A1, A2, KKl1, KKl2 new rules - Page 2

I too hope that this information is incorrect or at least incomplete. If true I wonder whether it would be because the numbers of dogs achieving a1 ratings have fallen dramatically and 'levelling the playing field' (better put above as 'dumbing down') would be one way to mask that decline. It's the only reason I can think of for introducing such a thing.

As Mackenzie said, the detriment to breeding to improve hips simply goes out the window and it becomes a lottery, especially when a pass can include NZ, which includes an upper score equivalent to (30 or 35 I believe) which any good breeder in the UK would not dream of using under their own BVA scheme.

Who knows, if it is true maybe breeders will start looking closer to home to some of the fabulous home bred dogs who are mostly overlooked, rather than being called by the lure of V & VA as seems to be the case these days, with the added benefit of KNOWING precisely what their hips are like. Just a thought.

"when the working dog had to work the work it,s self weeded out the cripples" it,s a intersting thought.   I think it's true Bob, it's just another version of survival of the fittest.

Well, not really...before there was "a1" and "a2" ratings there was "normal", "fast normal" and "noch zugelassen" which was all "a" stamped. The general "a" stamp will not specify further, however hips still have to be xrayed and deemed healthy. There is really not such a big difference to former SV rules.

I cannot believe that the Koermeisters have given a majority vote to implement this scheme. The breed has enough problems without making it worse with the introduction of these changes. The scheme introduced by Dr Rummel to deal with HD was, at the time, set with the three grades as we have followed for many years. The idea was to keep breeders breeding but at the same time identifying the animals who would be best suited to dealing with the problems of dysplastic animals.

I think that the problems in Germany with dysplastic animals is far greater than we really know. These changes we are discussing here is a clear indication that changes are being made to accommodate the breeders in what they are breeding rather than keep people breeding to what they should be breeding and, at the same time, maintaining the exorbitant prices being charged in Germany for average dogs. This is not good for the breed as a whole. As a working breed I feel that it will lead to inferior working dogs with an even more limited working life span that we see now. To place a “noch zugelassen” animal on the same level as animals who are “Normal” cannot even be considered.

For anyone outside of Germany the only way to combat this is

1. Ask for an x-ray and see for themselves

2. Just do not use German dogs in their breeding programme

3. Do not buy from Germany without current x-ray evidence to support the argument for the purchase.

Mackenzie

 

The SV Zuchtschauordnung 2011 - The SV "Pedigree Show Regulations" also referred to as the SV "Breed Show Regulations" or the SV "Conformation Show Regulations"

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH INTERPRETATION http://www.videxgsd.com/zuchtschauordnung_regs.htm

 

Why not just OFA hips and elbows as well? When I checked out the WDA "a" stamp program they said it was a supplement to OFA and not in place of OFA.... We are in America and not Germany so maybe we should just OFA and PennHip along with the A stamp. Thing is an "a" stamp can be done at 12 months but dog must be 2 for OFA. Also, why wouldn't SV recognize OFA elbows? So, problem can be solved by only using dogs that have OFA along with "a" stamps. I, for one, plan on doing both. I mean x-rays at age 1 are considered "prelims" by OFA for a reason. Sara

Abby, I have been working with German Shepherds for over 30 years in Germany and in Canada, I have worked with SV approved veterinarians, seen many many x-rays and dogs with various hip ratings and I can tell you that it is not a big difference, as all lines have "noch zugelassen" dogs in them, just go back to the 1980's in the pedigrees. So potentially, even if you breed dogs only with "a1" they still have genetic ancestory that will have at least few "noch zugelassen" hips in their pedigree.
For most breeders "a" stamp is "a"stamp, no matter what rating, especially in Germany. It always was like that and it will obviously stay like that.
If you are all anxious about it you can do an additional OFA rating, that is more accurate anyway.
I agree with Smiley, do an OFA rating to make sure if you only want to breed with excellent hip rating.
I will get my dogs OFA hip rated too, independ of being able to send xrays to Germany or not.

I know of no plans to change the existing SV Hip grading system.

I plan to have my young dog X-rayed after he turns one year at the end of April and then send to SV, then when he is two, will do OFA as well, provided of course that he has good hips and elbows.  That should cover it.