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I just want to ask about if a straight back in a GSD is a fault, ive noticed that almost all of the GSD here have some to alot of slope. My dog is absolutly level. is this not a trait a breeder would want.

this is my boy, i've posted him before.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/500788.html

bunbun,

He looks like a typical American line shepherd, and most of the people who post on this board would not like him.

I am not a fan of American line shepherds myself, but to each their own!

Check out the links provided on this website on the BOTTOM LEFT side ("About the Breed"). There, you can find more information.

Though the American lines are different "type" of GSD, they are all still German Shepherd Dogs, and should come as close as possible to meeting the breed standard. I've recently decided that I am a proponent of making the American lines their own breed, because they have strayed so far from the standard that it really does look like a different dog.

I am not attacking, so please take this with the intent it was posted.

Well im just glad he does'nt walk like a bunny, igot him before i knew about the different types of GSD's. I really do like the working shepherds, but i'm happy with him, he still has working ablity and he will bit a sleeve, which is good. I never thought he looked like a American, but more of a NO Type, maybe im wrong.

Besides the fact that he looks like an American shepherd, does he have any major or minor structure faults?

he has a nice big head, his weight looks good.  If he is American, he has better pigment than most.  His back is somewhat soft, meaning that it actually slopes down just a pit in the center, but this could be that he is actually kind of twisting in this picture, or if he is quite young, that may change over time.  My personal opinion is.... you love him right?  Then what does our opinion matter?  He looks like a nice dog to me.

von, that is probably the first opinion that I actually love on this board!  Thanks for being so serious about your opinion.  A lot of on here feel the same way you do.  If we love our dogs, what the heck does anyone opinion matter if they don't like our dog!  Thank you!

Long live the long coats!

This back is typical of herding dogs... what I learned is the Germans wanted to have a back that is firmer (say the IRON back) correlated the back to an archstone (creating the slight roach) so even if the dog grows longer, the back will stay firm... I even saw a German pressing the back of a young dog to see if it was firm and hes looking for the back that contracts... The straight back I think should be a short back... It only looks long because of the LONG WITHERS and LONG CROUP...It the Backbone was anymore longer it will SWAY or DIP... topline should be gradually sloping only while the dog is in natural stack...

have a nice day... :) marci

Thank you on your comments Von symphoni, He does have a big head for an American, he is crossed with german show and a line of Czech ( which i think is where he gets his pigment form and good sized head) the reason i ask about his structure is that is have a few people who like what they see and would possibly would want to breed him. I want to make sure he is structure is sound, which is why i'm asking other experience breeder about him, before i do decide to do that.

Right now i'm working on a CGC and he is taking a herding instinct test on saturday, and would soon be training for a BH, He is getting his hips done on friday.

I have done some sleeve work with him with a trainer, he started bitting the sleeve instantly, my trainer was impressed, he didn't expect much form gentle moose. 

Well he is 85 lbs and is 26 inches at the withers and 30 inches long (very long), but he is not over size and he is a natural herder.

Well know you guys know my reason for asking, so now what do you think.

He is not of breeding quality in my opinion.

I don't see breeding him.  He's your dog, enjoy him, but leave breeding to others.

Before you breed your dog, I suggest you look on petfinder and see how many german shepherds are out there without homes. When I search I get over 300 dogs. Lots of these dogs look very similar to your dog-- handsome, but that doesn't mean people won't get tired of them or have to give them up for whatever reason.  Imagine if your dog's offspring become just more homeless dogs.

You have to ask yourself if your dog is really special and worth breeding. Is his temperament impeccable? Is he healthy? And have you had his hips x-rayed? AND will you find a female that also has these qualifications? Even if both parents' hips turn out to be perfect, that doesn't neccesarily mean every pups' hips will be.

I would say if your dog isn't exceptional in every way, don't breed him. There are already too many dogs and not enough responsible people to care for them.