WORKINGLINE V SHOWLINE - Page 5

The problem with the Golden Middle dog is that while it may generally fit the breed standard better than the extremes, GSD exhibitors are in "camps" (in UK, typically English type and Germanic type since the working dog purists do not show their dogs) where extremes of their chosen type are evident and a middle of the road type of dog will not win in either "camp".  If you are an exhibitor, you want to win, there is no point in showing a dog that does not fit into either "camp" so while there are breeders who strive to produce the Golden Middle dog, you won't see their dogs seriously exhibited.

Margaret N-J

Each to their own but my ideal choice is a good middle of the road dog everytime !.

Show line Germanshepherd breeders are more caring to the furure of the breed is a very funny line for me,for germanshepherd was never created to show.the rest is for the great minds to figure it out.have a nice one.

One of my concerns re the breeding of GSD's for purely anatomical outcomes; it can be seen in most other pedigree dogs from the so-called "Working" group that, as a result of the underpinning drive to produce an animal that, in the view of the current crop of fanciers, represents the "correct" type, most of these breeds, whilst their proponents talk about ”form following function" influencing their breeding, have long lost the ability to work effectively. This is not as a result of poor anatomy, simply as temperament has taken a poor second place to type in the priorities of breeders for generations.

I consider that the reason that the GSD has not gone this way is the pressure to supply dogs of suitable temperament to the services and working dog fraternity, the development of the sport of Schutzhund and the principle enshrined in the SV that the GSD should remain a working breed. This principle has, however, been sorely tested at times by external commercial pressure and the priorities of some individuals who simply wish to produce a beautiful dog, regardless of temperament.

As I noted in an earlier post I think the SV has acted to influence this pressure; this must be seen as a good thing. I feel that this stance should become progressivly firmer, and that the VA group at the breed Sieger should be capable of demonstrating a performance and propensity to work that is fitting to the premier pedigree working breed.  This could be accomplished in a few years, if the SV set its stall out openly. As I said before, many of these dogs, if trained appropriately, would look a lot more able and self assured-and, by evidencing a good performance silence critics that claim they have lost the ability to work. Some have, but not all, and if demand in breed selection were influenced by such standards, these poor specimens would not be bred from and disappear from the gene pool very quickly.

That such a policy could be effective can be seen by a perusal of the working sector dogs in Northern Europe, where the Kor requirement has led to elimination of very poor anatomical specimens, not because the working enthusiasts really consider type greatly, but as a consequence of these dogs having limited value and potential in regards to both competition and breeding.

Cheers Chris b