I like American show bloodlines. Crosses anyone? - Page 15

Maybe I am blind, or maybe I don't know the history of my breed well enough...when did our dog become about the gait? I mean I know it is spoken about by the Captain, and obviously it cannot be ignored but the issue I have with the AKC and its view of the Shepherd is they are so blind to the real history of the dog. They speak of the history post Rin Tin and only in the US...it is a GERMAN shepherd.

The dog was bred to work, first and foremost, the color of the dog, the gait of the dog, the drive of the dog all these factors were small in comparisson to the dogs ability to work. Work being Herding or protection or both, the entire article did not once touch on that fact. You see THAT is what makes me sad about the AL German Shepherd, the focus of the parent organization in this country is totally bass ackwards and never is the dogs true ability to work mentioned. Even in that article it mentioned its ability to herd do obedience, or agility, not mention what so ever to the dogs ability to protect which even for the herding dog was essential to Max von Stephanitz and his close friends in their developement of the German Shepherd. I am not sure where all this focus on nothing but the gait came from but it is definitely not what the makers of the breed wanted for the main focus of the breed.

I do not care the line, does the dog work? Yes, great that is what a German Shepherd should be, no? Then sorry it is not a true Shepherd.

but i thought a good well bred AS will be ble to do herding? I just never heard of them being consisent with the protection thing like producing good pp dogs or patrol dogs for police etc.. German show lines though still have good dogs that do that i think from what people say. I dont really know enough about american show lines personally which is why i was asking.

Destiny, personally I think that there are a lot of GSD's of all lines in the US that could do a lot more than they do. They just never get the chance. Yes, some ASL can herd/tend, some can't, most have never been tested.

Wrestleman, there you have the proof you are WRONG. Moses also titled some dogs in Schutzhund in his younger days. He also titled his first AKC champion at age 13. (One of his mother's poodles.)

Damn. I came across an interview where he talked about his schutzhund experience, but of course, now I can't find it! [grumble...]

blitzen, there is a very well bred Am. dog in LE in my area. breeder one of the most recognized in U.S. I watched him grow up and he was a pretty rough dog. The department he went into had only Mals before him. The officer who took him had lost his dog, heard this one might be available. they came out, tested and accepted him and as far as I know are pleased. he is starting his 3rd. year in LE.

Rik

Jimmy says, in that interview that was linked earlier:
 

The last thing our breed was developed for was to look FANCY gaiting against
the white wall at our national specialties. Can you imagine what these overdone animals would be
able to do on top of the 9/11 rubble? For every inch a dog’s front feet go up in the air, they should be penalized one inch of front reach. At the end of the push from behind the stifle should straighten out and the hock should follow through. Just because a dog’s rear toes turn up (while his hock is still leaning forward and his stifle still has a large bend in it ) That in NOT correct follow
through behind. 


 

PREACH IT, BRUDDAH, PREACH IT!

German showline people need to hear this, too!

Rik, that's really good to know. I am very interested in knowing who this breeder is. If you can tell me, please PM me here. Thanks so much.

I thought that statement was interesting too, Sunsilver, especially the part about the rear feet turning up before the hock straightens. I've noticed that in a lot of dogs, never knew if that was correct or not. Now I know. That is seen in all lines and all breeds, not just ASL GSD's.

You can see Moses' current superstar and multiple BIS winner here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXJmw9LRMj8

I actually saw the dog in person and met him. He looked pretty nice to me....not super overdone behind but also not quite as firm as I like through the hocks (but better than most). He seemed quite balanced.  He had a very pretty head and good color.  He had a rock solid temperament.

The thing is that the American show dog IS about GAIT, GAIT, GAIT. So, no matter how you want to slice it...that's the real fact.

Maybe the GSL is the same?

Also, just to add to another topic.....I, personally, talked to the woman who trained Dallas to herd and he was the real deal. In fact, I met two of his kids who titled easily in herding..I believe one was an advance title.  


Sara

Good research, Sara. You are way ahead of the game because you do your homework and don't assume anything.

I saw Captain on TV, real nice dog IMO. I didn't notice anything soft about his hocks and I can't access that video for some reason. I think he's a Dallas grandson, isn't he?