I like the bi-color a lot more that the "other dog".

IMO the bi is the only dog here with the correct amount of stop, (very little) his skull isn't domey, and he doesn't have a dish face. I like it that the plains of his skull and muzzle are straight and nearly parallel to one another. That's not mentioned in the FCI standard. I'd like to see a more athletic look to him overall. The photo is not very flattering, it almost looks like it was photoshopped. I'd like to see another one.

Head - AKC breed standard

The head is noble, cleanly chiseled, strong without coarseness, but above all not fine, and in proportion to the body. The head of the male is distinctly masculine, and that of the bitch distinctly feminine.

The expression keen, intelligent and composed. Eyes of medium size, almond shaped, set a little obliquely and not protruding. The color is as dark as possible. Ears are moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. A dog with cropped or hanging ears must be disqualified.

Seen from the front the forehead is only moderately arched, and the skull slopes into the long, wedge-shaped muzzle without abrupt stop. The muzzle is long and strong, and its topline is parallel to the topline of the skull. Nose black. A dog with a nose that is not predominantly black must be disqualified. The lips are firmly fitted. Jaws are strongly developed. Teeth --42 in number--20 upper and 22 lower--are strongly developed and meet in a scissors bite in which part of the inner surface of the upper incisors meet and engage part of the outer surface of the lower incisors. An overshot jaw or a level bite is undesirable. An undershot jaw is a disqualifying fault. Complete dentition is to be preferred. Any missing teeth other than first premolars is a serious fault.

The real problem here, imho, is not the Kennel Clubs or SV allowing this to happen. (Most) everyone on this board is a serious German Shepherd person, and while we may disagree on some subtleties, we all want to see things done for the betterment of the breed. I do NOT think that is so for a majority of German Shepherd buyers, at least in the US. They don't care about breed standards or titles, but instead want the cute, ferocious, interesting(as in blue, chocolate, brindle, or white) or whatever dogs. They will take one look at this guy with his big head and sad squished face and fall in love. The next cut-rate breeder sees the demand, follows suit and suddenly you will see these big heads all over the place. It is a consumer driven market and a majority of the consumers are ill-informed at best.

SG6 Dango von QiShiZhongDe  Kkl 1 

Sire Born : 05. October 2009

Ridiculous thoughts on the average uninformed pet buyer spoken on this thread just like so many others. It isn't the pet buyer asking or creating the abominations but it is a sure way to shift blame from breeders who ignore the standard in favor of their own.

Sorry if you think it is ridiculous beetree and I by no means want to shift blame away from the breeders who create this kind of dog. However, having spent 20 years in Shepherd rescue and seeing how many people get involved with these dogs when they have no real idea what they're in for, I think the consumer has to take a bit of the blame as well. If backyard Joe sees that people will buy an inferior product, whether that means untitled, bad hips, or big head, he will try to replicate it just to make a few bucks.

You just said it yourself, your uncomplimentary comments regarding pet owner discernment is based on rescue where breeding is prevented by spay and neuter as a condition of ownership. Therefore please place all the blame of creation on the individual, "professional" breeders not the recipients of rescues, who are likely pet owners.

Thanks.





 

IMO buyers have nothing whatsoever to do with what is happening to these dogs. It's a trickle down from the style that is wanted in the SV show ring.Those buying for show/breeding want what wins, "pet buyers" get what's left over. It is a recipe for disaster; these heads and over done bodies are not good for the future if the goal is to produce healthy, athletic  GSD's. If the goal is to produce carbon copies of the BSZS Va dogs, then it's business as usual. US breeders need to make the choice.

It's interesting to read the comments that have been left about Dango, the dog pictured above.  Is this alleged to be the same dog in the post that started this thread?