STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES OF THE GSD - Page 1

STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
OF THE MODERN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG
 LECTURE BY
PETER VAN OIRSCHOT
Supervisor Breed Affairs S.V. Netherlands
http://www.videxgsd.com/STRENGTHS_AND_WEAKNESSES.htm

 I found this article very informative thanks!  As a someone who is looking for a GSD as companion and not for show or working/sport I particularly appreciated the last paragraph and feel it sums up my personal point of view very well:

"We know very well that we cannot focus upon a small group of top breeders or top sportsmen in the working scene. The average buyer of a GSD puppy wants quality. His priorities are a dog with good health, a clear representative of his breed, sound character and a reliable companion. He wants a manageable, obedient dog and as he is involved in a range of activities he does not want bureaucratic rules in a busy world where he wants to relax and spend quality time with his dog. The GSD can be that quality dog. It is our task to breed the German Shepherd as such and to maintain him as man’s number one best friend. If he were here today Von Stephanitz would aim for this too. I’m sure of it!?

- Susan

thanks videx,,, i like the photos of the "undivided era"

i agree that the gsd should be an all around dog

my fear is that too many people will try and read too much into this and say they are "improving the breed" or worse yet "making quality pets" 

john

This article is very informative. However how does the breed move on?  I have some thoughts on the matter (for the UK) but I imagine they'll be knocked down.

1. Before a CC can be awarded dogs have to have proven their health  - which in GSDs is Hip/Elbow screening and haemophilia testing.
    
2. For judges to ensure that the dogs they are giving good placings to, are sound in all ways, including size, sexual characteristics, temperment and movement - not just glamour, handler, owner or previous wins.
    
3. For dogs to be be proven producers before being over used, i.e. only allow younger dogs a couple of matings in their 2 - 3 year age range.  Ensure that progeny produced is sound before increased use.  This would stop a new dog coming in, being over used before problems are noted, this way temperment, confirmation and health screening on the first few litters should be confirmed before a dog is used a lot.
    
4. For a GB database access, providing information of dogs, their wins, the amount of times they have been used at stud, litters and the progeny produced, again to be compulsory for the members of the breed council, providing trackable histories through generations, requesting information not only on health screening information to be notified, but other diseases such as CDRM, EPI, and so on.  Also provide notification of the loss of dogs and reason's why, this will give more information such as longevity in some lines and not others.  Information of dogs who are more than just pets, such as those in the working services as it shows which lines are working well rather than laying on the hearth rug.
    
5. Breed council to encourage breeders to sign a much stricter breeders charter so that they can then use the increased numbers to push the KC towards implementing compulsory health screening.

my fear is that too many people will try and read too much into this and say they are "improving the breed" or worse yet "making quality pets" - john

John,

I think this is a very valid concern. Grandeur and athleticism need not be lost or diminished to produce a quality pet GSDs. There is no doubt keeping a balanced and realistic breeding program is a real challenge, but I personally see no need to have "making quality pets" as the sole breeding goal though unfortunately I can see how some could interpret it that way. I'm not a breeder but I would guess that in the typical litter (whatever that might mean:) "pet quality" pups are born, no matter how great the mating is or how much we plan for more. I would also imagine that many breedings would produce entire litters where the pups were at best a lateral move from the present breeding program instead of improving it. So one would hope that "quality pets" would be produced as almost a "by-product" of any specific breeding program.

Given that there are far more "average GSD's being born then beautiful and/or brilliantly athletic GSDs there would be no real need to breed for "quality pets" because they are already being produced naturally - again one would hope. But I think a problem arises because there are breeders, perhaps too many, who focus either solely on color & conformation, or solely on drive & hardness, or soley on pedigree ... that at times temperament and versatility get lost in the shuffle making these "average pup" less than desirable companions (e.g. loss of calmness or loss of desire to connect with people). i.e. "pet quality" but not "quality pets". I think breeders need to have their own preferences as part of their breeding program, perhaps even central to their breeding program - goals like show or sport - but never at the expense of the original purpose of the GSD and especially not at the expense of the non-superstar pups.

Accepting that it is very possible that as many as 90% (if not more) of the pups one produces will be "average" in color, conformation, drive, hardness ... would be difficult. But knowing that the bulk of pups being breed will need to be placed in non-breeding non-professional homes must be factored into any breeding program. But as luck would have it? :) - Again I'm guessing here - isn't it true that the bulk of folks looking for GSD are in fact looking for quality pets /family companions?

A good breeding program must have a clear focus but not such a laser like focus that it loses the essence of the GSD. I think if breeders shift away from the unrealistic ideal that it is possible to breed an entire litter of top "10-percenters" and instead focused on producing stable, solid, capable and versatile GSD as a norm, knowing full well that the bulk of these pups will indeed become companions/pets. And when that amazing exceptional perfect representative of the breed - that 10-percenter" - is born you have developed a keen enough "eye" to recognize it and not sell it:) we would all be much happier - breeders, handlers, and pet owners alike.

jmo,
Susan