GSDs - Who rode the saddle off 'em? - Page 1

Maybe it's just me and I hope someone didn't already bring this up in a past post, but WHY THE HECK ARE BREEDERS BREEDING THESE GSDS WITH HORRIBLE WASHED OUT SADDLES?! Doesn't the gorgeous traditional BLACK SADDLE on a Blk/Red or Blk/Tan GSD matter to ANYONE but me anymore?!!!   I know color and pigment isn't everything, but red seems to be so important these days, we've lost site of the big picture...pretty soon our GSDs will look like RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS!

If you are a breeder, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - for the sake of the breed (and my black-saddled GSD Stud that likes his women BLACK ON THE BACK) don't buy another washed out female for all of us GSD lovers out there!!! Your cooperation is greatly appreciated in this matter!

Can anybody second that motion?

I feel what you are saying. I too love the black saddle, however, if I have to choose between a washed out saddle with excellent work ethic and character- or a pitch black saddle that has no drive and questionable character...... I think the saddle is easier to correct with breeding-

JMO

Theresa

Saddles are for horses not dogs! I prefer blanket backs, bi colors, or blacks, even a nice black or red sable over a saddled dog any day. I like my color gold to dark brown/red, no silvers please! But who really cares about saddles and color anyway? Oh yeah, people unconcerned with the dogs ability first.

Are you referring to the 'Skunk strip that sometimes appears when you have in the working lines so many sables and you are wanting the pups to be darker saddled? When pups get anywhere from 5 mos to `1 year a skunk strip appears right down the middle...This is because of the 1/2 show

 l

Are you referring to the 'Skunk strip that sometimes appears when you have in the working lines so many sables and you are wanting the pups to be darker saddled? When pups get anywhere from 5 mos to `1 year a skunk strip appears right down the middle...This is because of the 1/2 show

woops , fingers hit that ctrl key,    and 1/2 work lline...Is this what you are referring to? The darker red the second color is , the better..I don't like cream or tan , so its a matter of preference, I guess....Pups start out very dark saddles, but the skunk strip sneaks in...

If you want dark saddle without that possibility, then you have to stay with the showline , 100percent with all blk/rd and not a sable anywhere,

Breeders of show can interpret how that is kept.., I guess.

"Saddles are for horses not dogs!"  I love it 4pack

people only started breeding for looks, when the judges started choosing winners based on looks... the saddle look, i was told shows

the dogs conformation better than a dark sable or black dog.

I too would take a washed out dog with work ethic and correct structure (do not read as conformation) over the blackest-reddest no drive showline dog any day.

john

4pack - Did someone put a burr under yours?

This post has NOTHING to do with ability, work ethic and structure!  Don't look for a fight here - the point is WHY SHOULD A BUYER HAVE TO CHOOSE? A good breeder should be able to incorporate a good look along with the excellent temperament, drive, ability and structure. If someone gave you a choice between 2 great SV registered working GSDs and 1 had floppy ears and a bobbed tail, would it matter to you then? It's the same thing and that's all I'm saying.

LOL no bur and I'm not lookin' for a fight! Allot of people don't like the looks of show line dogs. To each their own. Choices are a good thing in my book. I for one, am not looking for a cookie cutter dog.

the sad part is buyers do have to chose

unfortunately,, looks and drive have been seperated for some time,,add to that what each person considers  "good looks" and you have what is now  showline vs. working line,,

as for color and the  standard,

14) Color

Color should be black with regular markings in brown, tan to light gray, also with a black saddle, dark sable (black cover on a gray or light brown case with corresponding lighter marks), black, uniform gray or with light or brown markings. Small white markings on the forechest or a very light color on the insides of the legs are permissible though not desired. The nose must be black with all coat colors. (Dogs with little or no masks, yellow or strikingly light eyes, light markings on the chest and insides of the legs, white nails and a red tip of the tail or washed out weak colors are considered lacking in pigment.)

i find it interesting that it never mentions a black/red dog

john