Why German Shepherds Have Had Their Day--an interesting article..

lar07 · 10-08-2011, 10:49 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/op...&smid=fb-share

I tend to agree with the author that this is good for the breed and the people that love them. What do you guys think?

**Castlemaid** · 10-08-2011, 11:20 PM

I enjoyed reading that article, it is well written. I don't think that anyone will disagree with the ideas and opinions expressed, though I found that the problems expressed due to overbreeding to be very superficial. It only addressed health issues commonly found in the breed, no word about the real downfall of the GSD, the loss of nerve strength and working drives.

BR870 · 10-08-2011, 11:36 PM

There is no real mention that there are still many well bred German Shepherds out there...

lar07 · 10-08-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BR870

There is no real mention that there are still many well bred German Shepherds out there...

Yeah, I don't think it was meant to offend GSD lovers though. I just liked some of the points regarding how this might improve the quality and also bringing more and more of those traits back to the dogs.

And I agree--there are still tons of well bred GSDs out there--there's a reason why they are so popular and always will be!

Good_Karma · 10-09-2011, 07:51 AM

Thanks for sharing the article, a good read!

GSDElsa · 10-09-2011, 07:57 AM

Ok article but you can tell it was written by someone who has no working experience with the bred and was just regurgitating facts. Facts that really can be said for any popular breed. Insert "lab"or golden and change the breed facts and it could be about any breed. Doesn't really address the real issues.

Dainerra · 10-09-2011, 09:15 AM

yes, true for any breed. However, those other breeds aren't getting this chance to be removed from the spotlight.

Everyone sees the GSD - in the movies, on the news, in their local paper. They want one and don't know what they are doing.

I think that a little less popularity will be a good thing. That will deter some of those breeders who are in it only for the money. Good breeders will still have their demand from knowledgeable owners.

Emoore · 10-09-2011, 10:21 AM

I just thought it was interesting that the article was about how the GSD's time in the spotlight is over, and in the article he cited another article written in the 1950's about how the GSD's time in the spotlight was over.

codmaster · 10-09-2011, 10:53 AM

Wasn't really much in the article - it was a better choice for the editorial page. Opinion without any facts to back it up.

Thanks to the Op - it was an interesting opinion article!

PaddyD · 10-09-2011, 10:59 AM

With article like that and more police departments going to the Mal maybe we will see over-breeding of Mals. Then there will be ASL Mals, GSL Mals, DDR Mals etc and so on....

10-08-2011, 10:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
lar07 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 277	Why German Shepherds Have Had Their Day--an interesting article.. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/op...&smid=fb-share I tend to agree with the author that this is good for the breed and the people that love them. What do you guys think?

10-08-2011, 11:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Castlemaid Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern British Columbia Posts: 9,088	I enjoyed reading that article, it is well written. I don't think that anyone will disagree with the ideas and opinions expressed, though I found that the problems expressed due to overbreeding to be very superficial. It only addressed health issues commonly found in the breed, no word about the real downfall of the GSD, the loss of nerve strength and working drives. __________________ Lucia Keeta BH, OB1, TR1, AD (HOT) Rottweiler/Hairy Dog mix?? Shelter rescue Gryffon Vom Wildhaus BH, OFA Good (HOT) "Bites Through the Sleeve" Cuddlebug, b: Mar 2009

10-08-2011, 11:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
BR870 Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 828	There is no real mention that there are still many well bred German Shepherds out there... __________________ Rob Ezra von der Rennbahn Princess Abigail "Abbie" Kai (RIP) Loki (RIP)

10-09-2011, 07:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
Good_Karma Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 4,103	Thanks for sharing the article, a good read! __________________ Leah: Newbie dog owner Niko: American Showline GSD 2 1/2 years old Rosa: American Muppet Dog (GSD/Border Collie mix) 3 years old

10-09-2011, 07:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
GSDElsa Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Central, NY Posts: 3,706	Ok article but you can tell it was written by someone who has no working experience with the bred and was just regurgitating facts. Facts that really can be said for any popular breed. Insert "lab"or golden and change the breed facts and it could be about any breed. Doesn't really address the real issues. __________________ Justine, mom to: - Elsa - BrightStar Rescue - "Da Pookins" - Medo Aritar Bastet - "The Beast From The East"

10-09-2011, 09:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dainerra Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N. Central Arkansas Posts: 4,565	yes, true for any breed. However, those other breeds aren't getting this chance to be removed from the spotlight. Everyone sees the GSD - in the movies, on the news, in their local paper. They want one and don't know what they are doing. I think that a little less popularity will be a good thing. That will deter some of those breeders who are in it only for the money. Good breeders will still have their demand from knowledgeable owners.

10-09-2011, 10:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	I just thought it was interesting that the article was about how the GSD's time in the spotlight is over, and in the article he cited another article written in the 1950's about how the GSD's time in the spotlight was over. __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

10-09-2011, 10:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
codmaster Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, US Posts: 4,762	Wasn't really much in the article - it was a better choice for the editorial page. Opinion without any facts to back it up. Thanks to the Op - it was an interesting opinion article!

10-09-2011, 10:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	With article like that and more police departments going to the Mal maybe we will see over-breeding of Mals. Then there will be ASL Mals, GSL Mals, DDR Mals etc and so on....

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