Not busy, read this, Am. vs German dogs - Page 1

Ran across this web site that basically makes the claim that American GSD's are better than German GSD's and how the Germans are trying to eradicate the American GSD's. It is long winded, but if you have a few minutes, you will get a kick out of it. I have read a lot about how bad Am. breds are, but little about their being "better" than the German lines. I know we have both on this site and the "arguments" usually end up with several saying "they are all German Shepherds, lets all just get along", or words to that effect. Has this subject been beaten to death? While I'm at it, a side note. When I was a kid it was always said that you could tell if a dog was healthy or sick by the "temperature of its nose". Cold nose, healthy dog. Warm nose, sick dog. Any opinions on this? http://www.dogsgermanshepherd.com/american%20vrs%20german.htm

To respond to this idiotic article point by point would take a lot of time and would be pointless. I suspect it is an older article. One should note this person was or is breeding exactly the type of Am. GSD that is contrary to the standard in so many ways. Yes, there are also dogs from other bloodlines, including German, who do not meet the standard either. Many of the photos were taken at a show in Mexico and obviously, some of the dogs from German lines were not particularly good specimens of the breed either.

Any animal, or person, can look bad if the person taking the photo picks the right moment.

These people are utterly ignorant. They have not the faintest idea what is correct for the function of the dog. They are not even capable of spelling eradicate. They also seem not to understand that their dogs place last because they are poorly constructed and likely gait improperly because of it. We should hope to eradicate ignorant assholes such as these who continue to deliberately breed such ugly, incorrect, awkward, temperamentally challenged dogs. Best Wishes, Jonah P.S. Do Right and Fear No one, I hope you follow your very good name and forget about "getting along" with people who have ruined the American branch of the breed.Best Wishes

Why bother with this. Those breeders and their dogs are quickly fading in the pet market which is what drives the breedings. The poor temperment and fuction of the N.A. Shepherd are their downfall so if we just keep quiet for a while longer the dust will settle nicely on them. Amen.

Realcold, you will forgive me, but in the state I live in these breeders and their dogs are certainly NOT fading away. None the less, other than the health problems I am contacted about with these poorly bred dogs, I actually get a lot more calls and emails from people buying German bloodlines from the breeders in our area who only care about the money and will sell anything, anytime to anyone with the money. Too bad the dust doesn't settle on them as well.

Won't get into it here, but many years prior to Bob Scholes passing, I was asked to critque a young male that a newbie to the breed had purchased from Bob. I was not told who the breeder was and proceeded to give my honest opiniion, good points and bad. Bob heard about it and for many years after, we were less than friends, I had disagreed with his opinion.

The winners bitch (whatever that is...) doesn't look too good with her hind feet East-West, but any dog can stand that way from time to time. The white feet, unless that is a problem with the camera exposure, bother me... It looks and sounds to me like that show, whatever year it was (and I think it was quite a few years ago) did not exactly feature the best of the best :-O . We have all been to shows where money and the politics had a lot more to do with the results than the dogs. My hunch is this was one of the more shameful examples. I'd still rather have a poor example of a German dog than a poor example of the "American Shepherd." Sorry, but I cannot even call the "GSDCA specialty show" version of the latter a "German" Shepherd. Sure, I have met a few nice American style dogs that I would not be too embarrassed to have on the end of my leash, but they are few and far between, and to introduce one into my breeding program would be absolutely idiotic. I already HAVE a lot of what I want in my dogs... Why screw it up with a complete outcross at this point in time? Besides, I could never get used to seeing a dog walk on its hocks, no matter how many times some woman in a dress and Rockports standing next to a felt board with a lot of white lettering that means nothing to me and a blue ribbon tries out "that beautiful, long, stretched out side-gait." ???? Just can't see it. Shelley

The winners bitch (whatever that is...) doesn't look too good with her hind feet East-West, but any dog can stand that way from time to time. The white feet, unless that is a problem with the camera exposure, bother me... It looks and sounds to me like that show, whatever year it was (and I think it was quite a few years ago) did not exactly feature the best of the best :-O . We have all been to shows where money and the politics had a lot more to do with the results than the dogs. My hunch is this was one of the more shameful examples. I'd still rather have a poor example of a German dog than a poor example of the "American Shepherd." Sorry, but I cannot even call the "GSDCA specialty show" version of the latter a "German" Shepherd. Sure, I have met a few nice American style dogs that I would not be too embarrassed to have on the end of my leash, but they are few and far between, and to introduce one into my breeding program would be absolutely idiotic. I already HAVE a lot of what I want in my dogs... Why screw it up with a complete outcross at this point in time? Besides, I could never get used to seeing a dog walk on its hocks, no matter how many times some woman in a dress and Rockports standing next to a felt board with a lot of white lettering that means nothing to me and a blue ribbon tries to point out "that beautiful, long, stretched out side-gait." ???? Just can't see it. Shelley

jdh. You misunderstood that part of my initial posting. I did not state that I wanted to "just all get along". I simply stated that previous postings on this web site about Am. vs German dogs usually ends up that way. Truth is, I do not have enough knowledge about GSD's to come to a conclusion yet about my feelings concerning this subject. I know a whole lot (but not nearly enough) about the German bloodlines, but I have very little knowledge about American show lines. I do own three German show line imported dogs and have never owned an American bred show line dog. I am not thrilled about the roach back appearance of the German Lines but really, really not thrilled about the Am. show line "appearance", dragging the ground an all. Reminds me of the "low rider" style vehicles in L.A. I will say this, it has been my dream since I was a kid (I'm 53), to have a descendant of Rin Tin Tin. I have researched it and found that there were many Rin Tin Tin's but the one who captured my heart as a child was Rin Tin Tin II. I have researched his progeny line and have found a stud near me that is a show champion. It is all I can do to control myself and not get a pup from this stud. Lord, give me strength:)