GSD takes Group at Westminster Showing

What do you think?

Well done of course.

I am certainly no expert on the GSD. Is he/she meant to be standing that low on the hind legs ? Is this breeding or Stacking ?

If it is breeding I think it is sad.

To me he looks like he's been over stretched in the stack. I do wish handlers wouldn't stack them like that - it looks unnatural IMO. Other than that he doesn't look to overdone to me, but hard to say in that stance.

As a non-GSD person, he looks deformed to me. I had hoped the more straight backed GSDs would start to take over.:-(

in my opinion!!!! still a gorgeous looking dog.. BUT, too far stretched, and too low. although i still prefer this american look to the german show look. these still gate better than the "hyena" look of the german show dogs! (ps.stand by for wildmoor)

Chesty like most Americans like most breeds, but otherwise looks fine.

Dog has a very straight back, it is just the stance that exaggerates the look.

Not deformed at all, cannot see any deformities on this dog and for one to have won the group at Westminster it must have been outstanding.

Not my personal type of dog but that is irrelevant.

They almost look as though they are crouching so very misleading.

Totally agree with SB though.

Helen

Wow, the Americans I'm friends with have a very different opinion. They HATE him! Apparently he moved well at a trot but at a walk his feet were flopping around all over the place, his back end wobbled around and he nearly fell over when he turned. I haven't seen video myself.

Have to say he doesn't look that bad to me compared to some of the GSDs you see.

Could someone explain to me why they have the dog stand like that?

I think he's lovely!!!

His back looks very straight to me, but I personally wouldn't stack him that low, but hey ho, it obviously was what the judges were liking

It's nice to see such a straight back to be fair I'd love to see a pic of him standing normally - do you know his name?

no! as this was the standard that they all came from!!!!
this was what was recognised as the perfect specimen.

He is GCH Babheim's Captain Crunch.

I didn't think he was too extreme either and would like to see him stood normally, rather than stacked in that ridiculous fashion.

I, too, would like to know what the whole point of that is Can anyone please explain about stacking (in the UK and the USA).

The US friends I have on FB (who are, to be fair, mainly working GSD enthusiasts) have also said how awful this dog is.

But surely, if you stack that dog the same as the one here, you would still get the sloping back?

I am in no way an expert and always disliked the "banana backs" but reading about it, a lot does go into the stacking to create that? Although why you would want a sloping back to that extent beats me.

I would say that this topic causes a lot more controvesy than any other breed!

Helen

There is always going to be a difference in opinion with the working and show people - it seems to happen in all breeds!

I can't believe I am defending this dog lol but what SB said did make sense when you actually looked through the stacking.

However, if the dog was as awful as a lot of people were saying, maybe it was down to politics?

Helen

A lot of them have said this is the case. They reckon the dog won because of who was handling him not because of his conformation.

Too top heavy for me. Just from a personal taste POV. Too much head & chest - Like to see them more athletic. I could ofcourse be talking carp.

Edit: And neck.

Actually if that became the ideal shape for a GSD it'd be a real shame but again JMO

GSDs do really seem to get people passionate - and not just folk within the breed either.

I don't know whether a dog with a less angulated topline could ever look as sloping as the US one, or indeed as some of the UK ones seen in the show ring.

What I still don't understand is WHY are GSDs stacked this way, when they weren't in the past?

As I said, I am in NO way an expert but the only reason I can think of is that it makes them more powerful looking. Are GSD's supposed to have a lot of stamina, to be able to keep going?

The first picture looks to me a lot more powerful that the one above. Obviously, my very inexperienced thoughts. Now, if it were gundogs......lol

Helen

I just watched the video of the BOB judging - most of them were dreadful on the move (just IMHO). Too chunky up front & low in the body for me.
But....each to their own.....there are so many different 'types' of GSD, not everyone is going to like the same thing!