Show gait not Natural - Page 2

To see the American breds trotting, you can go here: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/marketplace.viewad?id=25685 To see the German breds, there's a video available: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/marketplace.viewad?id=25685 Some breeders also put links on their websites to show their dogs in action. I'm sure one of the other posters who knows of such a link will be glad to post it.

OOps posted the same link twice! The first link should have been this: http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2007/video/breed/index2.html

I just realized the site selling the Seiger videos also has videos you can view for free of their own dogs gaiting! http://www.estahaus.com/videos.htm There ya go!

If you ever get a chance to see the VHS video of Fanto v Hirshel, double seiger, you will see a dog that has a tremendous sidegait that is groundcovering and EFFICENT! It also shows him doing bitework and swimming and breeding. All in all a very nice dog.

Thanks for the input and info..much appreciated.. You all know that sometimes you see something and know it's just not right.

Gustav, We must all agree that as a dog Fanto was among the greatest ever. Sadly he did not pass on his excellence to his sons, although several Fanto daughters formed the mother lines of some excellent dogs today. DR, You are correct that the flying trot is somewhat contrived. A dog of correct construction has a natural tendency to trot, though not with such animation. The natural trot is one that produces efficient moderately fast propulsion all day long day in and day out as required by a herding dog. Poorly constructed dogs such as the AKC lines are incapable of correct efficient movement, but do not need it since they run from imaginary threats(lol). I regard the difference between a natural trot and flying show trot as being comparable to the difference between the running done by a young person of natural athletic ability and that done by Olympic sprinters or other highly trained competitors. While many dogs of above average construction can trot naturally, it is truly rare to see a dog that seems to simply open the throttle and take off around the ring. There have been many excellent dogs who would have placed better had their show training or showing ability been more pronounced. One example is Odin Tannenmeise, sire of two siegers and undoubtedly equal to or greater than many of the Siegers to date, but his gaiting was somewhat lackluster, and so he never made it to the top places in spite of his own excellence and that of his progeny. The point is that while the flying trot is contrived and trained, it serves to highlight the power and athleticism of those few dogs that truly excel at it. Best Wishes, Jonah

PJ, Chill out, dude! No need to get testy. It seems that the others got the point of reading Linda Shaw's excellent articles, and that extreme angulation is a bad thing. The flying trot is not unique to GSD's - in one of Linda's articles she shows even a stubby legged Daschund can execute a flying trot. As far as your "total dog" comment goes - I have less hope in that concept each passing year. The show trials are won by show dogs, and the working trials are won by working dogs. I don't see anyone merrily blending the two types and coming out on top of the podium in either arena. Personally I'm going to enter my working dog in a conformation show after he's titled, just for the experience, but I have no delusions on what smirks I'll likely receive when I wheel my straight-backed black sable, stocky, blocky dog around the ring. Hee hee! Yvette

While I was watching the gait and noticed the overreaching and churning the impression was not of an athletic powerful dog, but just the opposite. It was more like a computer nerd in the 100 yard dash. Do not mis-understand I do like a nice gait but I am referring to the ideal that some breeders are possibly exceeding the ideal reach and angulation. I am thinking maybe just as the roached backs are becoming more common.

Babe-- Not testy-- believe you know what you are talking about and just didn't "write" it correctly. American show don't normally have a large enough ring to "fly". They look at side gait. Ranger-- Know exactly what you mean about "not looking right". Another "exaggeration" noticed is the longer neck and carried "head up" rather than down and level. They create "the wasted motion" that does NOT belong. The more real dog people pay attention the sooner the real GSD will be reinvented. Babe-- will take your advice-- Being only 57 years since my first GSD I will study Linda Shaw. Do you think that she and I don't agree? OR Do you think that her pictures better portray my "words"? Bob O-- You are so "cool"! Morgan

Babe-- Not testy-- believe you know what you are talking about and just didn't "write" it correctly. American show don't normally have a large enough ring to "fly". They look at side gait. Ranger-- Know exactly what you mean about "not looking right". Another "exaggeration" noticed is the longer neck and carried "head up" rather than down and level. They create "the wasted motion" that does NOT belong. The more real dog people pay attention the sooner the real GSD will be reinvented. Babe-- will take your advice-- Being only 57 years since my first GSD I will study Linda Shaw. Do you think that she and I don't agree? OR Do you think that her pictures better portray my "words"? Bob O-- You are so "cool"! Morgan