speaking of size..... - Page 2

Alphapup, Good explanation of the structural differences between a Mali and a GSD. There is a good reason that the Malinois is the "king of the (french) ring". While I love Schutzhund, I wish that we would incorporate more training techniques from French Ring and maybe make using a suit during training a more common practice - as how the dog reacts to a suit tells you a lot about the dog. My pup is like your dog, he has not trouble clearing the hurdle, I just don't want to take the chance with jumping him too far and too often in advanced Ring competitions. Where do you train at? We train in Chicago. --Alan

Ahhhh but then there are KNPV GSDs. :) My male of 97 lbs working fit - lean and lots of bone to die for and athletic ability that would open my eyes wider every day. Would jump a 6' angle wall without touching and an 8' straight wall with landing all 4's on top. But physical ability was directly related to structure (no angulation) and as far as height went - well that was all in his heart - it was a big one! He never broke down but contracted a deadly fungus that lives on Vancouver Island BC called Cryptococcus and died before he turned 5. His heart wasn't big enough to fight that.

Jochen -- we do ring sport in New enland -- this sat and sun ther id the first belgium ring seminar and competition --- i have done and train schutzhund too -- but [ i am careful here to be offensive to anyone ] but a fact is that ring /other european sports are a lot more demanding than sch 1 -- at 10 months my dog was already doing a gaurd transport and a gaurd hold with 3 escape attacks -- and a bite into a body is much differen t psychologically/physically on a dog [ takes more nerve ] than an arm . i am not in intention comparing the two for schutzhund is constructed more as a character and temperament test/evaluation of the dog ..--- what my purpose on this form is to make even the most learned breeders mindful that form / strusture in regards to the GSD -- it should do all fuctions with excellence -- my hopes is that we do not favor too much of one thing , whether size , height , weight , angles etc. and sacrifice the GSD for what it is and can be .

you mentioned Malinios what do people think of Dutch Shepherds? I understand they are a crosses between Malinios, GSD and Pit Bulls. Our police association has a couple of them, impressive dogs!! Too bad the brindle color was lost in the GSD lines.

Females are smaller than males naturally. The German Shepherd is a medium size dog or sorts, not a large one as many think and ask me as my male is large but certainly not over the standard of the SV. The German Shepherd Dog is medium sized, slightly elongated, powerful and well muscled, the bones dry and the overall structure firm. Important Proportions: The height of withers: for dogs is 60-65 cm (23¿ - 25¿ ins), and for bitches 55-60 cm (21¿ - 23¿ ins). The length of the body is greater than the height at the withers by about 10 to 17%. I hope this conquers the question asked that all Breeders should know that over 100 lb shepherds are not desired nor liked and ask for many health issues, are totally out of porportion of and ugly just plain ugly!!!

Oh Blitzen is a true joker in the mid atlantic area. Oh my oh my oh my such a story teller he is. Anyhow, males are not to excede 95 lbs, mine will easily hurdle a six foot solid wall, scale a ten foot bride and back. But, I am not here to brag, I go with the SV standard and that is Max' s way also for after all who founded this breed? Let us not forget and follow some of the standard now. We can brag about a female of only 24 high scaling the six foot wall to title also in SchH as need be among many other hard things for her to pass a percentage on to pass. I do happen to know some German Trainers some in U.S. come and go for friends and as I understand: The dogs must title before breeding, not touched till 18 months of age, hips done at year old, not to excede the required height on males and females and pounds and they are tough dogs that compete week after week and withstand the hard work. Let us remember the Standard of Max.

Oh, now don't say that, my 126 lb longcoated GSD was not ugly, he was a very beautiful dog with a personality that made him a wonderful ambassador for the breed. I loved that dog more than any other I've ever owned and would give 5 years of my life to have him here beside me again. He was certainly not breeding quality, but ugly - no way. You all would have killed for his pigmentation - an ebony black blanket and mahogany red markings.

Wildthang, I am so complimented that you are still talking about who you think I am. What exactly is your problem anyway?

ALPHAPUP, where in NE r u? Size... my two females, one is very much the short end of the scale and solid as a rock and probably more agile than anything i ever seen, but she is 62lbs and muscle (now, she was kinda chunky lol) my younger girl she is on the high end of the height scale...she too is agile but little chubby imo but she just got here recently so i have to keep up our regimine :D anyway... once i get a feel for the new girl i will have to see if there is a difference in what they can do because of their Height structure etc... Creta is pretty damn fast in running, powerful bitch, very strong bone, but thats Valentin, she has a big head too lol very chisled features.. and the new girl.. very dainty type head and neck.. less bone.. but she is pretty fast and strong... i will have to see who does the jumps and etc.. better lol Regards, Dawnmarie

Charlie, Are the Mals hard to live with? I've heard that from a few people including a police officer in NYC. She had a Czech GSD, was standing with him outside the Garden and I stopped to talk to her. Her dog almost looked like a Dobe X GSD, very heavy head, but not any taller than 24" and not a really attractive looking dog although his temperament was terrific. He was very approachable and friendly after she gave him the OK. She said he had served during the 911 tragedy and did a terrific job for the city. Anyway, she was telling me that Mals are really gaining favor with law enforcement in NYC, but some officers can't stand their high energy level. The NYC dogs can go home with the cops at night and some are hesitating to take a Mal because they think they won't be good housedogs. They like the personalities of their GSD's better.