GSD breeders \ type

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Fudgeandcoco

Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Fudgeandcoco »

I have shown all these breeders to my grandmother as she use to breed them and she does not like the look of any of them.

To now what a GSD should look like in the ring like at crufts then look at Siberian huskys and belgian Shepherd malinos ( I think I spelt it wrong)
Erica
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Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Erica »

Written this post twice now! :lol: My phone keeps refreshing the page when I come back after tracking down a good link. Now I'm writing it as a note! Delete THAT, phone!

That breeder's dogs all have funny backs. Look at them carefully - are they straight, or do they curve? Look at Vegas's sire. Even out of show stack, his back is sloped. Not a good thing!

For good general structure, I like this site. It is pit bull focused, but honestly it's a good guide for sound dog structure.

Take a look at this dog. He's still young, but you can still see he has a flat back. He is GSD-style stacked in this picture, so some slope is expected - my poodle would have a sloped back if you stacked him like that. :) I tried to find a picture of him standing level - I've seen several - but ran out of time. That dog has a level back when standing naturally, in any case.

This b!tch shows a level and flat back.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
Erica
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Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Erica »

I just saw this great book about GSD structure. Here's a link to a post about it, which includes a link to a free preview of the book (and some mild swearing). It would be a good one to study to learn about GSDs!

Edit: I'm reading through the preview myself now, noticing that overall it seems good so far but there are a few things that run counter to what I have previously learned. One, wolves may not be the best idol to base our dogs' structure off of, as they tend to live fairly short lives and don't have to worry so much about their structure supporting them past seven or eight years at the most, whereas dogs of that size tend to live to a decade or more. I am not sure of how beneficial it is for the canines to stand with their feet under their hips; I'd have to look into this more. In short, take the book with a grain of salt, but it seems to be a good jumping-off point for learning.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
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Nettle
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Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Nettle »

I haven't read it yet, but re: the feet under the hips - when standing properly, a perpendicular line dropped from the pinbones at the top of the hips should touch the tips of the toes. Not just for GSDs but any healthily-built canid. This does not refer to show stance where it is fashionable to drag the hindlegs back of the rump in many breeds, or of course the ridiculouscurtseying show stance of the GSD, but a dog standing naturally and comfortably.

It will be seen that many breeds e.g. dachshunds, don't have a hope of achieving this, and in many breeds that could, the second thigh is often exaggerated so that the hocks are in the next county - see working whippets compared to show whippets, for instance.
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Erica
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Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Erica »

That's what I thought (and think) too. The stance with the back feet under the hips just seems much weaker to me than pinbone-toetip alignment like you mention.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
Theo400

Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Theo400 »

hi

to be honest I don't think you can find a GSD anymore I just looked through the whole of champdogs and online websites of breeders and they are all pretty the same. breeders are breeding this type (sloped back) of GSD now in the UK so I would just try and find a breeder who's dogs are healthy have been health tested and who is not as sloped as some.

Theo's mom was not perfect they told me on here and they did not like his dad either but to me I did not care as I loved Theo and he was healthy and could move normally.

his grandfather Vader came from rockfource http://www.champdogs.co.uk/breeder/13009 there a stud service not breeders and yet I think her dogs look ok plus they have done a lot of health tests.
Lara575

Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Lara575 »

hi

iv read the links Erica so thank you im slowly starting to get it.

Theo, I agree I have been looking all over the internet trying to find a breeder but I cant. either there to sloped or roached or the breeders are good in terms of socialisation or health tests. Im starting to think that maybe I should forget the dream of owning a GSD as I just cant find a breeder who breeds the right structure or is a good breeder. im not one for giving up but I don't no what else to do as if I cant find a proper GSD then there's no point. I don't think there is a proper GSD anymore out there well not in the UK anyway.

I think I will forget the GSD? I don't know what im going to do yet but a GSD I cant have as I cant find one who is Bred for proper structure.
Erica
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Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Erica »

Yeah, the problem with GSDs is that the people breeding for good structure are also typically breeding for sports and protection (schutzhund/IPO/etc) and that *is* a GSD that you would not place in a beginner's hands. One of my friends is looking for a sporty GSD as he has experience with the breed and has studied dog training for years, so he can handle that kind of dog. He goes to agility and schutzhund competitions and observes the dogs there; if he sees one he likes, he asks the owner what breeder the dog is from and makes note of them to research more. However, like I said, this probably isn't going to turn up a good pet dog. These dogs will be a handful and a half for even dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced people.
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
Lara575

Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Lara575 »

that's the problem Erica the one that are not to bad are always from working line and even if I had owned a dozen dogs a working line GSD is just not a good match for me or my energy levels.
Erica
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Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Erica »

Yep, it sounds like it might be worth looking into different breeds, or possibly just visiting a rescue and seeing which dogs catch your heart. :)
Delta, standard poodle, born 6/30/14
Lara575

Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Lara575 »

iv been thinking about the working line and maybe I might be able to own one when I have more time on my hands way in the future when I could compete schutzhund etc.. I don't have the time to compete now plus I would need experience before owning a working line
Last edited by Lara575 on Sun Apr 03, 2016 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
master2

Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by master2 »

hi
if I were to get another GSD I WOULD get one from these they are so passionate about the breed and there website it takes a while to get through as there is so much info on it on the puppies page they tell you about temperament here http://www.merjuke.co.uk/Temperament.html

here's the home page if you want to look further they are working and show dogs but to improve the breed they sometimes mate show and working together so that you can improve the structure.

http://www.merjuke.co.uk/index.html
Lara575

Re: GSD breeders \ type

Post by Lara575 »

Ho guys

OK I can't take it anymore I just don't like any other breed other than the GSD I have had my heart set on this breed for over 15yrs so I'm not going to look at other breeds as iv tried but I know in my heart and my head all I want is a GSD. The only issue is trying to find a healthy breeder. I know pure working lines are out due to them not being for beginners so I'm trying to find either a cross of show and working line or a breeder who breeds more of a straight back but who does a lot of health testing too which is harder than you think in the UK.

Does anyone have any tips on what I should look for in any breeder I look at?
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