I was watching the judging of Best of Breed last night and was sorely disappointed in the appearance of the German Shepherd. The slope of the back, favored by breeders, was so severe that the poor dog was walking on its hocks.
So many of the breeds have been modified to fit "fashion" - for looks rather than utility. That German Shepherd looked and moved like a cripple, and if I were looking for a German shepherd to buy and breed, it would stand foursquare on its legs, like mine. I have been blessed with four powerful, beautiful German Shepherds in my life and all were rescues. Bear and Blade were huge dogs. Maggie who emerged a stray from the sun and sand of the California desert was not as tall as Maya is today. But she was not small. They all had lovely toplines, and none grew old with dysplasia. Blade was euthanized because of bone cancer. Bear left us an old, old man - leaving us with memories of being a lifeguard - God help you if you were in the water - you were going to be pulled out of that water by limb or bathing suit, but by golly, you were coming out!
He also hated to walk among crowds and he would take on anything - ANYTHING - with wheels.
Maggie was perfect. She died too young of liver failure. Maya's only fault is an over-fascination with the cats, and she knows how to open the refrigerator, and now there's a hasp on the door. Unfortunately, she has shown Mickey and Jack how to do it.
The German shepherd last night made his way around the ring with his handler, and I just wondered at what age those back legs will give out. This does not give a dog the look of power.
You wouldn't breed a hunter/jumper so that its legs were shorter or at an angle so that the back slanted.
For a short while I bred Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds. I really did some research before I found a stud dog, and I kept one handsome Bloodhound who won many ribbons. He was as close to the standard as you could find.
You may find these articles interesting, and you may not agree with me. But it's something to think about.
http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2010/02/westminster.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fhsus%2Fwayne+%28Wayne+Pacelle%3A+A+Humane+Nation%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Shepherd_Dog
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