The SV and longcoats - Page 1

Why do you think the SV DQ's long coats?

Could it be that they cannot stand the cold in Germany

Steve

I think most of the disqualifications that involve the external of the dog and not the working ability were done because of politics...because someone down the line didnt think it was pretty enough or that it didnt fit into the saddle marked scheme of things.

~Cate

When the standard was first drawn up, it was probably based on a mixture of observation of which type of dog seemed most capable, theory of why they should be so and a dash of attractive appearance.  The description of the perfect German Shepherd Dog for breeders to aspire to, since it was still in the making then.  Since the longcoat with undercoat was not excluded from breeding then, I can't see any reason why it should be now.  The longcoat with no undercoat is at a disadvantage, same as a normal coat with no undercoat would be, but since they don't seem to crop up, it was probably not thought necessary to include them by just excluding lack of undercoat.

Margaret N-J

Steve,  You owe me a new office keyboard! I just spewed coffee all over my keyboard.

ROFLMAO

Actually, I think this is a good question and would like to know why too.  I'm hoping one of our many learned breed historians will chime in. 

DeesWolf

Sorry,about the Keyboard,  I could not help myself, Its my warped sense of humour coming to the fore

Steve

To create more uniformity in the breed?

The vision of Max von Stephanitz, which even today is cherished by many of us who love the breed, was to standardize, to "fix Type" in, the many variations of the shepherd's dog he found all over Germany and many adjoining lands. Some were shaggy, others were short-coated. Some were scrawny, some high in the rear, some had ears that did always stand up. But all that he incorporated into the new "breed" association in 1899 had jobs they worked in....

....Between the two big wars, the pastime of exhibition and competition grew, designed to select the dogs that looked like they were best qualified to produce the next generation. Coat length and colors, body size and proportions, ear and tail carriage: all these were added to the evaluation of character and some evidence of utility.

~Fred Lanting http://siriusdog.com/article3.php?id=370

Daryl, thank you for that.  It might very well be the reason, but I'd like to know for sure.

I'm really hoping someone will post who has first hand knowledge as to why the SV changed LSC from a serious fault to a DQ.  Also would like to know why the SV considered the LSC to be a serious fault and also why the SV  has DQed LCs in the first place.   The owners of dogs with these coats have argued that in fact both coats are weather proof  and that these coats do not present any sort of a problem with regards to the weather and herding.

Again, I'm hoping some of our friends who have solid information please respond.  I'm not looking for educated guesses (even when they are very good educated guesses) or rumor!