Miniature, Medium and Standard GSDs?

Jax's Mom · 02-10-2011, 12:48 PM

Just thinking aloud here... not actually considering doing this or buying one (not enough years in my life to see one, probably)... but just to play devil's advocate...
I understand that the breed has a standard but what would be the problem in breeding different size categories of purebred GSDs the way poodles have been bred up and down in size?
I see the problem with just mixing another breed entirely to get the size you're looking for or indiscriminately breeding poor specimens to augment size.
Part of the attraction to GSDs for me is the way that they have been meticulously bred in the past but I find it almost a shame that there wouldn't be a smaller version of the same breed available... Not like Miniature Pinschers are to Doberman Pinschers which are actually two completely separate breeds that just look similar, but actual dogs that share the same lineage but forked somewhere in their pedigree into different size categories.
I find it odd that the entire premise of the GSD is their intelligence and versatility but they'd only appear in one size?
Most of what sparked this in my head is that a SAR handler must be able to lift their dog. Mine is 70% of my bodyweight... the obvious answer to this would be to work with a smaller breed... I don't want to... I want a smaller GSD

mroutdoorsman · 02-10-2011, 12:50 PM

I do somewhat like the idea as I work SAR as well and having to carry Ze'eva out of the wilderness or any situation would somewhat suck. She is already 76lbs and will be, or should be, over 100lbs fully grown.

Lilie · 02-10-2011, 12:52 PM

Like what they've done with the Austrailian Shepherds?

Mrs.K · 02-10-2011, 12:55 PM

You already have lightweights out there. If people would actually breed to the darn standard there wouldn't be a darn need to think about stuff like that.

There are small and lightweight GSD's out there. None of mine are actually over 80 pounds. Indra is a lightweight and I have not any problem of picking her up.

What is darn wrong about following the standard? Instead people breed bigger and bigger and bigger dogs. It drives me crazy. Just follow the standard at least size wise because you already have so many choices just within the standard.

Kris10 · 02-10-2011, 12:58 PM

The standard size range fits the jobs they are traditionally bred to do. Breeding up in size may affect agility and stamina, for example. Maybe look into getting a female on the smaller side to do SAR with. Or start lifting weights

Jax's Mom · 02-10-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs.K

What is darn wrong about following the standard? Instead people breed bigger and bigger and bigger dogs.

My dog is perfectly within standard, I'm the problem, my mother was on the small side and should never have been bred LOL

But I meant an even smaller dog than what's currently the lower end of the standard. So much could be done with them like service dogs for smaller people, SAR dogs that could search smaller places, etc.

Mrs.K · 02-10-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax's Mom

My dog is perfectly within standard, I'm the problem, my mother was on the small side and should never have been bred LOL

But I meant an even smaller dog than what's currently the lower end of the standard. So much could be done with them like service dogs for smaller people, SAR dogs that could search smaller places, etc.

Then why not looking into a different breed that already comes with all the traits you are looking for?

There is so many breeds out there... seriously.

GSDElsa · 02-10-2011, 01:07 PM

Anytime you're focusing on something other than working ability and temperament, the quality of dog will suffer.

If you selectively breed down the size of GSD's, something else will suffer. Probably making them dogs pretty bad for things like SAR.

BlackthornGSD · 02-10-2011, 02:13 PM

I have 3 bitches who are between 50 and 60 pounds--they are all bottom of the standard, but within standard. There are some smaller GSDs out there if you look around.

Jax's Mom · 02-10-2011, 03:14 PM

If a different 30lb breed can compete in things like schutzhund, what's to stop a smaller GSD from competing and being evaluated like any other GSD?
If we pretend for a moment that the standard is 30lbs, and they conform in every other way and could be titled, what's to say they wouldn't make a good dog?

02-10-2011, 12:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jax's Mom Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,227	Miniature, Medium and Standard GSDs? Just thinking aloud here... not actually considering doing this or buying one (not enough years in my life to see one, probably)... but just to play devil's advocate... I understand that the breed has a standard but what would be the problem in breeding different size categories of purebred GSDs the way poodles have been bred up and down in size? I see the problem with just mixing another breed entirely to get the size you're looking for or indiscriminately breeding poor specimens to augment size. Part of the attraction to GSDs for me is the way that they have been meticulously bred in the past but I find it almost a shame that there wouldn't be a smaller version of the same breed available... Not like Miniature Pinschers are to Doberman Pinschers which are actually two completely separate breeds that just look similar, but actual dogs that share the same lineage but forked somewhere in their pedigree into different size categories. I find it odd that the entire premise of the GSD is their intelligence and versatility but they'd only appear in one size? Most of what sparked this in my head is that a SAR handler must be able to lift their dog. Mine is 70% of my bodyweight... the obvious answer to this would be to work with a smaller breed... I don't want to... I want a smaller GSD

02-10-2011, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
mroutdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: WA Posts: 257	I do somewhat like the idea as I work SAR as well and having to carry Ze'eva out of the wilderness or any situation would somewhat suck. She is already 76lbs and will be, or should be, over 100lbs fully grown. __________________ Ze'eva Li'ora - GSD 06/26/2010 [SAR/Wilderness Air Scent]

02-10-2011, 12:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,273	Like what they've done with the Austrailian Shepherds? __________________ Hondo Von Dopplet L Bauernhof "Hondo"- GSD Lilie's Tug McGraw "Tug" - Golden Retriever Maggie - Mini Dachshund (Rescue) Lonestar - Texas Blue Lacy Funyon, Ashe, Soot - Barn Cats Scooter /1/2 Arabian, Shadow, Katie / APHA

02-10-2011, 01:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
GSDElsa Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Central, NY Posts: 3,706	Anytime you're focusing on something other than working ability and temperament, the quality of dog will suffer. If you selectively breed down the size of GSD's, something else will suffer. Probably making them dogs pretty bad for things like SAR. __________________ Justine, mom to: - Elsa - BrightStar Rescue - "Da Pookins" - Medo Aritar Bastet - "The Beast From The East"

02-10-2011, 02:13 PM	#9 (permalink)
BlackthornGSD Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 1,094	I have 3 bitches who are between 50 and 60 pounds--they are all bottom of the standard, but within standard. There are some smaller GSDs out there if you look around. __________________ Christine Blackthorn Working German Shepherds

02-10-2011, 12:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mrs.K Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 6,381	You already have lightweights out there. If people would actually breed to the darn standard there wouldn't be a darn need to think about stuff like that. There are small and lightweight GSD's out there. None of mine are actually over 80 pounds. Indra is a lightweight and I have not any problem of picking her up. What is darn wrong about following the standard? Instead people breed bigger and bigger and bigger dogs. It drives me crazy. Just follow the standard at least size wise because you already have so many choices just within the standard.

02-10-2011, 12:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kris10 Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southeastern NC Posts: 1,502	The standard size range fits the jobs they are traditionally bred to do. Breeding up in size may affect agility and stamina, for example. Maybe look into getting a female on the smaller side to do SAR with. Or start lifting weights

02-10-2011, 03:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jax's Mom Knighted Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,227	If a different 30lb breed can compete in things like schutzhund, what's to stop a smaller GSD from competing and being evaluated like any other GSD? If we pretend for a moment that the standard is 30lbs, and they conform in every other way and could be titled, what's to say they wouldn't make a good dog?

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