BBC Dropping Crufts?; tv documentary tonight - Page 12

Yep, and the more popular the Malinois becomes the more problems you will get!  So... be thankful that your good old GSD "show breeders" intoduced so many helpful health screening checks, let's hope the working fraternity make good use of them before they breed from their (only) healthy specimens! 

I'll awnser en the health of the Malinois population. That is the one i know

I train NVBK it takes 3 years to get a dog to competion level and only about 1 out of 10 reach that level

These dogs are extremely healthy. The slightest default will cause problems. Example My oldest dog is at his limits and it is a ballanse act to keep him healthy. Ballansing between the amount of training necessary to get/keep him at competition level and to keep him from being injured and/or becoming sick.

Add to this a grooup of dedicated breeders who's purpose is to breed dogs that are capable of competing.

every dog in competition is scrupelous inspected at every trail for weaknesses. The few males breeder selects as potential breeding stock are also followed during training. The slightest problem will come out. And the dog will be eliminated from the shortlist.

If a problem arrives, the common factor is determined and the doges from that line won't be used for breeding anymore or much less.

There have been problems in the population, i know, but each time it has been repaired.

To give you the extent of the process

in 2008 evidence of another problem emerged (i've 1 of the 2 malinois in the world known to be affected) Nothing dramatic, every dog that snores has it but in our sport not acceptable for other reasons.

The use of studd dogs with the common ancester dropped in the second half of 2008 to almost 0

That is selective breeding

Greetings

Johan

Hello Johan, guess what?  Shepherd breeders (most) have been using selective breeding for many many years to rid the breed of problems that crop up; I mentioned some of these problems in a previous posting.

The real problems, as I previously mentioned, start when a breed becomes very popular which is what's happening with the Malinois! 

breeding yes but the GSD lacks a selectif trailing programme like Belgian ring

what may I ask is a "selectif trailing programme"?

Also if much of what I've seen of the Belgiums locally is a good representation of the breed it is not a route I wouldnt want the GSD to go down.

Johan, good luck!  Post me in 5 years time & give me chance to say, "I told you so."

i think this is the beginning of  the anti- show line  dog movement , 

The problem with improving breeding - it needs to be both in and out the ring.  I dabbled with showing 12 years ago and found it very facy so left and have just enjoyed the breed ever since, I also know of others who have fab dogs but dont want to show for various reasons, not just the time and expense involved.  Also with the Germanic lines in the UK if you dont have access to a trainer or GSD ringcraft its very hard to do well.

As for an anti-show dog movement its already well and truely established.

the belgian malinois  is becoming more popular because most of the people who used to own a german sheperd  are buying malinois , and also because dog sports   such as  french ring, schutzhund-ipo ,knpv belgian ring, etc are becoming more popular . 

Oh how very true, BEEPY about the anti show movement & not just in GSD-s either .

Unless you have people to help, or can attend a good breed class, or  are happy to send your dog away from your care and can afford to pay someone else to have & train your dog  , although it puzzles me what pleasure owners get in THAT ???..........oh I for got.... of course its the winning, the sad fact that some dogs don't even 'acknowlegde/know their owners to me is tragic & one has to question their REAL reason for owning & showing a gsd,I would say its not for the love of the individual dog ? but back to my point, unless you have one or all of the above facilities & can  book one of the top handlers, on the whole I would say your dog, no matter how correct & no matter how well it shows ,will be largely overlooked, certainly for top awards.This has been a sad fact for many years, no wonder entry numbers have dwindled to pathetic numbers & thats before we even think about entry costs, fuel etc.

I also think to a degree, the attitude of show people to other non showing & even working breeders does nothing to encourage people to get involved with showing.Alot of the show people seem to think that because they show, when they breed a litter they must naturally be producing better dogs then perhaps a breeder who by choice chooses not to show ,often for the reason I have already mentioned.I have heard it said by a top show person that breeders who don't show are not giving anything back to the GSD ??????

To me producing dogs of very sound temperament & correct SOUND construction, whom have passed the various health checks currently recognised, is what every breeder should espire to whether they choose to show or not, surely THAT is putting something back into the GSD breed ?