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by Hundmutter on 16 March 2013 - 14:03
Some of the assortment of German shepherds' dogs that were the 'building
blocks' had somewhat longer hair, which is the foundation of the genetic
component. Some of them had wiry hair. Actual shepherds probably didn't
enjoy having dogs with soggy smelly coats whenever it rained, so no, I'd
guess they were as against the longer coats as were Max and friends who
were concerned more with the development of the breed than with doing a
lot of herding work. Pics & reminiscences I have seen over the years, up to
those few people still using the dogs for sheep in Germany, would seem to
indicate that they still do not favour longer coats on their working dogs.
But if you breed Showdogs with standard coats you still get asked 90%
of the time when people call to ask about available pups "Have you any
longcoats ?". They are extremely popular with people who just want them
as companion dogs. Hence the temptation to breed more of them for the
pet market.
blocks' had somewhat longer hair, which is the foundation of the genetic
component. Some of them had wiry hair. Actual shepherds probably didn't
enjoy having dogs with soggy smelly coats whenever it rained, so no, I'd
guess they were as against the longer coats as were Max and friends who
were concerned more with the development of the breed than with doing a
lot of herding work. Pics & reminiscences I have seen over the years, up to
those few people still using the dogs for sheep in Germany, would seem to
indicate that they still do not favour longer coats on their working dogs.
But if you breed Showdogs with standard coats you still get asked 90%
of the time when people call to ask about available pups "Have you any
longcoats ?". They are extremely popular with people who just want them
as companion dogs. Hence the temptation to breed more of them for the
pet market.
by Blitzen on 16 March 2013 - 17:03
I can understand why coats are popular. Some of the most impressive GSD's I seen were coats including my first. He was a great dog, but I would never own another due to all the grooming needed to keep him looking nice and mat free.
by Hundmutter on 16 March 2013 - 18:03
Oh yeah, tell me about it ! I would never have a longcoat
from choice, though I appreciate they can look really pretty
and can be extremely well constructed. But my ex-boss
liked them and for years we had as many, or not much less,
'coats' as standard coated. And several were the incorrect
totally long open coats, only partly with undercoat (although
as outside dogs they had more than some). Undercoat has its
own grooming difficulties, of course. We (mostly I) used to spend
as much time grooming as anything else; often there would be
enough combings to make an extra dog out of ! BTW, his
first 'family' of dogs had just such huge long coats, being as
they were from a half-siblings mating - just the sort of thing I
for ever rail against. Such a waste, 'cos there were other dogs
in that pedigree of both working and show stock who were
very successful 'names', yet it was 'chucked away' IMO by breeding
for long haired pretty fluffy puppies. [Other than that, they were
very nice dogs, and not too badly off health-wise.]
from choice, though I appreciate they can look really pretty
and can be extremely well constructed. But my ex-boss
liked them and for years we had as many, or not much less,
'coats' as standard coated. And several were the incorrect
totally long open coats, only partly with undercoat (although
as outside dogs they had more than some). Undercoat has its
own grooming difficulties, of course. We (mostly I) used to spend
as much time grooming as anything else; often there would be
enough combings to make an extra dog out of ! BTW, his
first 'family' of dogs had just such huge long coats, being as
they were from a half-siblings mating - just the sort of thing I
for ever rail against. Such a waste, 'cos there were other dogs
in that pedigree of both working and show stock who were
very successful 'names', yet it was 'chucked away' IMO by breeding
for long haired pretty fluffy puppies. [Other than that, they were
very nice dogs, and not too badly off health-wise.]
by Blitzen on 16 March 2013 - 19:03
LOL Hundmutter. It's worse when those long coats are soft too. I used clippers on his ears and trimmed the hair on his feet. He was ebony black and mahogany red... so beautiful! He saved my life once, a story for another time. He died in 2001, I still miss him..
by Hundmutter on 17 March 2013 - 04:03
Sounds like a wonderful dog, and worth the work ! 
by Jim Engel on 17 March 2013 - 08:03
Ray Coppinger's book has an enormous amount of insight into these
general topics. It is for me one of the best books on the canine available.
http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Understanding-Canine-Behavior-Evolution/dp/0226115631/ref=rec_dp_2
by Hundmutter on 17 March 2013 - 11:03
I'll second that, Jim, the Coppingers' book is excellent.
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