Showline GSDs Showing

I am not a show person but do love my GSDs I would like to know from the folk who know and show GSDs why the "modern" GSD is stacked the way it is in the show ring? What is the purpose and what is it meant to show/highlight? When these same dogs are stood normally they looks so much more natural.

Personally I like the modern showline dogs, love the black and deep red colouring and especially the masculine heads on the males. However, I still can't understand why the dogs are stacked in the show ring so that non-show people (like myself) think the dogs look over-exaggerated and leads to all sorts of negative comments by non show GSD folk about "sloped" and "roach" backs.

I don't want an argument to start over this topic if possible ;-) , but am genuinely interested to know the reason why.

I still get people telling me Dino has a sloped back, or hip dysplacia when we're out at the park. Simply because his **** isn't ten feet in the air. I have teeth marks in my tongue.
I do wish the English line people would keep themselves to themselves. I don't go around telling them their dog has epilepsy, hip dysplacia, CHS (collie head syndrome )

As for the way dogs are stacked. It's the only way to see the dog's angulation really.

Thanks for that. I did guess that must be the reason but wasn't 100% sure.

I also have a WGSL longcoat but thankfully I never see anyone to be so rude about my dog I hope you give them what for! LOL

I used to get very riled up about it and attempt educating them, but now I just smile and nod.

I will try and find the diagram that would explain what I mean a bit more!x

This is what I mean



Not that anyone is going to take a ruler and protractor to your dog lmao!

Pfft that is nothing, I get people asking if my dog is a X breed, or a Mali!

Who cares?

Lol you do wonder why people over complicate things for themselves by thinking of an odd breed like a mali!

I think once somebody asked if he was full GSD. Those ones don't bother me.
It's just the people with English line GSD acting like theirs are better lol. I don't mind the people that have been told this or that and are genuinly asking!

Thankyou for the diagram I have asked for ages for explanations of what the judges are looking for
and although I cant lie and I dont like that angle of slope in any dogs croup that does actually show that lots of the dogs that are being complained about actually have very bad angulation based on what is wanted there - not just what it looks like to us non educated
Quite a few dog I have seen have the angle of stifle to hock (hope I have the right names here) at more like 0 and 90 degrees rather then 30 60 - and this is also making them when stacked the supporting leg the hock is on the floor

I am glad to see that that is not actually what is wanted - makes far more sense now - thankyou

Tbh I don't like the dog in that diagram. And the lines didn't fit perfectly along the back/croup. I don't like the obvious break in the topline. I'll PM you a pic of a dog I really like.

Also, I've never seen a dog like the one you described

Thankyou

Thesesw IMO kind of show what I am talking about - American I know - I coulndt find any images just now
http://video.westminsterkennelclub.org/breed_judging/herding/2011_2/german-shepherd-dog/v1293169
Im not trying to slate the dogs at the moment just trying to understand what the judges are looking for because from my point of view as an engineer it seems the dogs loose a lot of power in their movememnt with the angulation the dogs have there

They're very loose in the hocks, which I don't like.
There are German dogs with loose hocks, there are also lots with sound hocks.
Just so you know, I don't like American Showlines at all.

Could I see it too please

I really love Elmo!

Well I ended up only finding pedigree database links so I can post them on here

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=575327

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=595581

And seeing Elmo win the Pastoral group last year sent shivers down my spine. He really is a fantastic dog!

Elmo is lovely (as are his owners)

re loose hocks this is sometimes down to management not enough exercise/ muscle building rather than confirmation, which can be corrected not like the weak pasterns of certain types which can end up looking quite deformed

Oh how I love that boys expression!

Both gorgeous dogs Is Uno at Heather's?

No he stays in Germany, he was too successful over there

I was also pondering why it is that the showline GSD was attacked by the PDE programme, as well as by certain journalists etc, when the reputable showline breeders do all the health tests available to ensure the produce happy, healthy pups. It is purely about aesthetics?!

Because Jemima Harrison is an [mod edit ]

The English line & pet breeders spread lies about the topline causing hip dysplasia, it's so widely spread that everyone blindly believes it. A few bad breeders produced dogs with crap hocks that can't walk properly, and because of the above lies everyone attributes it to the "sloping back".

What really gets to me is when people call them "banana back" dogs.
Funny thing is that - the well bred German line dogs do have a straight back leading to the croup, it just slopes. Whereas your English line dogs have a banana back!!!
It goes from withers, sinks down into the middle of the back, then raises up again into a huge rump.

There is NO logical reason for the way they portray show breeders, onlny that it is easier and gets more views.