dogs bred for looks lose mental bite - Page 4

"It is now 2009, many urban families want a GREAT LOOKING pet that appeals to the visual senses, a GREAT mover"

Agreed, and the breed for them is not a correct GSD, but perhaps a nice standard poodle.

Standard Poodles used to Work too, Sue

AKC & Popularity kissed another breed goodbye

A Standard Poodle took High in SchH 3 Trial in Germany in the early 1970s....Many were foundation breeds for Sporting dogs or in their own right, Excellent Hunting dogs.

Now they are used to crossbreed to Labs and goldens to offer that 'dander free' coat...

Ugly your point is well taken.  These days the term  working poodle is an oximoron, the working poodle bloodlines have gone the way of the dodo.  I would imagine those familiar with what a poodle should be able to do,  as opposed to what it can do now, rue the day they sacrificed brains and ability for  silly,  flashy, dogs who look real pretty running around a little show ring. 

And for those that don't believe in that this IS a fact, here's the proof;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4283328/Pedigree-dogs-are-becoming-stupid-as-we-breed-them-for-looks-not-brains.html

Ehm, a little correction - HERE's the proof, the other link is the "tabloid version";
http://www.svartbergs.se/pdf/BreedPersonality.pdf

We were talking about this at work today. We see it all the time in show type labs and goldens. Dumb as a freakin box of rocks and can't hold a candle to a good field dog. I would love an irish wolfhound someday, but the ones I see are whiny and skittish, nothing like their brave ancestors who hunted.  The english bulldog would cease to exist at all if not for human intervention.   The calm, self assured doberman has disappeared for today's spindly, neurotic dobes.  This article is no breakthrough, just publishing something we dog people knew all along. Another breed on my wanted list someday is a miniature pinscher, you bet I'll passing the show breeders by and speaking to breeders who compete in agility and obedience.

As far as "fear-biting" is concerned, the problem is not American Showline or any line, the problem is "no line", ie indiscriminate breeding.

The characteristics of lower drive and less aggression, and also admittedly less working abilities, is associated with the American Showline, even well-bred ones. There is a real and reasonable demand for dogs like this: "original purpose" is worthless.

Most American champions do have stable mentality and are not "fear-biters". They make beatutiful and fine pets, and are useful to a good extent.

My girl earned a bag of dog food from a neigbor of mine, thanking me for her alert service and good commonsense: she barks very loud, with  a deep resonance, when there is a reason and is quiet when there is no reason to bark. A good GSD she is.

After losing ten pounds and some hair after nursing a litter, I still get compliments about her appearance from strangers. In her best some people yell out "beautiful dog". A few little girls came out of the house and wanted to pet her and say that she is very pretty. I really like it. She has very nice lines and moves with very pleasing fluid gait, balanced and very nice angulation.  Looks doesn't matter? Does an owner have to be reserved about the desire to have a pet that looks really great?

Different stroke for different folks, "original purpose" is a worthless concept.

All of you adherents to the "original purpose",  what is the S in GSD? Isn't it true that even in German the meaning of the S is retained.

Virtually all GSD's, even your imports with great working abilities, don't do S.

Case closed, really for me.

Both imports and the American line can be very good GSD's, to different owners especially.

My GSD does not anywhere look like a poodle. My girl is far more protective than most poodles, just not as much as some other GSD's, mostly imports.

Indeed, the standard poodle is very intelligent and is a very sharp watchdog. It can even protect somewhat, but it lacks credibility to potential criminals.

Case closed but a story.

Four years ago when I looked for a GSD pup, I had in mind an import. I knew full well that SchH doesn’t mean uncontrollable aggression and that there is firm obedience training before bite work. But after looking at a few breeders I could not get myself to buy one as none was good looking enough. I then by chance looked at an American showline GSD pup, and older one. She was the final two of choice but eventually rejected by the breeder. I at once saw the special beauty in top American showline GSD. She also had an outstanding conformation and generations of OFA history in her pedigree. I at once realized that she is a very special chance and I had to get her, even if I were to get an import later. I am now at a point where I am committed to continue to have a top American showline GSD, and still looking casually for an import, more seriously after I have moved into a different house, at this stage.
A few drivers stopped and asked where I get my beautiful shepherd, not a poodle mind you. Every time I get proposition from a male GSD owner, about a dozen times by now, I get the smug feeling. They say she is gorgeous and ask if I would be interested in a mating. I have learned to be tactful now. A few times before I told them that I am looking for her OFA result after she is two years old and if she passes I would artificially inseminate her with a top select champion of outstanding conformation that matches her well, and no less complete OFA pedigree. People get offended and I now just tell them I am still thinking.
One particularly interesting occasion involved a male import owner. This guy knocked on my door; he had followed me home previously. Then he told me my girl is beautiful and that he paid $2500 for his male pup….. I have got to see this $2500 pup, so I thought. So he went home and fetched him. The van door slides open and there comes this dog, with a very crude head, poor angulations with awkward stiff movement, round barrel chested. This dog cannot be regarded as ugly, nonetheless, as he seems healthy without the cooked shrimp appearance of some imports. I was quite surprised, “you paid $2500 for this” but of course I didn’t say it loud. It dawned on me that I had actually seen this guy and dog on the street before. My feeling then was “what a course looking GSD”. This dog is the $2500 pup! I really wondered how someone so lacking in knowledge about GSD’s could pay $2500 for a pup. I thought my girl is obviously an American showline. It is unmistakable with her perfect straight back and excellent angulations. How can anyone who paid $2500 for a GSD pup not know the difference at once!
Why do I get many propositions for mating? My girl is beautiful! Most people appreciate beauty no matter what you say about “working abilities”. Sometimes I just sit on my bench in my yard and simply watch her move. I just enjoy her beautiful body lines and fluid movement. Beauty is a very visually delightful and satisfying. If you don’t feel so, accept and respect other GSD owners’ preference.
 

We will have to agree to disagree.  The GSD was never meant to be a pretty face to do nothing but trot in a yard or a ring, and obviously most of us here feel the sentiments you are expressing are exactly why the American line  dogs are in such a  mess.  If you move away from the pitiful lack of drive and working ability and only concentrate on conformation, there are just as many major problems in the ASS.  In fact, turning the dog into nothing but a show dog is exactly  why such god awful conformation extremes are seen here.  The American Line dogs can not even compete with their European counterparts in SV shows, or any show in which the FCI standard is used because they no longer meet the standard and are placed at the end of the line. 

Form FOLLOWS function, when you forget function, form becomes nothing but  a joke, and subject to the whims and extremes of whatever is fashionable for the moment.