Westminster dog show - Page 1

I caught a bit of the Westminster dog show last night. It is still sad to see what they present as German Shepherd “Floppy ear, dragging rear legs all over the floor”. Thanks again to James Moses for having such a keen eye on what a Shepherd should move and look like.

I watched the German Shepherd breed class judging online...the entire class was very uniform (mainly because only 2 dogs were not "Dallas" offspring) I did not get the opportunity to watch on TV so don't know what dog you saw with "floppy ear, dragging rear legs" but I thought the breed class that they showed online was pretty exceptional this year for AKC dogs...it's a shame that the rest of the all-breed AKC shows throughout the year are still showing those bunny-hopping GSDs in their classes. However, if there is a Dallas offspring with either Jimmy or Kent on the end of the lead, you can be sure they'll win the breed. I've only been to 3 AKC all-breed shows in the last 18 months, each show it was a Dalls kid that won the breed (and twice, the groups and one the BIS-a Dallas daughter named Tina was the one who took BIS). Slowly but surely the AKC GSD seems to be making a turn-around, those breeders/judges who insist on showing/putting-up the bunny-hoppers are being left in the dust. Still...it's going to be a long process, and the specialty shows are still back in the stone-age.

I watched breed class on line http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2006/show/info.html Very uniform class. To watch the one representative selected for group on TV broadcast was disapointing...that is where this particular dog appeared very weak in structure and movement"would make a nice yellow mold" ... not that any of the other selections would make me fell as though the akc show line breeders were heading in the right direction. I havn't viewed these showlines in many years, and was disapointed in lack of improvement, tipically in the movement. Also much damage is done when the wrong end of the lead is put up.

The Bitch GSD in the group is proportioned at 7 to 10. i.e. outside the standard. Pygmy legs is not what Max had in mind. An uphill topline with a collapsed rear is not what all-rounders are looking for. He'll learn soon.

We all know that the AKC is considering the full adoption of a different standard for the American-type show line. Exactly what it will be I don't know. Will they call it the American Shepherd Dog or the American-German Shepherd Dog? I don't know that either. I do not intend to start an argument with these statements and am just basing them on several years of observation. I guess for the matter of pure logic, either variety of the animal is still referred to as the GERMAN Shepherd Dog, and that dog must be held to one (1) set of standards. Hence, I think the AKC should find a common ground with both the FCI and the S.V. standards for the betterment of the breed. I think that we all agree that both the AKC-type and the S.V.-type are both a very manufactured animal that is bred to different standards; but at least the S.V.'s standard is much closer to the "real thing" and it still must pass performance testing. For the AKC- type, just the much-touted "rolling side gait" and movement without noticeable motion of the undercarriage. Bob-O

I can see that it will be a diferent breed of Shepherds in a few years, I sugest the name "American Shepherd". I mean: "Those dogs just dont look like a "German Shepherd"" and I am sure their capacity for the work had been afected for all that changes. I hope didnt hurt anybody with those words, but thats my point of view.

Boy oh boy...I'm gonna thread hot water. I own, breed and show all West German line GSDs. However;..I also watched the Westminster...The dog that J.Moses brought into the group ring was actually quite nice. She had a very nice head and expression...and I didn't see any "floppy" ears or a dragging behind. Her size was on the smaller end....but not terrible. Again....I liked her.

Here is a link to the video of the GSD group http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2006/results/breed/germshep.html

I saw this Dallas daughter earlier on the Eukanuba "Nationals", and I think she is somewhat nice but agree, her ears are weak (and you can tell Dallas tends to weak ears), and her butt drags a bit. She seems to be exaggerating Dallas' problems. I think Dallas is a nice dog overall, but he shows those tendencies himself and apparently, even moreso in his offspring (judging by ads, mostly). That said, on a more general note, I think both American and Euro (at least, German "show") have strayed far from their intentions. I know on here most hate Americans and love the Germans so I could catch hell for this, but it has to be said. The dogs of the '40s and '50s were about as good as it gets. You can't tell me either the skinny too tall, long-legged(pasterned/hocked) sloppy-walk Americans OR the roach-backed, droop-necked, bear-headed overweight Euros are what Stephanitz wanted to end up w/. I think we passed (literally) the perfection era. I'm no expert at all, but sometimes experts get too caught up in "trends" and fads - and cliques. It's just my rather disinterested observation that ALL are violating the vision. Frankly, the "low-bred" GS I've seen in every-day people's homes are better than most of the big winners. They weren't subject to harmful fashion.

for how long did the american shepherd go downhill? at least its coming back up IMO! why not support that they are changing for the good and encourage rather than attack? I think there are getting to be some lovely dogs now, and things are looking up! It takes time and an effort is being made. Tell me there are not some with weak ears in the german lines? lol I think the Dallas line is a definete move in the right direction, but is being used too much just like Ursus is used too much. I also know of a couple american shepherds now being used for work that resemble Dallas in build and type. Be happy dont cut the throat of the attempts.