bigger heads - Page 4

I sent you a PM.

I don't mind a big head. Too damn many males in the US look like bitches, and/or produce dogs that look like bitches. I want to look a male in the face and know its a male. One of my biggest pet peeves is an effeminate male.

Here's dog that had a great head, masculinity, and movement. VA Jaguar Mausespitz, pictured with his daughter Uzi at about 7 months of age. I apologize for the quality, there was some crud on my scanner.

And here is Uzi at about 5 years of age. Hell of a head for a bitch, if you ask me. Then again, I am biased toward her!

And this one is more recent, taken last October.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/499623.html

Zico vom Merlin   has a nice big head and a great pedigree and is a very high scoring male..

  Zico vom Merlin

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/499623.htm/ Zico is a male with large head and very high scores.. Very loving temperament  , also..

I like his proportions.

We are not on the same page here, Eagle does not have what I think of as a rottie head and judging by his photos neither does Zindane. Neither have pendulous lips,  a domey head or a bulky muzzle. I am hesitating to talk about specific dogs here since that always seems to get me into trouble. The example Sunsilver linked is IMO a rottie head. Look at how short and blocky his muzzle is, how loose his lips, and how domey his fore skull and how prominent his stop.. You can't tell by that photo, but he may also have round eyes. Sorry if this dog belongs to anyone reading this. Evidentally many GSD breeders like that look since many are breeding for it. I don't think I've ever seen a workingline dog in the felsh or on a photo with my idea of a rottie head. A rottie head seems to be as rare in workinglines as roached toplines.

High scores have nothing to do with what the GSD was intended to look like when the breed standard was first written to describe the ideal tending dog.  It's not apples to apples. Many dogs can earned high scores in Sch.  Mals and mixes can excel in mansports and earn high scores; that doesn't make them a good GSD.  Things like head shape, eye placement, are survival characteristics, things the dog needed to tend 24/7 and survive without human intervention during all seasons in Germany. Dogs with long soft coats would not survive and are DQ'd from being shown. Whites would not be visible in a flock of sheep or during a snow storm - they too are DQ'd. I seriously doubt that GSD's with short blocky muzzles, no patent airways,and round protruding eyes would make it for very long either.  It's the old survival of the fittest thing.

Survival characteristics are what dogs need to do their jobs  and generally talk about structure and not cosmetics. Others like ear set and size are more cosmetic and set the GSD apart from other herding breeds. It's the same with all purebred dogs - there are survival characteristics and there are cosmetic characteristics.  If you ever have the opportunity, think about attending a seminar on canine survival characteristics.   Even poodles had their job at one time and the clips that look so foofy and silly to us were intended to protect the dog while it was retreiving in cold water rivers and lakes. Go figure what has happened to that breed. Canine survival  truly is a fascinating subject. It might seem like the breed standard is outdated and old fashioned and not in touch with today's dog, but when you think about it in terms of survival and the original purpose of the GSD, it all comes together. The standard describes a tending dog, not really a protection dog.

I guess I am one who the standard does not excite me...I think first temperament/nerves, health, courage, intelligence, presence then the last thing is looks to me this is why I enjoy working lines...I dont care about head size, muzzle, croup, ear set, tail length, does not excite me in the least.....they can be ugly as sin for all I care lets see them work ...the article  http://www.dogstuff.info/gsd_history.html  what we refer to as coyote in appearance  our the orginal german shepherds looked like

Good article, thanks for posting the link. I rather like the look of the "coyote dogs". Interesting to see how the breed has evolved over the years.

Blitzen:    The poster ask did big head  off balance a dog  in gaiting....well working is just as important to the question and no it doesnt effect either....that is why we mentioned scores.....if a head keeps someone from getting a V rating and being a top dog   ....these we have posted are not effected in any reahlm  of the spectrum...

I was just answering the poster,....no one else......scores talk and ratings represent a well balance dog  big head or not....only reason for posting the pics and the little bit of info.....

Im interested in work also  but a nice look goes a long way , too...so many want to seperate looks and workability...I happen to know you can have both in one dog...

[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn246/vonhaydensheps1/Heads.jpg[/IMG]
These are big heads for 4.5 month old pups!!

[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn246/vonhaydensheps1/TinaHeadShot.jpg[/IMG]
This mom - Tina

And of coarse Zidane is the Dad!!