Showlines, Working Lines - The ability to work - Page 7

 Hey Chris..I have titled 2 dogs ( sch 1 and 2) so I know what I am talking about.  The GSD and Malinois are maybe the same height, but they have 30 pounds difference..that is HUGE on a dog..

 

Are you telling me that GSD males are averaging 90 to 105 pounds? Do the rest of you agree with that figure?

Not showlines either. Generally 85-95. Correct (medium size) low 80's, over medium high 80's, large low 90's. Show dogs in general are kept VERY lean, and many LOOK larger than they really are especially in photo's. Jonah

For those of you that get the USA magasine, take a look at the pictures of workingline dogs and showline dogs for the past 5 or so decades. Look at the showline dog of the 70's and look at the workingline dog of the 90's. (Asko vom Lutter who may be the finest working/producing GS in the past 25 years. There is more physical resemblance between the 70's showline and the 90's workingline than the 90's showline to 70's showline. Showlines of the seventies produced many top working dogs. If they were graded VA by the same standard that is in place today AND they worked and produced working dogs, yet looked like the V workinglines of today who also work....WHY would I think that the current showlines represent the standard of a GS dog. A German shepherd is physical and mental, and regardless of who took the breed down this road, it is not correct as long as the functionality is not in place. JMO 

Ya, I seen the question from Christopher. But, I didn't answer because I'm not a breeder. It would be useless for me to offer an extended opinion on something I don't practice. I did try to keep it a generalized opinion though.

... breed for athletic working ability and mental precision over appearance. Border Collie for example like you said. But maybe I learned it all wrong. I dunno. 

I would like to remind people that this post is related to German Shepherd dogs and is NOT to promote Malinois, Border Collies or any other breeds.  The majority of German Shepherd owners/breedeers want pure bred Dogs.

Mackenzie

Mackenzie, thanks for bringing this back.

Gustav thanks for saying, in ONE paragraph, all that needs to be said.