breed worthiness? - Page 2

Susie, why do some German breeders stop titling their females when they earned an IPO1? I see that often in German pedigrees.

Most ASL breeders I know require normal hips and elbows. About 20% are now asking for a DM test, some want thyroid, cardiac and eyes checked too. ASL breeders for the most part seem more concerned about health issues and trying for a better and longer life span for their dogs than they care about performance. Maybe 10% or less of living AKC CH's have performance titles  and even fewer have advanced performance titles. A few are dual titled with Sch titles, generally the dogs imported from Germany that are already titled or that are sent back there to be titled after some basics in the US. I know of none of them with any performance titles. As far as I know there is only one Am bred CH with a Sch3; he also has advanced OB titles. Not many ASL breeders understand Sch/IPO so they don't  train their dogs in that venue and their puppies are raised to never bite anything. Those that do are considered pets, too aggressive.

An AKC Championship is generally required for the stud dog, not always for the female. Show statistics mean a lot to some, not so much to others so that can go either way. Pedigrees are a big thing and like the Germans, they don't think much of linebreeding and inbreeding is generally taboo. Where the stud dog is located can also be a factor, it seems that many breeders are trying to avoid shipping their in-season females. They's rather use frozen or fresh chilled semen if the stud dog isn't within driving distance.

Anything an ASL breeder does prior to breeding is voluntary. As most know, unlike the SV, the AKC sets no rules for breeding dogs other than the breeder must retain a paperwork trail for every transfer, must provide registration papers to the buyer,  and the sire and dam must both be AKC registered or registerable.

Anything an ASL breeder does prior to breeding is voluntary.

And that is why I cringe when the reason from a breeder for breed worthiness is summed up with the words, "I like what I see." When the breeder has a hard time defining this, yes, it bothers me.

I think that's true for every GSD line, Bee .  Still one has to wonder where the breed would be today if all showline breeders were held to the same standard - the SV one.

i forgot one very important part for AKC papers. be certain they are the same breed is one, two is be certain the 2 dogs are opposite sex.

Great advice Student.

The proverbial"ship" for maintaining a singular vision for the German Shepherd Dog sailed long ago.  Even the SV sold out the vision in their foray toward expansion and profit from the breed through their advocacy of show lines and their "slippage" on enforcement of the other breeding requirements for them; namely legitimately obtained performance titles that were properly evaluated before being bestowed.

There will never be any "reconciliation" of these various types into one; dot, period.  The American Showline bears no resemblance in structure or temperament to a German Working Line; similarly, the German Showlines have diverged considerably and will continue on that path as the first genetic priorities for selection and placement are conformation, gait and color; temperament and ability to title are after thoughts.

We clearly have multiple, distinct "breeds" within the German Shepherd Dog and no singularly defined or enforceable means of there ever being otherwise.  

As Blitzen said, find our own "type" and venues and enjoy them.  Reconcilliation of the breed into one or desire thereof is an absolute waste of time and energy.

Even from within the SV itself....

Kevin

Still one has to wonder where the breed would be today if all showline breeders were held to the same standard - the SV one.

There would be greater uniformity in work ethic, perhaps. People wouldn't be arguing that certain lines should instead be separate breeds because if the dog looked like it could work, then we could count on the dog actually being able to work.

Beetree,

Why does one have to wonder?  What good does it do?

Reality dictates otherwise.

Best,

Kevin

That was me who said that, Kevin. It was a rhetorical question .