Straight-back GSDs....

Jessiewessie99 · 04-13-2010, 01:01 AM

Some people have said they are rare, and I have read about it too. I know my GSDs have straight-backs...(I think.lol).

But I was just wondering, because when I see other people walking their GSDs they always seem to have a slant to them, standing and walking. My dogs have neither. I was thinking it was because they were bred that way.

I know my dogs didn't come from breeders, so I don't know about my dog's past.But when I see my dogs walking, running, standing, there backs are always straight.I never seen either of them stack.Is this normal? Could it be because they really aren't pure bred? I don't mind people who have slanted back GSDs. I personally prefer straight back GSDs.

Is it rare to have a straight back GSD? I need some clarification on this. Is it looked down upon in the show ring to have straight back GSDs?

Thanks in advance, feel free to list any professional breeders who breed straight backs in with your answer to show its normal and not rare.

Lin · 04-13-2010, 01:12 AM

Whats actually going on is angulation in the rear end of the dog. In stacking for competition the positioning also makes it appear more extreme. This angulation causes the slope down the back, its not the spine thats affected.

The GSD started out as a more square dog similar to todays Malinois, but was bred with the lower rear to increase drive and efficiency from behind, and improve the trotting gait which the GSDs can maintain for long periods of time when working. "straight backed" dogs are not rare, but the breed standard calls for this slope. Most likely your dogs show this if positioned in a stack.

Many of the dogs with severely sloped backs will appear different when not stacked in an extreme position. Some breeders use the term "straight backed" and breed GSDs who have higher hindquarters; however many of the dogs bred this way (and GSD derivative breeds such as Shiloh and King) have a swayed back from the pelvis being higher than the withers.

Jessiewessie99 · 04-13-2010, 01:44 AM

ohhhhhhhhh......if i did get a GSD with a sloped back, I don't want it to be too sloped.

mjbgsd · 04-13-2010, 01:51 AM

Lin you said it well.

Jessiewessie99 · 04-13-2010, 01:56 AM

Yea she said, it in a way I can understand and I barely understand breeding lingo.lol

mjbgsd · 04-13-2010, 02:11 AM

I was thinking of writting the same thing she said but it was already written, lol.

Jessiewessie99 · 04-13-2010, 02:14 AM

as long as there is no big huge words then I am good.

Lucy Dog · 04-13-2010, 02:18 AM

I'm definitely not a breeder, but from observation alone, it seems like working line GSD's have a much straighter back than the showline shepherds.

When i think of a "straight back" shepherd, i think of a shepherd from working lines.

Mrs.K · 04-13-2010, 02:35 AM

Straight like this?

Lucy Dog · 04-13-2010, 02:39 AM

yep those look like working line GSD's and those look like straight backs

My lucy is from both working and show lines. Her fathers west german showline which is where she got her color and her mother (who has a straight back) is from DDR lines and where she gets her straight back and drive. Kind of the best of both worlds if you ask me, but shes my dog and of course i'm going to say that.

04-13-2010, 01:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jessiewessie99 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lakewod, CA Posts: 6,807	Straight-back GSDs.... Some people have said they are rare, and I have read about it too. I know my GSDs have straight-backs...(I think.lol). But I was just wondering, because when I see other people walking their GSDs they always seem to have a slant to them, standing and walking. My dogs have neither. I was thinking it was because they were bred that way. I know my dogs didn't come from breeders, so I don't know about my dog's past.But when I see my dogs walking, running, standing, there backs are always straight.I never seen either of them stack.Is this normal? Could it be because they really aren't pure bred? I don't mind people who have slanted back GSDs. I personally prefer straight back GSDs. Is it rare to have a straight back GSD? I need some clarification on this. Is it looked down upon in the show ring to have straight back GSDs? Thanks in advance, feel free to list any professional breeders who breed straight backs in with your answer to show its normal and not rare. __________________ Jessica-Shelter Volunteer Molly-GSD ✔ Certified Ninja Dog Tanner-GSD ✔ Certified Lovebug RIP: Max & Simba "No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible."-George Chakiris, as said by Agent Derek Mogan

04-13-2010, 01:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lin Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 3,243	Whats actually going on is angulation in the rear end of the dog. In stacking for competition the positioning also makes it appear more extreme. This angulation causes the slope down the back, its not the spine thats affected. The GSD started out as a more square dog similar to todays Malinois, but was bred with the lower rear to increase drive and efficiency from behind, and improve the trotting gait which the GSDs can maintain for long periods of time when working. "straight backed" dogs are not rare, but the breed standard calls for this slope. Most likely your dogs show this if positioned in a stack. Many of the dogs with severely sloped backs will appear different when not stacked in an extreme position. Some breeders use the term "straight backed" and breed GSDs who have higher hindquarters; however many of the dogs bred this way (and GSD derivative breeds such as Shiloh and King) have a swayed back from the pelvis being higher than the withers. Last edited by Lin; 04-13-2010 at 01:16 AM.

04-13-2010, 01:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jessiewessie99 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lakewod, CA Posts: 6,807	ohhhhhhhhh......if i did get a GSD with a sloped back, I don't want it to be too sloped. __________________ Jessica-Shelter Volunteer Molly-GSD ✔ Certified Ninja Dog Tanner-GSD ✔ Certified Lovebug RIP: Max & Simba "No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible."-George Chakiris, as said by Agent Derek Mogan

04-13-2010, 01:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
mjbgsd Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 5,877	Lin you said it well. __________________ Akbar- http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1072443 Isa- http://www.dogster.com/dogs/175256

04-13-2010, 01:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jessiewessie99 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lakewod, CA Posts: 6,807	Yea she said, it in a way I can understand and I barely understand breeding lingo.lol __________________ Jessica-Shelter Volunteer Molly-GSD ✔ Certified Ninja Dog Tanner-GSD ✔ Certified Lovebug RIP: Max & Simba "No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible."-George Chakiris, as said by Agent Derek Mogan

04-13-2010, 02:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
mjbgsd Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 5,877	I was thinking of writting the same thing she said but it was already written, lol. __________________ Akbar- http://www.dogster.com/dogs/1072443 Isa- http://www.dogster.com/dogs/175256

04-13-2010, 02:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jessiewessie99 Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lakewod, CA Posts: 6,807	as long as there is no big huge words then I am good. __________________ Jessica-Shelter Volunteer Molly-GSD ✔ Certified Ninja Dog Tanner-GSD ✔ Certified Lovebug RIP: Max & Simba "No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible."-George Chakiris, as said by Agent Derek Mogan

04-13-2010, 02:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,180	I'm definitely not a breeder, but from observation alone, it seems like working line GSD's have a much straighter back than the showline shepherds. When i think of a "straight back" shepherd, i think of a shepherd from working lines. __________________ Paul

04-13-2010, 02:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mrs.K Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6,381	Straight like this?

04-13-2010, 02:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
Lucy Dog Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,180	yep those look like working line GSD's and those look like straight backs My lucy is from both working and show lines. Her fathers west german showline which is where she got her color and her mother (who has a straight back) is from DDR lines and where she gets her straight back and drive. Kind of the best of both worlds if you ask me, but shes my dog and of course i'm going to say that. __________________ Paul Last edited by Lucy Dog; 04-13-2010 at 02:43 AM.

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