What catches your eye first - Page 5

Ibrahim asked for "first" reactions.  I see a distinct emergence of
two 'camps' in these replies:  the people most interested in work
and/or sport come from the "ATTITUDE" direction;  those of us
more from a conformation / Show background are seeking a
variety of points from the dogs physical attributes  -  not  exclusively,
but "early on".

I would want to say, before anyone else notices this and suggests
that conformation people don't care about working ability, that - at
least in my own case - I have to see that the dog IS physically well
enough put together to do whatever may be asked of it ;  [ 'No back,
no dog.' ].   Then  yes, I am looking at 'expression' as an integral part of
taking in the head, (as well as ear-set !).  Even though ours is not really
a "Head Breed", in Show parlance.   But as soon as I am satisfied that
the dog can stand on all it's 4 feet,  I start to look at whether s/he
"owns the ground it walks on"  and also whether its feet are suitable/
correct.  Plus the pasterns and the hocks.

Likewise if the dog is seen sideways from some distance, at the first
encounter,  in assessing its overall proportions and as much movement
as I can see at that time, I'm looking at body language and 'attitude' as an
intrinsic part of that.  I reckon going into working ability & aptitude is a longer
job, not so much a first impression thing;  although I fully believe the
'practiced eye' of someone very experienced in those nuances will see more;
and more quickly.

Unless the specimen presented is horrendously colour-paled, or one of
the 'undesirable' colours,  the LAST thing I take notice of is colour/pattern/
depth of pigment -  that's all in the further consideration that comes after
my FIRST impressions.

Footnote on 'Expression':  it is however quite possible that we may be
looking for DIFFERENT things, here.  I do not  prefer a dog to be too
'hard eyed';  though I suspect that indicates strength to many ? 

I love "hard eyes" ! Intensity.

Coming from someone that is not a shepherd fanatic, what make me think a GSD looks nice is does the dog have a natural look, or is it way over done like a standard poodle of the herding group?
Can the dog move with free flowing natural gait or look like a frog?
Is the head within reason and preportioned or is it massivly over done and look like a hairy croc?
How much coat does this dog have? Nothing worse then a skimpy threadbare dog or one with so much coat the resemble bicolored great Pyrnese, with pointy ears.
Feet are also important, this dog is suppoes to be working and moving. This is not a flock guardian, can they run about all day and not get tired because they ar on flat hare feet or splaid footed?
What's going on with that topline? So many dogs are way over angualted and look frankly crippled. It's a shame.
Can this dog actually work? Because the difference between working and how lines is a huge gap, much like working and showing Goldens.
How is this animals tempermeant? Because in many years of working with them, fear biting shepherds are only second to freaky chows.
Color means nothing to me a good dog can not be a bad color.
I have handeled many pet, working and show shepherds working with my vet office as a dog groomer. I have met 1000's of different dogs over the years, and i have learned that i am not a shepherd person, but i can truely respect a well put together dog that is kind and smart. They are a truely great dog when they are done right.
Fry

Joanro,

That is a real beauty, just look at her ears and the face expression, she's alert and anxious (about something), she is ready to spring up like a tornado, like father like daughter, I too have a Carly daughter but she is in no way like yours, to my bad, I think she got the sweet side of both her parents, elegant like a lady, sweet like a baby, also nothing like her father's or mother's conformation, maybe she was the black sheep of the litter, also with me not being able to train her I only know her sweet side, never saw her civil side, what can I say, I am a fan of Carly, at least she has some of his genes.

Hundmutter,

Excellent post

As you can see her eyes say I am sweet, don't be afraid of me, but to be fair to her she's good at guarding and is alert at night.

Fry, good points, thanks for sharing

Ibrahim, this dog does NOT say I´m sweet. How old is she?

The "famous" workingline dogs we are referring to are adults, raised and trained to become "serious".
Almost every dog needs to be trained to reach its full potential, your little female might be a raw diamant, and you don´t know.
I have seen several " famous " workingline dogs grow up, some of them you wouldn´t have found to be worth being fed as youngsters.
Almost everything depends on training, a good handler, and a good helper.

Workingdogs said "'Presence' cannot be trained into a dog,
they either have it or they don't."

I memorized this sentence, I will make sure to say it infront of my friends here, ofcourse in my own language, and I won't mention it's a quote