When was she born? - Page 3

I have a different take on this ....IMO there is a big difference. Modern dogs - shorter backs, deeper chests, toplines are not flat, they drop off too soon so croups are steeper, and tail sets are most likely lower as a result. IMO the "modern" dogs lack the athletic look of the dogs of the past. They look too ponderous for me. Pasterns and rear angulation seems about the same, the modern dogs here appear to have longer upper arms which may or may not give them more reach than drive. I'm guessing the modern dogs have more rib spring that the olders dogs. It would be great to be able to see these dogs move.

I think you selected some of the more moderate recent dogs for your comparisons, Susie, I like that. No Akita heads on your favorites...ugh I hate them LOL. I don't know if the modern dogs are worse or better, but to my eyes they definitely look different than the dogs of the past most of which I have only seen on photos.

Very good thread, Susie....thanks.



 

yes Mirasmon, do you see longer upper arm in the more recent dogs? what do others think? for me these more recent dogs have better shoulder.
Susie, the lower two differ a bit more, behind one is further away so te angles differ, the bottom dog seems to have longer rear leg bones in proportion and so it would not look as high withered if the stacks were identical.

Blitzen beat me to the upper arm topic!

It's that great minds thing, Ferrum

The shoulders are better today, for sure!

Deeper chests today ? Take a look at Marko Cellerland, born 1967 or 68


 
there were several lines with (very) deep chests and short backs...

The toplines haven´t been flat for decades, in some lines they are too much today, there are roached backs in some lines, but believe me, most breeders and judges work against this nonsense.

Colour changed, coat changed...

I always select Marko as my favorite dog of all time (judging from photos, never did see him). He  has a longer loin than the modern dogs posted here, it just gives him a more athletic, balanced look - he doesn't look as ...uh...restricted, inflexible, ungainly as the more modern dogs and I think his tuck up is more pronounced too. Do they use that term in Europe? Maybe it's an AKC thing LOL.

I want a GSD that looks like he or she could tend 24/7 in any terrain and weather. I just don't see that in most of the recent Siegerschau Va dogs I see in photos. Personally, I think a well built WL looks more like my idea of the ideal GSD with less bling. I will never make it to the BSZS, but I do get to some good sized SV shows here and IMO American breeders are producing better dogs than the German dogs I see in photos. I wonder if they will ever be able to claim their rightful place in the German show world. Tis complicated.

Tuck up??? Bling???
I hate this language barriere...why the hell don´t all owners of German Shepherds learn German?!?
In my opinion we are not this far away to each other.
The main difference ( in my personal opinion ) between the shepherds out of the sixties and the ones today is elegance.
In former days the dogs looked more squared, like older cars.
Today some dogs look like created in a wind channel, but if you take a look at the skeleton and the angulations, not much changed at all.
Think about Marko in black and red, with a fluffy shiny coat, you would be surprised.

Marko looked harmonious, That may be the only image I have seen and he was overstretched but looked great in that image.




I'm testing the add picture feature. anyone want to guess the bloodline?

...American breeders are producing better dogs than the German dogs I see in photos
 ...
American breeders produce wonderful dogs, not better than the Germans, but for sure not worse. 
I have been in the States several times, visited several siegershows. The dogs shown in the puppy classes are of grat quality for years now, but most of them don´t become trained and titled later on, they are lost for the breed. This is the main American problem - very good breeding stock, but no development. Result: The Americans buy titled dogs from Europe, breed good puppies out of them and again the next generation is lost.
I know it´s not ALL of you, so everybody who doesn´t work this way shouldn´t feel blamed!
Thank you!

Bling = elegance . I guess I'll have to buy Rosetta Stone.

Not a clue about the lines of that dog, Ferrum, but judging by the dress of the handler, I'm guessing it's not Jimmie and Dallas. WL x GSL?