Looking for something specific. What do you recommend? - Page 7

By the way, Jim, that is one magnificent dog you have...He's really something.  I love the pics of him.  Pretty good example of what a GSD should be, I'd say.

The day I picked up my little rescue girl from Steph, I met a retired police K9...If a person's never met such a dog, they don't understand what amazing animals these dogs are.  What a noble animal!  Incredible.
This is Oakley...engaged in play with our border mix pup...cool set of choppers.  Too bad the pic is blurry.

Crys

Sorry about the edit...The pic was too big for the post.

>Bullpuckies.

>Conformation in standard is designed to best allow the animal
>to comfortably do the job they are asked to do. It's that way
>across all the breeds. Is it perfect -no, have some traits been
>'commercialized' to the point of grotesque, yes.

>But for a working dog being asked to jump a hurdle or out of a
>squad car or across a vehicle after a fleeing perp, the conformation
>to safely get across that obstacle is vital.

Did you miss the part where the vast majority of GSDs have no "job" other than to entertain the kids and bark when someone comes into the yard? You know, no hurdling, no squad cars, no perps, etc.

Therefore, what you stated is just plain irrelevant to the vast majority of GSD owners.

>Well, if that is what he wants, who are we to condemn him ??
>I looked on the Legacy site, and the dogs were absolutely
>beautiful. I personally wouldn't want a dog that large, but some
>people do. Whatever.........

Different people have different preferences. What a concept. Who would have thought that such a simple thing would be religious heresy? Oh well, at least there is one person here who isn't all wrapped up in being self-righteous.

Thanks.

>The thing is Maggie he launched the conversation with passive
>aggressive language that wasn't necessary. If he'd just explained
>that he was interested in a big, impressive pet and wasn't looking to
>pursue sport or work with the dog that would have been fine.

So you interpreted that to mean that I was trying to pick a fight with you? I can refer you to a good pyschiatrist.

>However, his entire tone has been disrespectful and rude and
>with this board that tends to be the tone you get back.

No, I don't think so.

>I also like very large GSDs, and I don't much care if they are
>trained to leap over walls and bite people with big puffy arms. Go figure.

>There was no need for a comment like that straight out of the gate.
>No one had ever said he MUST HAVE A TO STANDARD DOG SO
>HE CAN DO SPORT yet he's already being disrespectful about one
>of the sports many people on this board do with their dogs.

If you care to read the comments, you will find that they are all about how the dog has to work, with no recognition of the fact that 1) the vast majority of GSDs never do any "work" and 2) the vast majority of those that do "work" don't do any more "work" than jumping over barriers to entertain their owners.

And you will still see that the comments continue to be focused around how the dog has to "work."

>Is the sport the be all and end all of the GSD, no it absolutely is not but
>it is followed by a good portion of folks who comment on this board so
>why alienate those folks from the very get go?

Why do these folks continually post the same old crap about "work" when I stated from the get-go that no such "work" was required? Failure to read? Inability to comprehend? Or just plain old bigotry? (As also shown by the fact that they automatically assume that anyone who wanted to breed for the obvious market of large GSDs must be an unethical child molestor?)

>Wdog86, You wrote several noteworthy comments:

>Actually, I don't necessarily disagree with this comment, it did
>give me a laugh. Thanks for that suggestion. I don't think you
>would be the one to give me the lessons, but perhaps you'd
>be kind enough to refer me to the charm school that you went to.

I would but it was a tough school. You need a special scholarship.

>What's up with all of the religious analogies? Let's keep the topic on
>dogs and not go to politics or religion, we'll just get all of the OT
>posters jumping in thinking this thread is for them.

Because the reactions strike me a lot like religious fanatics who never listen to anything but just keep yammering about how their idea is the only true belief and everything else is sin and perdition.

>For the record as it has been pointed out several times it is called a
>"Breed Standard." So, it's not my point of view it is the standard set
>for the breed. I love the GSD and respect people who take care to
>preserve the breed.

Did you catch the part about how that means nothing to the vast majority of people who own GSDs? Why does it mean nothing? Because their dogs will never do any more "work" than going for a walk with the kids. Therefore, it doesn't matter whether the dog fits into that height requirement, or the weight requirment, or whatever.

>I have met hundreds of the people that you describe over the years. 

On the contrary. I don't think you actually met any of the individuals I met. You have no clue who they were. Therefore, you are making ignorant comments based on your own prejudices.

> I just realized we must have met in the past, your one of those people.

No, we have never met. And you apparently can't read what I said very well, so your judgment about me would be almost as ignorant as your judgment about other people you have never even met.

>Just so you know I don't like over angulated GSD's either. They are a
>problem for the breed also.

But . . . but . . . there are people who claim that is entirely consistent with the "breed standard". Furthermore, some of them will almost certainly claim that they are more religiously enlightened than you on that score. Oh, my. Who should I believe?

>I know that you don't care about the working ability of the GSD
>but some of us do.

Do you have the ability found in most normal adults to recognize that not everyone shares your particular set of requirements?

>I couldn't do my job very well with one of your over sized
>furry door mats.

Did someone ask you to do your job with an over sized furry door mat? Tell you what. If you have a requirement, you buy a dog based on your requirement and I will be perfectly happy for you, whatever that requirement is. See how that works? It works both ways, BTW.

