WHY ARE OUR SHOW GSDs. BANANA BACKED. - Page 2

Hi Charlie, My! You are a brave one to enter here! I'm just stupid! Are we speaking of roach (bow arch!) or 'banana back', the opposite? I've always resented way clubs all over expediently modify the Standard to oblige local scene. It only encourages greater trend toward very thing for which they made modification in first place - if that makes sense? Idiotically, I think all Shepherds should first and foremost be a working animal (and have anatomy to suit), as intended from beginning of Breed, and the Showing part ought to be only supplementary thereto. I look at some animals now and cringe at the excessive angulation and unnatural arching, but that's only me! Help me out here, Charlie and Blitz.

Lenny your right,They are dragging them on the ground....lol. Peter, It is not only you,I agree, everything is extream..........

WHAT THE HECK HAS THE AKC got to do with the SHAPE of GERMAN DOGS -- MANY HAVE AN AWFUL ROACH -- WHICH IS WHAT I thought was the point of this discussion. THE AMERICAN DOGS HAVE A "SLIDE" FROM TOPLINE DOWN AND ARE EQUALLY INCORRECT. THE ODD THING ABOUT THE ROACH APPEARING DOGS - (some of it is in how they are set up) but THEY CAN MOVE -- which seems totally strange. When my male stands normally - or is posed - he has a dead level back -- and the standard, by the way says LEVEL BACK -- I don't know where it says "straight" - But when he moves - he puts his head down and that effectively curves the middle piece -- appearing roached. -- The thing is, the actual "back" is just a little piece in the middle -- between the end of the ribs and the start of the croup -- so if you squit long enough and hard enough, you might be able to talk yourself into a little section that appears somewhat level -- It is indeed ODD -- and not all the dogs have it to the same degree - thank God !

First off Pine,don't yell at me,your not my mother.Second,if you think the AKC has nothing to do with the shape of at least the dogs in this country you have another thing coming.The true German Shepherd does not and will not win in the show ring here in the states anyway which is why the AKC has slaughtered the breed with it's roachbacks and over angulation, because that is what is liked and what is winning,most in the showring can do nothing other then run around the ring a couple time and hopefully make it past the judges inspection without pissing all over it's self. It was my understanding that we were talking showdogs no matter if your talking slide or banana,neither should be to the point that we seem them now. neither should it matter if we are talking dogs bred and born in Germany or the US Should we enter the topic of temperament also......

not to mention,I have never heard the term banana backed before....

Cheers Pinerigde, Your comments have me struggling somehat, but I believe I get your meaning and agree. The thing is that from an anatomical point of view high whithers are a definite plus, right? (Allows muscles to bind over spine?) And, similarly, a gently sloping croup is good also. Which, as you say, should leave a level or gently curving bit in between when animal is standing. And, when sitting, you may well expect to see a bit of curve or roach, and this is what I expect in my animals. Mine can turn on a dime, whatever that proves! And when animal is on the move, the back or spine ought to stay fairly straightish! Is this what you understand? I feel that unduly roached animals may move well because power becomes more concentrated toward hind quarters? Can't comment about AKC. What's the necessity for extreme(ish?) angulation though?

Peter,necessity? none other then that is what they like therefor that is what they breed for.

Charles, You know what I reckon: It looks good in posed photographs - same for absurd arching! The bitches I've got fall into very nice pose quite naturally - no abnormality required!

I agree with you.People think I hate show dogs,that is simply not true,I like a nice show dog,but to much of anything,I do not care what it is .......is not good.What kind of weather are you having there now Peter?

Charles, Happy to be told I'm wrong, but whoever started this thing got the terminology all screwed up.(In my oh-so humble opinion!) I've heard the term banana- backed before, but not proper term anyway, and I've always understood it to mean the opposite to roach or arched back - not the ruddy same as here! I also get cheesed off (when Show Breeders sell pups) how very 'sweet' their animals' temperaments are! What that's got to do with an animal that got to have persistence and perseverance to do job given - and sense of independence? As it is it will only lead to dogs that are real 'darlings' and posers, but not much good for anything else. Also think Standard should be same world- wide! Bejesus, you've got me started, sir! Meant to ask yesterday if you've got snow there. Very warm here yeterday, now good. Behave!