Opinions on Photo Shopped Pictures - Page 1

I have to vent a little in regards to the increase in color enhanced and doctored pictures that are being posted. I would like to know if it bothers others as much as it bothers me to see this becoming a very common practice. It's bad enough when people increase the color of the dog, but I get crazy when I see them altering the actual anatomy of the dog (fixing the top line, croup etc.) I think that every dog is beautiful naturally, all have positives and negatives in regards to anatomy, there is no perfect dog. What are people to think when they rely on a picture to form an opinion on a dogs anatomy because they can not actually see the dog in person. * Is this not fraud? * Should people sit back quietly and not voice their displeasure about it? * How should this be dealt with?

It bothers me also. I don't even like to see the animal cropped and put into another background, there are always subtle changes to the animal too. If you need to crop the edges of the picture to fit, that's not changing the picture. When you have a totally different background and/or changes to the animal, that should not be allowed. If I was looking for a dog or puppy, I want to see the real dog. If I bought something based on altered pictures, yes that is fraud.

Forget pictures, forget words, forget promises - go see the dog/puppy yourself.

of course that bothers most people on this site -- human nature : no rational person approves being misled or desieved or lied to !!-- if you ask me .... this whole thing about the GSD has gotten all out of proportion because people have ulterior motives -- and many at that -- and they justify everything with the stupid expression " for the betterment of the breed " -- ok .. you beleive that ?? then why are there so many health problems in the GSD .. so many once GSD afficianados turning to other breeds like the malinois which was highly represented in Germany this year especially at working trials !!-- ask your dog .. does it care about titles V or VA or Sch 1, 2, 3 espoecially when that title was acquiored within a dog that really has weak nerves or a twemperamnt flaw just so it can be shown ?? -- AND the best VA1 .. in my guess may not always be the best producer because the other 50 % is attributed to the other mate !! AND the politics --ok ... no one wants to talk that -- think about that one for yourself -- you ask about the photo's -- what about the dyeing of color to make the dog what it is not .. same in protection work -- i hear the most stupid comment , "drive promotion " ... HA .. another farce .. beleieve me i never did any so called drive promotion with my GSDs .. why .. becuase the innate abitity , the genetics are there that the dogs can't wait to work !! .. IMO just another manner of trying to make the GSD what it is not because of poor breeding .. another false painting of the picture !! i hope a lot of newcomers learn real fast that many of the GSD people are stuck and caught up in this baloney ...and i hope they see the light real fast

I personally have problems with some altered pictures. If someone changes the background behind the dog to make it more neutral-no problem. I agree that it is difficult to get a really good photograph of many dogs. Most of us do not have a very green grassy field with a backdrop of nice trees to use as a background, plus two (2) or three (3) extra people to help us make that perfect shot. Now if someone alters the profile of the dog himself-now that is a serious problem. Often it is done so poorly that it is very easy to spot. Zyna, I agree with you. One must see the dog for himself. These pictures do find their way onto this database. Many times we will see a stand photograph of a dog or bitch and they (in my opinion) look terrible because they are pulled back for the shot and their back appears to have a very pronounced "roach" and the croup appears really steep. I much prefer to visit and see the dog moving and standing naturally, especially if I can observe the dog moving in a fast trot. Bob-O

Anytime I sell a dog I want the new owner to be excited and pleased when they get it. Would be a big letdown to get one that does not even come close to the picture you see. I agree it's best to go visit the kennel and view the dog in person. If more people did this you would see less fraud.

Alphapup, and all... I see this as just another evidence and expression of the commercialization of the breed. Photo editing is just a marketing ploy, nothing more. Frankly, I find that the GSD has become somewhat of a bore. They all look alike, now. That is somewhat of an exaggeration, of course, but it is not THAT far from the truth. I agree that the "betterment of the breed" mantra has become irritating, also. When people say that, I tend to think, "Yeah, right!". I know that all the people who are really in the breed to make a buck say this, so it means nothing to me, personally, to hear it uttered. This breed has become a big cash cow to a lot of people. It is no longer the unspoiled, natural dog. This is why you see too many health problems and undesireable recessives. The top "show breeders" who impact the breed the most are simply covering them up. They sell you a pup and the ears won't stand. No wonder, because they've been taping ears for years, and have essentially been selecting for other things, while covering up weak ears. They simply give the new owners ear taping instructions, and if they don't stand, it's because the ears weren't taped right. Surgically-dropped or implanted testes are another thing. The "betterment of the breed" argument does not work, here! Like I said, I was a member of the SV for 25 years, and I quit them, now 7 years ago. I think that in some ways, they became just the same as the AKC GSD breeders. It's certainly not the same SV that I joined in 1974.

I would have loved to go see two of the dogs we bought before getting them. For us it wasn't possible to fly overseas. If we had not taken the chance on the pictures, and good communication with the sellers, we would not have these two wonderful animals. Not all people have the option of seeing in person first.

animules, absolutely true, not all have the option, But can't argue that going and seeing is obviously the "best" choice, when it is possible. No use for photo shop here unless trying to fix a "bad" color that came out, meaning the photo itself was not exposed correctly, only had one do that so far. We have a No Ship policy, we have all potential buyers come to our house, meet our dogs, visit a sch. meeting if they like/wish. And then if they like what they've been presented with we go from there. I want people to come meet my dogs, having them meet all of our dogs and having them see the Temperaments for themselves, and see the dogs interacting with each other, us and them, is important for the potential buyer to witness first hand, in order for them to get an idea of what we and our dogs are all about. Gives me the opportunity to see how the dogs respond to the people too, again very important to me, your dogs will tell you "secrets" if you learn to hear them. :-)

It is so blatant with show dogs that if I were ever to buy one, which I would not, I would demand some real pictures from the sellers. Of course if they fake the colors, then what is fake on the inside of the dog where you can't see? xrays, health certificates, training, etc. D'Mann