Pictures of your dogs gaiting! - Page 6

I see short coupling.  Overall a nice dog, but I don't like his underline 

Thank you Euro and Xeph.

Euro....the scooter caught my eye as I havent seen one for adults around here.

Xeph, yes he is very tucked up and I think it is partially restricting him in the breathing department. He is a havy panter, always has been, even as an 10 week old pup. But he did his AD without any training for it, meaning he is able to compensate.

I only can partially read the description in Ibrahims picture. If I got it right, the coupling is from where the last rib stands compared to the femur, a short coupling would basically restrict the rear drive, and the dog would bow its back to compensate the stride? As he is so tucked up and his last ribs are short, he practically could still use the full extend of his rear drive making him an effortless mover.

I heartily agree with Euroshepherd that he's a beautiful boy, impressive substance, also a beautiful topline. I also agree with Xeph, he is short coupled, his ribs are almost reaching his thigh, leaving no sufficient room for a loin. I think his croup is not bad, lay is good and length is ok, not long, a judge may describe it slightly short but not short. His short loin gives an impression of lesser length of croup, his withers are good, that is why he doesn't fall on his fore leg.
His effective back length is very good, not short at all, if he wasn't short coupled he would be described stretched.
A question

Which is the correct to say
His withers are high or
His withers is high ?  

His withers are high

Because the word "withers" is spoken like it's plural...even though we may think of it as a singular aspect in an animal's structure, the English language made it a plural word.  Same goes for the word "pants" and other words too, that I can't recall right now. 

VKGSD, I can now suddenly see the photos that you posted earlier in this thread.  That black/red longcoat is very eye catching!  It's gait isn't the best... but wow, love the color and coat!

Apparently I'm going to need to work on my eye when it comes to viewing the dog's loin area.  To me, Elkoor's dog looks within reasonable limits but the judge, Xeph and Ibrahim think it's too short.  gah...gotta crack out the books and photos again for myself. 

Thanks for the explanation

Euroshepherd, Elkoor, Xeph and all friends, Preston who is very knowkegable on GSD structure posted this in an old thread, I repost it for more angles of view to short coupling and proportions, here it is:

By PRESTON

There appears to be an irregularity in the photo at the right pastern/foot.  It is likely configured the same as the left foot and if so front is fine. 

In the last 95 years there has never been a GSD of good WL or SL west German, Czeck or east German breeding that has been too shor, but there have been way too many that are far too long, especially in WL breeding and in the American Shepherd lines.  Coupling that is too short just doesn't happen.  But excessive length is one of the biggest problems in the breed today and getting worse.  I know of a couple of breeders of euro WL GSDs that breed and sell short coupled WL GSDs, however, and these dogs tend to also have very correct working temperaments and are good family pets too, but these folks are the exception.

Why is this so??? Because the difference between proper short loin/length and excessive loin/length is very small genetically and proper short length is a recessive gene combination to excessive length.  A breeder typically has to breed purposefully in order to get the correct short coupling which is so necessary for proper proportions.   Most GSD enthusiasts just don't know the standard and have adjusted their perceptons to accept excessive length as normal and even desirable.  I suggest that folks buy tracing paper and start tracing GSDs of correct length and then theirs and place the transparencies one over the other in front of a light source and compare them.  If you do this many times you will start to get a good feel for correct short coupling.

Just to make the point of how difficult it is to produce correct short coupled GSDs take the example of V1 Henry Dunishienke, a very correctly conformed GSD with very short, very correct coupling, fantastic working temperament and very good hip joints.  He reproduced his very good hip joints but did not typically produce GSDs as closely coupled as himself.  Why???  Because the short coupling gene combos are recessive to the long gene combos.If one truly thinks that there are GSDs of good breeding that are too closely coupled (ie too short in loin/length), please list them here and tell us why their specific length is against the standard (actual proportional unit measurements height to length and how it adversely affects their movement, aglity, etc.

If we divide loin into 4 groups
1. Too short
2. Short
3. Long
4. Too long

Then the correct is short, preferably wide and tight. I can't say Xeph's dog loin is too short, unless the ribs are touching the thigh bone which can't be the case.
On the other hand some judges refer to short loin as a disadvantage, it is confusing 

I personally find the coupling of this dog acceptable.  I feel many are too long in loin (I own a couple).  This dog is still longer than tall proportionally, and would appear longer yet if his tuck up weren't so extreme.

Wow. This has become an interesting educational tread. Thank you all for the input! I like constructive critiques so much better than everyone just saying how nice looking one (any) dog is.

I am currently on puppy watch and have no computer to share pics (posting from my phone), but I'm willing to share pictures of my various dogs and their coupling later.

If anybody is interested, that is

Sounds great to me! Well, off to bed now (nightshifter!) Good luck with the pups!