Old fashioned? REALLY???

[lhczth]

Originally Posted by Doc

I have no idea of the dog you speak of Mrs. K. The ones I breed look like German shepherds not Great Danes, perhaps over-sized in Germany takes on a different look?



One of my gals at 7 months.


And another one of gals at 2 years and 90 pounds.

Jung Tell von der Kriminalpolizei was a tall dog, but he was also fairly square. He was not what I would call a bulky dog.



Klodo vom Boxberg was closer to Max' ideal being a medium sized (that would be 62-63 cm) dog that is also slightly longer than he is tall (compare to his maternal great grandfather shown above).



While heavy bulky dogs were used in the foundation of the breed I have never found any photos of GSD that looks like this until more modern times. This is supposed to be an athletic utilitarian working dog and not a huge bulky mastiff/draught type breed.

Of course this is my understanding of the breed history as a working dog. Others obviously have a differing opinion.

[Doc]

An award winning and recognized influential dog from the past.


A more recent dog from the same lines.

[onyx'girl]

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[Doc]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

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You've been asking to see some of my dogs









These are some of my dogs. Please excuse the quality of the photographs - I didn't take most of them.

I can trace their bloodlines back to the "older" dogs posted above.

[Baby Byron]

Originally Posted by Mrs.K

That can't possibly be healthy...

I honestly do not think so. If the dog has the sound structure and frame there's nothing unhealthy about her. She has great structure and is absolutely healthy. As were 13 other GSDs we've had. One of the most amazing ones I've had was 135 lbs, and only went to the vet once a year for check ups. Absolutely fit to the end. Another male was 140 lbs also passed peacefully was quite often thought to be 6-7 yo when he was crossing 12. That's how sound and healthy he was. A small framed dog overweight is unhealthy. A large framed animal, whose genes condition large frame, is not unhealthy. Remember, bad hips and the likes can affect smaller dogs just the same. If it's in the animal's genes it doesn't matter the animal's size.
Here's my sister now with her Maltese dogs, 8 lbs a piece, perfectly fit, with hip dys. and rupture of cruciate ligaments left and right.
It is not the size that will cause a dog to develop hip problems. Bad breeding will.
I really am not trying to stir up things here but there are positive things in a GSD's genome as well as negative and because somebody selects for sound frame and/or coat doesn't mean that the breeding will be poor healthwise.
Cheers,
Ana

[Doc]

Check your PM Ana.

[LaRen616]

Doc

I think your dogs are good looking, I like em big

[Doc]

Originally Posted by LaRen616

Doc

I think your dogs are good looking, I like em big

Thank you.

[crs996]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

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Now that sounds like a breeder I would rush to. The first words on the page reference Oversize and Large, claims of 125 lb shepherds that "you remember as a child"... lol Later there is a token reference to health and intelligence.

[crs996]

Originally Posted by Doc

An award winning and recognized influential dog from the past.


A more recent dog from the same lines.

These all look like more recent photos. The older photos of large dogs show much more clean body lines, square with less angulation. The "new" giant dogs look fat, heavy and awkward. Some of the young dogs you posted look like giant Welsh Corgis.

Although there were large (super oversize compared to the standard) dogs in the past, I would be interested to see the working ability of modern "giants".

If everyone has an excuse not to follow the Standard and just do their own thing, why have one??