AMERICAN SHEPHERDS:

I know this is just an arrogant ignorance on their part, but I have noticed that alot of those so-called "beautiful" American Shepherds have very faulty cannons, pasterns, hocks, croups, stifels, God does it ever end? Not to mention that unnatural long, tall neck, sharp 45 degree topline, and that the 25 degree angle in the pastern and the resultant knuckled-over look is Allowed!

What the heck is wrong with us in America?! This arrogance to take a creature that once had stamina, and beauty, and inbreed on it untill it has almost no real pigment; is too "feminine" and wimpy looking, and has absolutely no Defense drive! Wow! I can see why other countries can despise us somtimes when I see how many back-yard breeders there are, who get into breeding because they think they have a "really good dog" (doesn't everybody?) Oh Well. Sorry. Just venting: )

So I know I asked somewhere else because I am curious... but I can't remember where...

What is the difference between European and American shepherds. I know that the back is much more slanted and honestly the degree makes me kind of nervous, but what are the differences?

http://www.gaardog.com/breed_types_&_standards.htm a good site to help understand the difference's.

Thanks!!

The American Shepherds deviate from the real Shepherds. I buy only east or west line Shepherds because I like the firm back, not butt dragging on the ground. They are a working breed and that's what I buy for, plus of course great temperaments.

German shepherds, and working line shepherds are LOVE. I'm not at all a fan (As i've already stated) of roach-backed, show lines...

I strongly dislike Am. line Shepherds. I hate seeing these 'hock walkers' winning year after year. One of the most popular Sheps in the Show ring today, Geneva, has terrible Conformation IMO.

I have a problem with Showline Sheps in general, as the original SV standard states that GSDs should never be bred to highlight one aspect. =/

I was watching Crufts on TV, and the winner of the GSDs was a German line GSD, but the angle of his back... Ugh. Just as bad as the American lines.

Guess I don't have to worry about the American vs. German. My beautiful GSD is actually part lab.

Ooh, yes BailyGSD... You can defenetly tell by his round ears xD

He look lovley ^^

Peopl that breed American SHepherds may say they love there breed, but really if you loved a why would you ruin it like they have to the shepherds

I agree, Missy... If they love it so much, why put it through all the hassle of the problems its going to face?

I'm not going to be breeding GSDs, but I love the breed and I don't want to see it change.

Ignorance. People don't know the right way to do it. That's why we need to spread the word about good breeders. Some people just won't listen though. My dad, with all that I have told him about good breeders, actually thinks that my uncle is a reputable breeder.
Does a reputable breeder want to breed a GSD from a rescue group, that hasn't been health tested? Do they give any of the puppies away before 8 weeks of age? Nope. That's what my uncle did. He gave my pastor a puppy that was only 6 1/2 weeks old. India hadn't even been checked by a vet, and he was thinking of breeding her. Turns out that she was already pregnant, malnourished, and full of worms. The rescue group that he got her from was horrible. India's also not even 2 years old.
My uncle is a BYB.
I've tried to tell him, but he won't listen. And he's getting mad at my mom about what I tell him too. My mom says that a lot of people, especially people in my dad's family, don't like being told when they're wrong. They must be listening to me at least a little though. Because they said that the other 3 puppies would be going to their homes last weekend, just a few days short of being 8 weeks old (they'll be 8 weeks old this Wednesday). Now, according to my brother, the puppies haven't left yet.

My dad doesn't believe everything that I tell him about reputable breeders and what every breeder should do. He says that you have to allow for differences in opinion. That's right, but not when the "differences in opinion" end up hurting a creature. Communism is a "difference in opinion", but it killed many people. Some people are impossible to argue with...

I recently went to my first live dog show and actually had to walk away once I saw what they had done to our beloved GSDs. If I saw a dog that moved like that in a rescue I would think it had been injured or that there was something structurally wrong with it.

Ugh, yeah Dutch... Its positivley disgusting. Whoever is the breeder needs a good slap in the face, IMO

I thnk there is somthing structualy wrong with them... Its so unatural the way their bums practicly drag on the floor, and their hocks bashing together... Ugh

Because of the sloped back, American lines are more prone to hip displasia.
Comformation is nothing but a beauty pagent. I think the true value of GSDs are their ability to work - as they were bred to do.

I agree... I wish I could do herding with my dogs.

Although, about conformation - It can be fun. I don't enter it for the 'beauty' I enter it for the experience and hopefully the option to breed. I hate the fact that these dogs with either sloped or roach backs seem to win all the time. It'd be nice to see some more working lines getting 1st place.

Yeah any activity that invloves dogs are fun!

I actually like UKC white shepherd shows - their breed standard is slightly different from the GSDs. All the winners I have seen have very little slopes. I also know the judges concentrate heavily on temperament and movement (smooth, flowing and ease)

That probably explains why the most champion titled white shepherds are often accomplished themselves in other areas (i.e. therapy, agility, herding, flyball...). Beauty is just an icing on the cake!!!