bitchy males (somehow masculine females aren't quite as unappealing to me), "hyena dogs", weak pasterns, double track gait, short reach (poor shoulders), hock walking (poor rear). Overly deep chests and short legs (although some overly deep chests give the appearance of short legs when the legs would be correct if the chest were better.) Don't care for narrow chests or barrel chests either.

I sound hard to please, don't I?