Different types of GSD Discussions

As there are always discussions going on about different types of GSD. I have compiled this list.

Different "types" of GSD ...

DDR Working Lines



German Working Lines



Belgian Working Lines



West German Show Line



English Obedience Line



English Show Line (more often referred to these days as Alsatians)

In my (very uneducated) opinion, I like them all except the last one, that is one odd looking dog!

I think I like the Belgian working line slightly the best, although his back is a little lumpy

Mibby would like the body of the German working line and the head of the Belgian

English obedinece looks nice - although sitting so I cant see the body (I didnt even know we had 'obedience lines' sigh, how many GSD's are there going to be?

The German show line is OK but I prefer the others
and the English show line is just wrong wish judges would have a look at the origonal examples of the breed before picking oddly shaped dogs

I quite like the West German working line.

English Show line, without wishing to tread on any toes, just looks awful. This is from 1915, where did it go so wrong?!

My favourites are the first 3 ;-) lol

Yep - that's something I've been wondering for a while - just look at the difference in the angulation between the 1915 dog and all the present day ones - particularly the English show line rear angulation - I mean - WHAT is that about ???

Personally I'd place them:

1st - German show line - that dog has a cracking head !!
2nd -DDR working line
3rd -German Working line
4th -Belgian working line
5th - English Obedience Line
6th - English show line

but of them all I like the 1915 dog the best !!!

so, there are 6 separate "lines" in the UK?

Not sure I have seen the english show lines before but it looks as though there are two separate dogs stuck together as the front end just doesn't seem to match the back end.

There can't be any other breed with as many different lines, or controvasy in this country, can there? (or dare I ask, is it just on here where it is contraversial?)

Helen

Don't forget the Czech lines





I typically see the DDR lines classified as German as well - East German working lines as opposed to the West German lines.

I have heard mention of English Obedience lines before, but have never had any experience with them in person! It's very interesting for me, I had no idea the split was there. Is it just me or is that particular dog rather weak in the pasterns?

Are the English Show lines bred for conformation or type? Another lineage I have no knowledge of!

Going on looks I like the West German Show Line ,its the type I associate to be a GSD, not much for any of the others to be honest.

Interesting though ALL but the one sitting down is standing in the show stance, so often criticized on here :? as being over angulated, I guess the reason its done in the ring is simply its a natural stance for the GSD... when alert.

Noticed also , the roach back (some say they have) is evident in all of the examples....

I'm new to the forum, so forgive the question - is it the three point stack that is criticized, or the structure and conformation of the dog themselves?

Overangulation has little to do with how alert a dog looks The overangulation and roach is a byproduct of breeding for the gait, actually. There are many overangulated breeds stacked traditionally four-point.

This confuses me

I do not see a roached back in any of the dogs in this thread? The German show line has a slight curvature, but even then, not a roach.

Here is the dog that forms the Belgian blood in my boy





I like all the working lines - the DDR, West German and Belgian. I used to really like the obedience lines (Flame is obedience line) but wouldn't have a dog like that again. The WG showline has a fabulous head and colouring. I don't like the English Alsatian type at all.

And how could I forget the Czech dogs! (Thanks Voraus!). I love them too!

Here is Flame's father, who is an English obedience line

All three, if you take the time to read through any threads on this breed, you will see it come up time and time again,

I know, but again it is questioned why when a GSD is shown, why it it stacked in such a way, (some think its silly) but my point is, it seems to be a natual stance for the GSD, hence probalby why they stack them so.

Nor do I, I was again making the point that a GSD that is stacked, does not have a roach /bent/curved/deformed back , as some say they have..

Hee hee same as me ;-)

You cant help yourself can you??
There is big differences in a dog stood with one leg infront of the other in an alert stance compared to dogs standing with legs in different postcodes with their backsides almost touching the floor - dogs who when on the move thier hocks wobble from side to side and touch the floor with every step
If you cant see the differences between the dogs below and the ones in the OP then I really dispare

The GSD certainly does seem to stir emotions up over here, and even more so in the US I believe. (Voraus?).

There are probably 8 different "lines" (and mixes of them) as you also have the Czech line (can't believe I forgot them!) and the pet bred shepherds too.

What a good looking dog! I like him much more than the first English obedience line dog.

I think my favorite lineage has to be DDR or Czech, but in a dog I actually prefer a good blend of West German and DDR, West German and Czech, or a bit of all three! My own dog is predominantly West German working lines, but has Czech through his sire and DDR through his dam.

The Haus Sevens dogs are gorgeous. A friend of mine owned a Belgian import from Haus Sevens lines, and now has an up and coming male closely related to Zidane Haus Sevens. He is quite a dog!

I will take the time to read through them later on!

Oh, yes, there is no 100% known reason for the three point stack, as the German Shepherd is the only breed to be stacked in such a manner. Most do say that it is the create the more alert, ready to spring into action appearance. It is a very natural stance for the breed, my own working line dog is more comfortable three point than he is four square.

You stated in the above quote that the roach back is clear to see in all of the examples Might have been a typo somewhere, in that case, if that was not your intention!

Sorry, should have been more clear, I was being a little ...ermmmm tongue in cheek, when I said that, you will find (when you read through threads) that many will say the dog is roached /deformed, when stacked.

I personally don't think any of the examples (apart from the first one BM put up, dont know whats going on there) shown have deformed backs.

The German Shepherd is probably one of the breeds that really bring up the most controversy anywhere, doesn't it? I'll have to stick around and compare, I guess

I think one difference would be that we have people who breed, show, and handle American show lines here in North America, and that breed type is VERY often criticized no matter where you are. Breeders and enthusiasts of the American show type frequently find themselves in the position of having to defend their dogs, that are criticized for lineage alone.

I have a personal friend who shows American lines and her dogs have been called names and looked down on so often, it is absurd. She also owns working lines and handles German show lines (trains/exhibits German imports for a breeder friend of hers) and I have always respected her opinion. I find it a terrible shame that there are people who refuse to see that because of the breed type she chooses to work with. There are extremes in temperament and structure in every type and we all have our own preferences!

And I can't lie... I like a friendly debate every once in a while

The DDR (or East German) dogs were developed in the Deutshe Demokratishe Republik, informally called East Germany, from those dogs that remained in the East after World War II. The DDR no longer exists today, but the DDR German Shepherd Dog bloodlines still do. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, East German dogs were kept isolated from West German dogs and because of that, they retained their own distinct characteristics. Although they came from the same original stock before the war, the division prevented the mixing of bloodlines and they developed fairly differently, notably stricter hip screening resulting in a 90% level of perfect hips, uniform breed assessments with no scope for personal preferences/exaggerations and rigorous temperament testing.

I believe we have a new member who is an English show line dog enthusiast, so hopefully he can answer your queries with regard to that type of GSD.