I think that all contributors to these and other similar post should consider what they are hoping to achieve by their participation in this and similar debates. It seems to me that we are losing sight of where the breed currently sits and the good progress made in many areas over the last few years. Publicly “ripping the other side to pieces” can only be negative in terms of moving the breed forward, especially in the UK at this time.

Let’s take stock where we are. I have had, and retain, an interest in both the working and breed side of the GSD for over 30 years. In that time, I have seen many changes; mostly for the better. I am currently purely involved in the Working side of the GSD; however retain many happy memories of my time involved with show dogs, exhibiting frequently and successfully in the UK and visited the breed Sieger in the eighties and early nineties on many occasions. I saw many superb all round GSD’s;  I recall my friend and I being left in the gathering ring with the impressive double Sieger Fanto Hirchel, who was a dog with super character, seeming unphased by anything. The dam of my own 1997 BSA National Champion was a daughter of Jack Trienzbactal (forgive the spelling errors). (Vorhanden Jeck,hips 4-3, kor 1 Terry Hanan).  I only became disenchanted with the breed side during the early nineties, following the promotion of a number of animals to high VA positions which evidenced, in my opinion, serious temperament flaws. I consider that this situation led to deterioration in the character of the breed stock in the UK for a time.

I think to some degree that things have improved, as the SV reacted to the problem and sought to make it more difficult for weaker dogs to succeed. Again, my anecdotal experience is that, as a consequence, many of the breed line animals that people bring to me to assess or help in training are now showing a more robust temperament and ability to react to informed training methods than in the past. It is correct to say that these dogs (generally) would struggle to live with a specific working line dog in terms of outright performance- but many are decent all round dogs nevertheless, and not everyone can drive a Ferrari.

I do think that size and mass are an issue, especially in the context of the production of a true “utility” dog; but, again, the SV seek to address this.

Anyone who has attended the Bundersieger or even the WUSV World Championship over the last few years (As I have) can only conclude that the type of the working animals exhibited there has improved dramatically; this is possibly in response to a worldwide pressure to meet Kor standards, etc. This is