If the Capt. was alive today - Page 9

Zeigenfarm, We see out of the same glass!

"ZIEGENFARM said:
 

"my granddad would have put a bullet in the head of nearly every dog i own today. "
 

How sad but true. You are not alone. I miss my first GSDs."


And I also.

Same here, I miss all those great dogs and no politics - one standard, same rules. That's what I remember being a perfect GSD...

Better photos in this video.

The above is the photo provided with the GSD breed standard.
Topline-- The withers are higher than and sloping into the level back. The back is straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach.
 .Temperament - The breed has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them. It is poised, but when the occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in its capacity as companion, watchdog, blind leader, herding dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances may demand. 

Max would want the standard to be followed with more working versatility emphasized back into the breed, & healthier working structure strictly adhere to bring the breed back to what it use to be. Many people miss the GSD of the old days. Most WL's still look like the old dogs from the 60-70's, but many don't act like them any more or have the same versatilely. 

When the Leonberger first came into the USA they USA club had to agree to the strict breeding rules they hold in Germany for the breed.
All dogs must pass a sanction temperament test, structure free of any defects / major faults, & show proof of passing health clearances. They also hold a carting / water rescue / herding instinct test to prove their work ability with out turning into a sport or competition.
Doing something like this for the GSD would greatly help the breed. Test the versatilely by testing naturally courage, intelligence, herding & protection instincts, plus willingness for obedience & ability to do a real tracking test, etc..

Sadly the breed seems like it is on the same path as most sporting breeds if things don't start to change. If you compare any of the Pointers / Setters / Spaniels from their hunting lines too show lines. They look totally different almost like different breeds all together. Their temperaments are very different too. Many of the different Fox hounds use to hunt various game & were more versatile , but then people started breeding them for a more single purpose of just fox hunting. When this became out of fashion the Foxhound numbers drop almost to nonexistence. The breeds are now always on the verge of extinction. Same is true of the Oter hounds. Bth the Ottter & Foxhound were some of the most popular breeds around the world for many many years. Look what happen to them & many of the hunting lines of the sporting breeds.




  

That video really isn't fair. Whoever made it must have selected the most extreme GSL dog they could possibly find and on top of that they manipulated the picture to make it fit on the viewing screen. Same for the other breeds I looked at.

Can't we produce a dog who looks and moves like the dog Cphudson shows above and who can work like Jim's dog or Duke's dogs or Jenni's?????? WHY NOT ? Would be a perfect GSD, beautiful, strong, versatile and can do true service .

Ibrahim

1. The Captain really created the GSD breed by consolidating the various types of herding dogs he was familiar with into what he viewed was the perfect working dog, able to function in a wide variety of roles and very adaptable, territorially aggressive and ferocious when appropriate to protect the flock and his master, with superior trainability and herding ability, docile at the end of the day around rabbits, deer and other pets, friendly to and protective of children and family. Courage and fighting instinct was a must.

2. The SV is okay, it's basic structure is excellent and its programs admirable.  The problem with the GSD breed becoming too bifurcated into WL and SL and the other gross overspecializations like the ASL and other various offshoots is not due to the SV. The SV is fine as it is, the problem is the members of the SV, the Judges, the officials, the breeders, the exhibitors, and the world wide market of buyers. If anything the SV has been far too successful for the GSD breed's own good. 

The large worldwide market has led to a near cartel with a stamped SL type which draws very high prices worldwide due to the extreme curbside appeal and high attractiveness of the current black and red cookie cutter type which in many cases has resulted from many compromises in health and temperament. Economic considerations have resulted in various types of cognitive distortions and drift in the interpretation of the standard ($ induced kennel blindness) and what folks will demand and prefer. The SV GSD breed has grown so popular and so massive with such huge worldwide competition in zuchtschau and profung that in order to win, highly selective breeding and selection followed by extreme training must be initiated.  This diffuses the breed and detracts from the unitary type that Von Stephanitz demanded, a working dog with a certain type of appearance. Yes, he did make what he considered adjustments and changes in his preferred type to improve the breed overall, but he never would have accepted the extreme differentiation that has occurred between SL and WL and would have never accepted the ASL type.

The good news in all this is that the SV is great the way it is, and individuals can still find the type of GSD they want to own, breed train and show if they want, IF they do the proper learning through research and take their time.  The great GSDs are likely to be found at the landesgruppen shows by serious breeders, trainers and competitors that avoid the usually pre-arranged Sieger show sales convention. The answer always lies in the hearts and minds of the breeders, trainers, buyers and judges, who each can decide to think straight and not be influenced by the economic incentives of the cartel which can tend to be stereotyped for business reasons. The simple fact is that the SV has been a great blessing for the GSD breed, and any problems with the breed are not due to the SV's structure, but those who use it wrongly. There are many excellent GSD breeders worldwide if you look hard enough.