long haired GSD's - Page 4

Let me get this straight. Long coats are a fault because they are not "weatherproof" OK I can buy that. Ask most if a given dog is a coat though and the first that they say is " I need to see it's ears" Is there some reason that I am not aware of that a dog's ears need to be weatherproof? I guess so they don't get rain in their ears LOL

In the very cold subzero weather of the German winters, a herding dog's ears will get frost bitten if they don't have a protective covering of hair both inside and out. A long, soft coat is not desirable for a herding dog because it is not weatherproof. Iceballs will form in the coat and on the feet between the toes and will cause lameness. When a long soft coat gets wet, it parts exposing the skin and it takes a long time to dry. A longer coarse coat that stands off from the body due to a thick, oily undercoat is weather resistant and would not be a detriment to a dog herding in the winter time in Germany. All dogs working in a cold climate MUST have an undercoat; without it they will not survive. Long soft hair will freeze fast to the ice when the dog is sleeping. Imagine what happens when they try to stand up. Ouch!!! Shepherds do not carry tack boxes, pin brushes or furminators. They would not want a herding/protection GSD with a long, soft coat or a dog without a thick undercoat.

I was half joking Blitzen. I have seen otherwise gorgeous dogs, with thick undercoat, stiff outercoat, very weatherproof, discounted as "coats" merely because of a little extra fur around the ears. Such a shame

Oh, I thought you were serious LOL. Now that there is the DNA test, there is no reason to not know for sure if the dog is a LC or a carrier. Has anyone used this test yet? Do you intend to?

Blitzen, yes I used the long coat genetic test on my bitch. It cost $58 and took 10 days to get the results. I e-mailed the lab and they sent me 4 cotton swabs to take cheek samples. Then I returned these swabs in their envelo0e with the %58 fee and that was it. My bitch cam back "not a carrier". I'm a very satisfied customer and will type any and all GSDs I ever breed or acquire.

could you give me the website address...I would love to see your dogs!

Thanks, Preston. Anyone else?

You know I have to come out of the woodowork when this topic comes up. I hear talk of that true long coat without undercoat, the one that parts down the middle. I have never seen a picture nor have I heard anyone talk first-hand of this dog. I do not think they exist, if they do please send me a picture, proof. Also I would like to look at the study that identified the LC "gene" and the test, anyone have it? Maxislooking

rocket, here is the contact info: Veterinary Diagnostics Center DNA Testing Services for Animals 225 Corporate Court Fairfield, OH 45014 1-800-625-0874 http://www.vetdnacenter.com/ and maxilooking, the LC factor test was determined in scientific genetic research by licensed vterinary researchers. If you write or contact VDC perhaps they will give you a reference for their research reports. As far as whether long coats without an undercoat exist, I can't answer that. But I do know that in the last 40 years I have seen many longcoated GSDs which have fluf around the ears, plumes on the legs and hocks and very long hair, appearing like a collie. I have seen some that part down the back to the skin where the hair hangs like human hair that is parted. I do know that this coat type is a recessive gene based on witnessing many breedings and the frequencies and distributions resulting. That is why the research conclusions of VDA are no surprise to me and make sense. Some folks like coats and want to breed them. That's fine, they can use this test to increase their yield. I myself and my friends who breed GSDs want to avoid producing any long coats. This test is useful to do that too, allowing one to still use one parent who is a carrier as long as the other is not. Doing so, one will get no longcoats. maxilooking, what scientific evidence and photos do you have which prove your assertions that a "true longcoat" doesn't exist? I say if it walks like a duck and looks like a duck, it's a duck.

My first GSD was a long coat with very little undercoat. His coat was long, flat and soft; the length and texture was comparable to that of a Golden Retriever. When he got wet, his coat parted exposing his skin. His coat also absorbed water taking him a very long time to dry to the skin. The dog is dead now and I have no photos to show you as proof that his coat was not a double one. The photos I took were not specifically taken to show his coat. You'll ljust have to take my word for it.......or not.