SitasMom, just for you.............................. - Page 4

hello MM, Trieste was a Sundance granddaughter through Crunch.

The European dogs are now very popular and wide spread in the U.S. Access to dogs all over the world is only a mouse click away. I think some assume it has always been this way.

There was a time, and not that long ago, when there were very few Sch. clubs and German dogs in the U.S.. The people who wanted them, got on a plane and went there. No internet. Can you believe that.

The Am. dog was pretty much the only choice for those interested in the GSD. The choices we have today stem from the efforts of a very few people. The original founders of UScA and a small handful of breeders, like Tracy Bullinger. The Germans who immigrated here and began training.

Listen to yer ole granddad, kiddies. I'm telling you how it was in the old days. And the Am. Show Shepherd really is up hill both ways.

Rik

Can. & UKC Ch Dun Ringill's Fire at Midnite Am/Can UD SchH1 HIC (Canadian Group Winner)

This dog was my first (and only) foray into the conformation ring.  He was a mix of old American show lines (Cobert stuff, Reno, lots of Lance) and German Show lines (Vopo v Kirschental).  Pretty boy, big handsome head,  but not the easiest dog to live with.  I wanted a dog that could do anything and everything.....He could, he just wasn't particularly GOOD at anything!  

I have said on many occaisions that Cobert's Reno, who produced 58 Champions, and was a Lance son was an outstanding producer of sound temperament and had sound temperament himself. I have seen police dogs bred by him in New Jersey. So I am not anti ASL because they are showlines, I am anti ASL because of where they went from dogs like Reno. There's a difference...one produced excellent specimens of the breed, and currently its like a needle in Haystack to get a fine working dog from these lines.

My dog ended up only getting a handful of points towards his AKC Ch.....I was told he needed to "hit the end of the leash" harder.  Basically run like he was scared.  He wasn't, and he didn't!   And truth be told, he thought the whole thing was rather stupid, except for the bait. 

When I said he wasn't the easiest dog to live with, it wasn't becaue he was afraid.  It was because he WOULD bite, and people didn't believe me and kept testing him!  (Like the idiot handler who stuck his hand in my car after I told him not to......ouch!)

Hey guys thanks for sharing all the great photo's, a walk down memory lane.  Love the dogs, s/l or working really are all beautiful.  Thx  again  Nan

dunringill, you sure have a beautiful dog in your avatar.

Thank you all for posting your photos. They're not what we're used to looking at on this board. They are beautiful dogs and many were champions.

I find it very interesting to see the differences and similarities in the different catigories of dogs. For instance..... here's a beautiful working line dog....




I see similarities especially in the head, neck and whither areas. though this one has more of a stop.
This one's back smilar and she has less angulation in her croup.
Her hocks don't seem as flexable and she is pasterns are more upright - guess her gait would be shorter. Add a couple of pounds and her belly would fill out a bit.

She has drive like crazy, a nose to track anything and a steady temperament. Where the Am dogs that were discussed didn't seem to have these traits.

Once again, thank you for posting all the lovely photos.

SitasMom I think i was wondering the same thing you just commented to. Those dogs and alot of Am. s/l dogs are beautiful some have seem strong and capable but I wonder about what traits they have or dont have. My females grand-father is SEL CH (US) Welove Du Chien's Patriot and I really wonder what  traits he had and how good of a represenative of the breed he was in character or traits. But I wonder that about most of the dogs in my females pedigree. Especially the males because I would expect the show breeders not to put too much focus on a female and just use her as a brood bitch. Not saying agree with that but that is what I expect but hopefully that is just ignorance on my part.
Reggie

hello Reggie, every answer can be different, but the trait most bred for is gait. This is pretty much what defines a winning Am. s/l. if it doesn't have it, it doesn't do much winning in the specialty ring.

In the all breed shows, a dog with very good type can win and not be as extreme.

Some breeders do put effort into things like character and health, some could care less.  but in the end it's all about gait.

hope this helps,
Rik