Lack of Variety. - Page 1

Wondering why Sables,Bi -Colours and Solid Colours don't get shown,is there a bias against them?

Ask the judge's.

With the exception of a few sables, Black and bi-color dogs are working line dogs. Their breeders/owners are usually leaning towards the performance aspect of the GSD and those that are shown are usually done so just for a one time conformation rating.

There's not so much a bias as there is a lack of conformationally correct dogs available to show or breed to produce a good show prospect. From time to time you will see a good one appear, but there are only a few to breed to that have a chance to produce.

I show my working line dogs in conformation, (with the help of my children).  They include a black female who earned a VP1 and SG2 rating so far, a sable female who earned a VP1 and I have a young black male pup who will be shown in the puppy classes this year.  I am fortunate that I grew up with 4-H and FFA and and participated in livestock judging, so I can take a look and tell what I am looking at structurally.  Personally, I enjoy listening to the judge's critique and comparing to what I thought.  It helps me to continue to evaluate my dogs and to truly be honest about my own dogs.  My dogs have only been shown under SV judges.  Can there be bias by the judges?  I think yes, but fortunately the judges I've shown under honestly look at the structure of the dog, not what color they are.

My goal is to have a good working dog that is also structurally correct.  If more working line breeders would also show train their dogs, I bet we would start seeing better rated working line dogs. 

Marsha Seck

Thanks for clearing that up Dog1 something that's puzzled me for a while.

We had a grey sable back in the 60's that won prizes at shows.

 Gus Levin and Gringo v d  Philippsburg SchH3 KKla and went from V7  to V1 in 1999 and his story has been one of great interest to those who saw the Black Shepherd rise from scoff to top by this man.....This was in the 1999 Canadian Sieger show  where he went V1...His working dog records are recorded with great challenge by Gus and he achieved what Gringo deserved...Gringo died an untimely death at an early age and left Gus devisdated but his love of Gringo is a story I love to read over and over...It was in the 2000 issue of Dog World and Dog Fancy in 2001.

Yellowrose I remember reading that story, he was a very lovely dog indeed. Any noteworthy progeny from him?

thanks GSM44 for posting that question----i always wondered too, why i dont see other "colors" in AKC shows.

i am a newbie to working lines & recently acquired a female sable (jolla bett silver--picture on PDB),  but looking @ pictures of mine & others sables, Bi's & blacks,  most dont have roach backs & walk on their hocks---like many of those in show..

..SO, then why dont we see them in AKC shows if just in these 2 areas, they are closer to what the "standard" should be?..

.I still dont get it....i will be starting AKC OB with my girl this week, & i too, had planned to ask the trainers why i dont see these colors in the show ring

********DEE********

KCzaja:  Yes a few  one of which is:

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/128696.html