Please show me your WL gaiting! - Page 29

Ibrahim, I don't know who said it's wrong to have a GSD as a pet and for children to love, and easy to handle in the home, but I can say that it is not wrong. In fact,( and I don't like to use Gustav to validate this in case I accidentally mis-state what he has said, but I will since you used him in your post) Gustav has said that the problem is in BREEDING FOR PET GSDs which are incapable of any kind of work.
Not all wL GSDs are destined for the work force, the MAJORITY of WL gsd go to pet homes same as any SL gsd. But usually, and it's the case with mine, the dogs have the responsability of being family "watch dog"...... that is one function of the breed, they must have territoriality to be effective as a watch dog or family protector. Breeding FOR pet does not necessitate any instincts and will generally not produce the character of the GSD...the GSD is eventually bred OUT of the purposely bred PET gsd.

Joanro,

 

I know Gustav wouldn't say such a thing, and I know he is correct when saying it is not correct to breed GSDs for pets, actually breeding for a single purpose or trait is wrong as it diminishes other necessary traits/qualities.

I am not asking why it is wrong to breed pets?

I am asking is it wrong to have/own a pet GSD?

I know you breed quality dogs meant for work, but still it is possible that in say 20 puppies 2 or 3 would fail to qualify for serious job and would only fit for pet or companion.

The one who buys that pup to be his/her pet, and by coincidence joins this forum, is he/she less than any one of us, is he/she supposed to feel shameful his puppy is not a strong GSD eligible for sport or millitary job?

 

Ibrahim

Hired: Next, you mentioned the pet factor again....again, the GSD was not bred to be a pet, its meant to be a working animal.
Soft, weak temperament dogs are not what versatility means, why did everyone take this term and applied it to the detriment of this breed?
Versatile means the dog can do several JOBS. ANY dog can be a pet, if you so desire to relegate one to that status, but, there is an entire class of pet dogs to choose from too, why bother with this breed?    

BUT

as  soon as you want to breed German Shepherds you have to care about the standard.

At least I am interested in a German Shepherd looking like a German Shepherd.
I´m not interested in a working dog looking like ???

I´s too easy to say "I don´t care" - because as soon as you are "shopping around" for a German Shepherd you don´t want to see a dog 70 cm high in the withers, with floppy ears, curled tail, and missing teeth.

Without standard no breed.

Back to temperament - I have seen alot of litters during my life - in almost all of these litters there were puppies with different temperaments, some "real" dogs, some IPO dogs, some pet dogs. And if I ( the buyer ) am not able to find the dog that fits me within a litter, I´m looking at the next litter - there is no shortage of German Shepherds...

I think ( and that´s only me - even over here a lot of people think different ) a breeder should try to breed for balanced working dogs, within these litters there will be everything people want, but the ultimate goal always should be to breed dogs that are able to work, with well balanced drives, within the standard of the German Shepherd.

 

Ibrahim: The one who buys that pup to be his/her pet, and by coincidence joins this forum, is he/she less than any one of us, is he/she supposed to feel shameful his puppy is not a strong GSD eligible for sport or millitary job?

No, these people are NOT less, they might be the best dog owners of the world, but THEY SHOULDN`T BREED THESE DOGS!

Susie, i agree with everything you said, what people do not get is that breeding dogs FOR shows or FOR pets is not what this breed needs.
If people bred to the original standard, we would not be having this conversation, no?

I think Susie provided the missing chain between us, Standard. GSD is a working dog and it should remain so, GSD is a trotter with specified angulations. Breeding for a single purpose, single trait, color, sport and so is not correct. When breeding, forgetting conformation or temperament is wrong

So Ibrahim, a question for you sir...you have become an expert in judging conformation dogs, i read your answers, very thorough and well worded, but, since you believe that a GSD should never be bred for one single aspect, how come you never ask about the dog's temperament after ypu offer your critique?

That´s not fair, Hired.
People asking for a critique about CONFORMATION should be able to get an adequate answer, and that´s what Ibrahim is doing, and he is GOOD at it.
People asking  for a critique about WORKING ABILITIES should be able to get an adequate answer, too, and at that point there are different members asked.
As soon as people are asking about the BREEDWORTHINESS of their dog, they should listen to all of them
 

It wouldn't be proper to do so, op is asking for a conformation critique on a picture, it isn't nice of me to ask for dog's temperament, moreover I am not a dog expert, even if he/she tells me something about the dog's temperament I wouldn't be able to judge or give advice on temperament.

 

One more thing, if anyone of you thinks I am an expert on conformation or I am a professional judge, that is wrong, I am only a GSD enthusiast, I appreciate conformation and did learn about it, but I am in no way an authority on conformation, what I say is  my personal opinion about a dog's structure, might be true or untrue in fact, what I say is how I see it in that exact picture and stack.

Best for anyone to know the correct conformation of a dog is to present it infront of an official judge. Best for evaluating a dog's conformation is watching it in a trot, not a stack in a dead picture. What I offer is ONLY a enthusiast opinion. That is all, if anyone thought differently, I apologize, I never meant to present myself as an expert, I AM NOT AT ALL.

 

Ibrahim

Susie, i know that, Ibrahim knows a dead picture it too, however, you cannot have a complete picture of a dog without knowing its temperament.
The reason i believe is different, but, we will leave it for another time.

Ibrahim, trust me when i tell you that you can judge a dog much better then some judge, even from a dead picture.
You sir may not be some official but i would trust more your opinion then some dweeb in a ring.