Is it still a German Shepherd Dog? - Page 2

Actually it makes sense, it's  not that far fetched of an idea and there certainly is precedence, take Cockers for example:

The AKC recognized the breed "Cocker Spaniel" in 1878.  The American fanciers had no use for the dog as a working hunter (flusher of game), instead the dogs were bred for the show ring and as companions.  Changes were made to the breed that made it more appealing to the show fanciers and the pet owning public.  The American breeders bred for a longer, thicker coat, the dogs skulls were broader, the dog was cobbier and shorter of leg, and of course no bird sense was bred into the dogs any more.  The result was the AKC changed the name to the American Cocker Spaniel in 1936, now they are 2 completely separate breeds, the American Cocker and the English Cocker.

The majority of American line Shepherds bears as little resemblance to German Shepherds (both physically and mentally) as does the American to the English Cocker.  Even the written standard for the American Shepherd is different from the standard for the GSD.   You can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of serious show or working breeders intermingling American and European blood lines.  They really are in essence, two separate breeds.

While most GSD's go back to Germany, it is true that within the breed, American breeders chose to select some traits over others.  The statement that they are two different breeds is just some more of the typical mish-mash that self appointed gatekeepers to the breed often spout in trying to divide the market for their own pecuniary interests into German or American lines, Show versus working lines, sable vs bi-color, etc.  Would any of you say that 1987 Westminster Best-in-Show winner,  Covy-Tucker Hill's Manhattan ( http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/497666.html ) is not a worthy example of a GSD?  The basic problem I detect with the breeders is their inability, or unwillingness to breed a dog that is both aesthetic and able to work.  Breeding such dogs was the rule forty to fifty years ago.  Before the GSD camp was split into factions.  Guess how and why we've gotten to this fractious state within the breed?  Follow the money.

Would any of you say that 1987 Westminster Best-in-Show winner, Covy-Tucker Hill's Manhattan ( http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/497666.html ) is not a worthy example of a GSD?

I'll let you know after I see him work.

I believe Covy-Tucker Hill dogs do herding, so I suspect you would not be impressed.  Still, how much do you find in this picture not to like?

This is exactly what I'm talking about.  Why in the world would I look at a 23 year old picture and tell you what's wrong or right with a dog when I have not seen him work and he never had to pass even minimum working qualifications?  I am not impressed by show ring wins my friend, to me pretty is as pretty does.  First the dog must be able to actually work then we can talk about a show ring career. Also nice that you bring up herding, but please don't forget that  Max v Stephanitz was the one who introduced the breed to the Military and the Police, and helped devise the tests that are schutzhund,   because he realized with the mechanization and industrialization  of Germany and the rest of Europe, leaving the breed solely as a herder would have spelled it's demise.  Finally if you are calling those of us who are so outlandish as to want a dog that conforms to the SV standard including passing a breed survey "self appointed gate keepers",   then yeah, I guess we are all that, plus a bag of chips and proud of it!!  Go figure!  

Oh my God I agree with Suenic AGAIN:))!?!
except that the  BW picture is 28 years old. 
My favored questions to these good looking SL dogs would be .
Herding is great but :

"Can they Kick Ass?"

I alway ask myself that question.
K.I.S.S.

 
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com
 

hahahah SEE Prager???  They CAN fly!!!

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