Breed all about it - Page 1

The GSD is featured on Animal Planet now, should be interesting!

Hey Sparrow,

thanks I'm watching it now and I just saw learned something intereting that I have never paid attention to in the past. Very informative for me.

Debbie

Is it a "new" one?

If it's the one that's been around for a while.  A couple of those dogs are related to mine.

Morning all,

in past posts from others I have read comments on the many differences between the American vs German dogs being shown. How different their structure was and after seeing so many pictures being added to the database and someone calling them "hock walkers",  I finally see it!! I know for most of you it was very evident but for me I could only see a little difference. After learning as much as I can about the German style show dog and even the working line dog, Let me say, "Boy what a big difference between American and German dogs" I wondered why these dogs when stacked are just flat standing on their hocks,  but now I  know.  When stacked their rear foot is pushed down by the handler so that it is standing on it's hock. The dog must learn to stand that way, walk that way and gait that way. The narrator said it best when he said, "The difference of the American vs German is Form vs Function".  It's no wonder they can't work, it looks painful to me. I'm sure that I am starting another battle between each side, but this is just too obvious. I know that there is still alot for me to learn, but to me this was a milestone. It was almost as if the light had been turned on and everything made sense. Sometimes we just hate when there is so much bickering on this database, but there are also many experienced people giving their knowledge so generously, to them I say "Thank You".

Please continue to share your knowledge with those of us still learning. We really are listening to you....

Debbie

Nice post Debbie!

Yes, I was so glad that the narrator said that too!

I remember trying to explain to my aunt once on the way to an AKC show/obedience trial the difference between Am. and German lines. As we pulled into the show grounds, 2 overly angulated, cowhocked GSDs (clearly there for conformation)  were looking nervously over their shoulders at my car as I pulled through the gravel. SHe was in teh process of asking me why they walked so funny when I actually passed them, and they nearly pulled their handler into the ditch. I turned to my aunt and said, "THAT"S the difference!"

I was at another AKC event, when I saw a male Am. line GSD waiting with his handler/owner/whoever, and they guy STRICTLY TO ENTERTAIN HIMSELF, shook the dogs tail at his face, causing the dog to ferociously turn and attack its own tail. The guy laughed. I wanted to choke him.

Flame away, it won't change the facts.