Size Matters - Page 2

I laugh when people ask me about KING Sheps. I just tell them, they don`t exsist. A Male is not suppose to be 100lbs, of course some do get to be that big the average I would say in 80-85lbs

Hello dog lovers,

Just can't forego the opportunity to "weigh in" on this little chat fest. If I saw a 70 pound GSD and it was two years old I would not insult the owner, but I'd be damned glad it wasn't MY dog. My puppy is 7 months old and is currently 85 pounds and growing as I write this. My other GSD is a long hair, weighs 117 (down from 124) and looks like he's 130. My first GSD was a black faced smooth coat who weighed 130, and looked like he was on steroids (like the AKC shepherds of the 60"s, remember? Before the AKC bought into the prototypical "German" lines and contaminated the entire breed in perpetuity).

Did someone mention WORK? For some that may mean chasing livestock around Old MacDonald's farm all day long or playing chase the bad man in schutzund competitions - whatever. For me, it's real life, Personal Protection, this ain't no dog club, day to day vigilence. And a very large GSD deters someone who has ill intent with a simple look. That 70 pounder is going to have to make a believer out of a potential attacker. And don't tell me large equates automatically with joint and/or other health problems. I just received my Penn Hip results for my puppy and he was in the 85th percentile for GSD's. He will be huge, balanced, and a great daddy when it comes time to breed. So stop hating on the big GSD's.

MaxVonPotterdam

Jen j41,

I rather someone who breeds for those monsters, like Mr Max above, to call their dogs by a different name such as a "King Shepherd" then associate them with the breed I fell in love with, the German Shepherd Dog.  And with that said I respect and admire all qualities the TRUE breed standard calls for, especially size.  If I wanted a giant dog, then the GSD would not be for me.  If thats what you want, go get a LGD or something and leave my beloved (unfortunately already screwed up for the most part) breed alone.  The standard was written for a reason, so stop making excuses.

As a matter of fact I DO refer to my dogs as "something else." I call them Eastern European Face Biters and North American Ground Apes. And I do NOT want just a large dog, but I want a VERY large dog with a VERY large brain. So what breed do you recommend for this particular combination? BTW I usually do well with the ones that don't  trust other men, don't take women seriously because of the physical mismatch, and consider children and adolescents as too impulsive and unpredictable to tolerate as fully developed humans. And it's not YOUR breed, you don't own every one of them and you can't prevent owners like myself from evolving them the way we want. After all owners like you bought into the whole charade of the AKC show dog (compliments of the West German reject bin) and other throwaways from Europe touted as "German line working dogs" - that's code for "We don't want them, but they're plenty good enough for ignorant Americans." So purists in GSD circles have lost all credibility with owners like myself. Your the kind that think a Volkswagen is very close to a Porsche - I don't think so.

How about we call them KING KONG shepherds? Oh, and as for the "standard"? It never called for sloped backed or roached back dogs. But we seem to have a plethora of them don't we? So much for the stewardship of the elitist GSD purists. Your superiority is laughable. In fact both of my "monsters" are laughing at the lot of you. 

MaxVonPotterdam 

Thank God you call them by a different name..thats a relief.  Go get a bear (are they big enough for you??)  they can surely tear someone up.  Obviously they need a large brain to compensate for your lack of one.  And for the record, I dont fall into the AKC showdog stuff.  never said a GSD with a back nearly touching the ground is correct either.  No its not my breed but its not yours to change either. The standard was written for a reason, stop bringing up other faults many GSD's now have to draw attention away from your issue.  My 8 month old 57lb czech male is laughing at you and your grossly large and probably overweight dogs.  "Come on grandpa its only one flight of stairs" "dang your ass just got shot, thank god I'm quick as lighting couldnt keep up could ya?!"  Have a nice day!!!

GSDluver4lyfe,  your boy is gorgeous... assuming that's his pic on your posts?

uh Max:

                 Large dogs don,t equate to large brains... But the dogs actions alot of times do mimmic the brain function of the handler. I,d love to see your large boy clear a 6 foot vertical wall.and watch him turn on the field and his reaction response times I,m also not damming you I,d just like to see him work. Large growling snarling dogs scare me much less then quiet well trainnied dogs. My Axel is just 70 pounds at the heaviest but you don,t want to piss him off. it,s not the initial bite thats the most destructive it,s the intenseness of the fight that does the damage(or earns the respect). Good luck with your boy.  

Max:  The height and weights shown belong to the FCI and SV standard, not AKC.  I think if you were to research breeders around the world you would find most are breeding GSDs within this limit. 

There is a seperate breed in Germany where the dogs are very much as you have described yours, (coated, very upright, over 100lbs),  but I can't remember the exact name, I believe it translates to Old Shepherd type?  Maybe some of our other members can provide the name?

Something funny, many of my European friends are puzzled by some American breeders who equate  bigger, flashier, hairier  with better.  Thankfully many USA breeders are getting away from that, and are looking to breed dogs that comply with the FCI  & SV standard.  We have seen this phenomenon here in the states with many breeds (cockers, irish setters, wheaton terriers, etc.), not just GSDs. 

I am glad you are able to find the types of dogs you like.  It's clear you very much love your dogs, and that is what's most important.

Well stated Sue.

Max,

I really like the look of a larger dog, but working with one is a different story.   Size does matter sometime's.

It depend's on what you want to do with your dog.

I believe standard's have a purpose, but I see people breed specific animal's to suit their need's.

I'd like to see a picture of your dog's.

Brent.