173 lb Shepherd! - Page 4

All of this said, most of these particular dogs do appear to be overweight, and most compare unfavorably with my calculations.  It is very disturbing that she is breeding dogs without hip stamps.

SchHBabe -- I assumed that it went without saying that I am showing the correct weight for PROPORTIONATE gsds.  Sorry for the confusion.

Of course, a dog with a withers of 32" built like a deerhound should not be that heavy.

If proportionate, the numbers above are correct.  Physics is not a matter of debate -- and the math is straightforward.

Again, some people would still object to a perfectly sound 30" 130 lb shepherd who could work.  Others would not.  But there is no disputing that such a dog would not be a heath hazard. 

Again, the real problem with this breeder is not they these dogs are oversized.  It's that s/he is ignorant of the basic health issues and clearances and even the meaning of basic terms every gsd breeder should know.  That's a crime of which even breeders of in-size gsd breeders can be guilty.  I think this discussion took its usual crazy turn and we lost sight of what was really the problem here. 

As always, MVF your skills and insight are above the "kith and kin"  of the norm.

Thanks for the number analysis - always a pleasure.

I would like to see the breeder from Briarwood come on here and defend his breeding.
I'm sure he must check it out.  Why has he not had anything to say?? Because it's nonsense.  He's breeding too big and playing on the publics ignorance of bigger is better.

I have lost count of the times people have told me their male "looks just like" mine except he's much larger. (Once again, "the bigger the better" mentality). And my 26 inch male is about 85 pounds. I once had an extremely obese mother and son tell me their 6 month old shepherd pup weighed 90 pounds. And a local pet store  was selling "imported" champion police dog pups from Oklahoma, and the sire weighed 143 pounds. (I personally would not want to be boosting THAT K-9 over a fence! His name must be Huge-o von Double-Hernia. Ouch! 

 It seem inevitable to me that caring about "beauty" inevitably leads to different physical types because different people think different things are "pretty". 

It's called a breed standard.  And caring about it gives you the breed.

Many people like "big". Some like "huge". Some like black, some white, some sable, some black & red...some German Highline, some DDR, etc...etc.....

And all that means nothing.  It doesn't matter what I personally "like."  It matters what is correct according to the standard.  Was it Joseph Thomas who said, when asked after a judging assignment, is that the kind of dog you like best, replied, "It has nothing to do with what I like.  It has to do with what is CORRECT." 

And yes, these 173 lb. Shepherds are just FAT.  Poor dogs.

That really can't be good for rthe dogs' hips, can it?  There's nothing beautiful about dyplasia.