Why did the American dogs change? Probably the same reason the German dogs changed to have upright sholders and banana backs. First, both wanted more topline. SO the Americans opened the shoulder angle to give a higher wither, then lengthened the second thigh to increase the slope on the top. And then wanted floating dogs that go with their heads up and look flashy. German dogs were shown differently, all that pulling and emphisis on hard backs, turn your shoulder up, whie still maintaining the angle at the upper arem and you have a plow horse front end. With the long second thigh the American dogs had no means of support and got very dirty going a way, while the German dogs developed the second plow horse fault, cow hocks. Unfortunately, in America we don't have a PC that will issue mandates about judging and thus eliminate faults and change, our club is run by conformation poeple who don't what to change.
I strongly feel that part of the American problem was that the German dogs were also changing to a look that they found distasteful. the American show breeders would not buy into the roach. Americans could no longer import dogs and show them and incorporate them with success.

Don't blame Lance, blame the show ring. Lance was pretty darn close to several significant German sires. But he was way overused and the show ring favored more and more extreme dogs. If you're in it to show, then you breed what will win.

This was a great girl and the foundation of Fran-Jo.

Drew: "Why did the US breeders change the breed so much from this?"

IMO, because this bitch was bred to Fortune of Arbywood and produced Lance of Fran-Jo, etc. Everyone thought that, if a little bit was good, more would be better--and heavily linebred on Lance and his ilk.

Nice looking dog. Why did the US breeders change the breed so much from this?

August 4, 1958 - May 5, 1972