>I am very thankful for the breeders that adhere to the standards
>and breed dogs with working ability. My dog jumps fences, chases
>criminals and will even bite a bad guy, with or without a big puffy arm.

Good for you. I don't spend my time chasing bad guys with my dog. So that part is useless to me.

>Here's his pedigree and by the way he's only 85lbs of muscle and runs about 32 mph.

>http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/469183.html

>He's exactly what I was looking for.

Good for you. But just for the record, just to keep you straight -- call me before you ever buy another dog because I have never met you and therefore I know

>He's exactly what I was looking for.

Good for you. But just for the record, just to keep you straight -- call me before you ever buy another dog because I have never met you and therefore I know which dog is right for you. You know, same way that you have never met me but know which dog is right for me.

>If everyone bred just what they liked, and the hell with the
>standard, there would be no recognizable dog breeds today,
>just a bunch of non-descript mutts.

Well, I didn't ask everyone to breed for my particular standards, or lack of them. I follow the philosophy that there are multiple kinds of dogs because people have different needs and tastes. Therefore, everyone should get what they want.

>I admire the breed for what it is, and not the variations
>created by people who look only for one aspect of a dog.

Actually, I listed several parts of the requirement. It seems that most people here only read one and went off the deep end about that.

>And I agree with both you and Slamdunc about the over
>angulation...It is a problem.

So much for the "standard" being a good thing, then.

>But several of those oversized GSD are built like Great
>Pyrenees in the rears, and that's a bit steep for a herding
>dog, regardless of whether it's holding down your couch or
>herding sheep. Just my opinion.

My friend's dog was rated OFA Fair and had no apparent problems with hips. No doubt some of them do have problems, but ordinary GSDs have lots of problems, too. It is all in picking the right dog, whatever the size. Medium size is no guarantee that the hips are good.

>You'll do what you choose to do, and there will be those of us
>who admire the breed for all that it is, and not just size, who
>will do what we choose to do.

Be careful. I have a feeling that, if you agree with me on the concept of "to each his own" someone here will surely call you a heretic who ought to be burned at the stake before too long.

>I was wondering how, if you advertized that your 120 pound dogs were
>good for SAR, etc...you would go about that. I know that in some types of
>SAR training, the handler has to be able to rappel down a cliff or building
>with his or her dogs strapped to them, and I wonder how a person would
>handle rappeling with a huge dog, along with whatever other gear they had.

My friend's dog was about 150. I figure you either have to develop some good muscles to carry that dog around. Ooooor, the people here should recognize that the vast majority of GSDs will never see the need to be rappelled down any cliff or building. Therefore, using that as a justification for what the right size ought to be is just a little silly.

>But wdog wasn't looking for a dog to do any of this, anyway.

Yes. Therefore, whether the dog is within the height and weight standards is just irrelevant to me. Lately, nobody has called me to go haul my dog down the side of the building. If they did, I would probably tell them I had better things to do, with or without the dog.

>He or she is looking for a mini horse in GSD clothing.

A lot of people say things like that. Funny thing is, if you are around them for any period of time, you realize that they really aren't that big.

>I looked at a lot of those dogs, and although I did see some that I thought
>were beautiful, there were too many with loose lips, strange ears (rounded,
>or weak looking).

LIke I said. I have seen them without any of those problems. So I know they exist. If you will re-read the thread you will find that I mentioned that a few times.

>Also, due to their huge sizes, they also tended to look a bit like a
>giant malamute in expression, and not entirely GSD, although I know they are purebred.

Then you saw the wrong ones.

>These big dogs just don't suit my taste.

That's what it is -- taste. You choose what you like. If you like a "working" dog (one that will jump over barriers to entertain you) then "working" characteristics are important. If you are looking for a pet, then it could be anything from a Shih-Tzu to a Mastiff. It really doesn't matter if it is an inch too short or too tall to be a show dog.

>But even as a pet owner, I respect the standard that created the GSD,
>for it is the reason this glorious breed exists, and I will not to support
>breeders who do not see a reason for the standard.

Before we go any further, let's see if you can understand a simple distinction.

There may be people who "do not see a reason for the standard." You know, like a person who didn't realize that GSDs are better than Pomeranians when it comes to jumping over barriers.

Then there are people who see a reason for the standard -- but they aren't going to train their dog to jump over barriers, or chase perps -- and therefore want something that meets a slightly different standard. You know, like maybe they like GSDs but they live in a small apartment. Therefore, they would prefer something smaller than a standard GSD.

That is, they aren't so stupid or morally corrupt that they can't see a reason for standards. They just want something different than the "working" standard.

Can you understand that distinction? I just want to get that clear, because you seem confused about that right now.

This ad appears on the message board classifieds every day.


X-Large German Shepherds
 Bred for the family first!
Not show OFA Hips and elbows, 7 year gaurentee
www.royalair.org

Oh good lord this whole thread is a giggle & as for "A slightly different standard" - then it's not the standard is it!!

The good lady really loves elephants & thinks they look really sweet & has been hankering after one for years but I keep telling her they will be too big for the house & garden... now only if they did smaller ones.