Straight Backed GSD List - Page 4

I think the problem here is Fanboy doesn't realize how many clichés he's hitting with his wants and suppositions, especially when taking in the history of this site and its posters on the whole.

All he really wants to say is he doesn't want a roached back, hock walker. Jenni gave him the name of what he wants but some folk will insist on writing their own dictionary. They certainly aren't rare beasties, either and one won't need a time machine to find them. 

LOL, come to think of it, I can't think of a single person who has specifically asked for a roach back, hock walker! Those ideas have gone out of favor and destined for oblivion as much as his fondly remembered, Run Joe Run. Had to do a google on that title myself, so now I know Fanboy was a youngster in the seventies and everything he's regurgitating is starting to fall in place.

Never heard of them, but not sure which part of my comment you meant either?

 

I hate the term "straight backed" -- among other things, GSDs should have withers higher than their hips. And anyone breeding with "straight backed" as their stated priority is probably not breeding with quality in mind. Look for structural soundness and health, overall. 
 

Christine

I'm always curious what kind of rocks these "Old fashioned straight back" breeders live under that they think a GSD with normal, appropriate conformation is hard to find. I have a house full of them and so do most of my friends! They're called....working lines.

Hahaha... this is almost exactly what I started to type.

Christine 

Haha, and you were one I had in mind when I referred to a "house full of them." :D

Yeah. It's like... Pick one, any one....

 

There's Nemi:

 

Or Oda: 

 

Or Astur:

And none of the dogs I've pictured are closely related. A "straight back" is not hard to find.

 

Christine

Jenni78, perhaps the term "straight-back" has been abused by people trying to recreate a dog from 50 years ago, rather than to resurrect the original GSD, which the working line comes close to.

I am sorry for the misunderstanding this has caused to many. I don't visit the shiloh or pioneer dogs site because none of those dogs look like the dogs I have seen when I spent time in Europe during the 70's.

Ironically, I wonder if any of the working breed line are true GSD's. Based on everything I have read, it was the Czech, Serbians, Bulgaria, Hungary, and other countries close to Germany that saved the breed. And it is rumored that they did breed other dogs into the GSD to restore it to the working class after the AKC, and European Kennel Clubs altered the breed specifically for beauty contests. I do not know how much truth there is to this but a beautiful, working class dog is what I, and many others are after. And went I created this topic I really didn't expect to meet with so much criticism and resistance.

Regardless of what I have stated, I think you all get my intention. So the same still applies. Why not create a list of working line breeders so that those of us that want a dog that we can play with, spend hours chasing squirrels and frisbees, and watching grow old gracefully without the issues that plague the modified GSD of today?

I still say it is a good idea. And we can package that list up any way you all want. But a list, to me, does make sense and it should certainly be an international list.

Unlike some, I don't think your idea/request sounds 'stupid' - but I do think it sounds hard to produce !
The responses have shown you that there are various views of what individuals among us think/assume when we hear someone ask about a 'straight back'; not to mention the different takes on the validity of Rin Tin Tin and other filmstar GSDs LOL. "One man's meat is another man's poison" an' all that.

Same goes for the opinions on what makes a good breeder. I might, for instance, acknowledge the skill and commitment of someone, but hate the type of dog s/he produces & sells. There have been MANY discussions on PDB about what to look for in a 'good' breeder.

Who puts the kennel names up for your list ? Is it to be self-nominated, or can I put on some names but deliberately leave out others, just as good, because I am jealous of their success or I dislike the dogs they produce ? Who moderates, to tell whether the list is unbalanced by posters who do that sort of thing ? Or by breeders who big up themselves in order to sell pups, but who really do not live up to the terms ? Who updates the list to keep it relevant, without containing misinformation because after a couple of years kennels stop trading ?

And as for an 'international' list, a pound to a penny it would not be a truly international range of kennels to choose from, because this whole site is skewed towards it's majority useage: American posters, many buying in from the old eastern bloc areas.

Better to look at the lists of breeders available around the world, advertising litters or individual dogs, then do your 'due diligence' on those individual kennels, IMO.

Fanboy - did you say what area you are in? Because if you give us a general area, I am sure some posters can point you in the direction of sport clubs, where you can actually go and see some dogs and meet some people who may have the kind of dog you are seeking.

OP, I'm sending you a message. Check your PMs.