results from the GSDCA National Specialty - Page 1

http://www.gsdca.org/Noframes/2015_Shows/2015_Full_Catalog.pdf

Here are some head shots of the Sel #12 dog ;)

 

 

A hard time reading all these ( for me ) "funny" names.

I had to notice that within the "conformation results" there are almost no German ancestors besides Mailo, but as soon as the "obedience" and "rally" part starts, a lot of the ancestors of the participants are no longer American bred dogs.

This makes me think about the working ability of the American lines once again.

Many are plenty workable, those just aren't the homes they are sold to

Xeph, how many percent of the German Shepherd popularity within the United States are American bred? 90 % ? 95 % ?
It´s simply impossible that all of these dogs are sold to people who don´t want to participate in AKC events.
I understand that people who want to participate in SV events tend to buy German ancestored dogs, but in AKC events?

Forgot to add: It´s obedience "only" - nothing else...

@susie - I believe the overwhelming majority of Americans want a Shell of a GSD. Most never educate themselves on what an actual GSD is, what an even temperament is, and what the standard is. Most American believe that if a GSD is not a Black & Red/Tan Saddle back, then its just a mutt LOL. The real funny thing is, that most GSD pet owners that i encounter love to brag about their dog's lineage, how their dog's bloodlines lead back to Germany and how there is SchH/IPO titles in their dogs pedigree. Well DUH! Most people in the US who own a "GSD" do very little with them except the occasional walk on the haltie or being turned loose to run in the back yard and even more, most of those owners could not handle the energy, drive and intelligence of a true GSD.

Sorry rant over

In today's world most people do not have time to work their dogs or show their dogs. If you show in AKC conformation events at a National level, the dogs must be fit, which means road work. Showing and breeding an American GSD for the show ring is not an easy task. In a litter of 8, maybe 2 will be top specimens of the breed. those puppies that do not meet the structural criteria are placed in companion homes usually with families. Some do attend obedience classes ( which I encourage) but most do not. I think as a whole, those with import lines do more breeding as well as back yard breeders. Those who participate in AKC events tend to not breed as much. To participate in AKC obedience events, a GSD does not have to meet any structural criteria for the performance ring, this is why so many are import lines. Actually a dog can have an ILP # and still show in performance events. We were fortunate to have two dogs who produced some nice performance animals. The GSDCA gives an "Annual Training Achievement Award" (ATAA) to sires and dams based on the number and points of progeny that earn performance titles. Both my dogs are from American lines, and for 3 years one was in the top 3 sires, surpassing even those dogs who were from import lines. He was 2000 US GV Ch. Hickoryhill's Bull Durham TC, HIC, ROM, it was his son Select Ch. Hickoryhills GQ Sirius Park that was also a top 10 ATAA sire. Dogs from American lines are quite capable of doing performance work, perhaps not as good at schutzhund, but then again American lines have not been bred for generations to do this type of work. On the flip side, one doesn't see many import dogs in the American conformation ring because they do not move and cover the ground effortlessly with an outreaching gait, as the Amercian GSD standard describes and the breeders do not desire to breed for the AKC ring. There is a place for both styles of GSD's, just as there is a place for field labs and show labs. There are many breeds that have style differences within the breed, even though there is only 1 standard in most cases.

What Hickoryhill GSD said.