Watching AKC "Pukanuba" (another member came up with that, love it) and the "Best Bred By" segment. The Cavalier showed with its tail tucked and looking quite scared and one of the announcers called the dog out on it. The guest announcer lady who is a breeder/shower said it's just a little stage fright, this is a big show, not like others, blah blah blah...."
Nice to see you, a breeder, justifying clearly weak nerves and making excuses for it. Unfortunately there were again a lot of dogs that were clearly nervous. On a positive note, I really enjoyed the handler and greyhound who took a bow.
Now that I think about it I thought the slope was more of how the style became in the AKC. Meega does not have a slope like that at all. Personally I'm not a big fan of a slope that large as it seems to make it harder for them to move. However, this is my totally untrained eye so maybe I am totally wrong.
JMHO, the sloping back is a 'side-effect' of the elongated stifles and exaggerated angles of their hind legs. It's just that the slope is more obvious to the average person and that's why it gets the attention rather than their hind-end construction.
I saw that Cavalier, too! That was awful. When the judge went to the table to inspect his teeth and head, his tail was clearly tucked the whole time. Not only was he nervous then, even during the down-n-back he had a tight expression with eyes darting all around.
I can't believe the announcer said it's "understandable" given the noise, lights, people. Really? Ugh....
Originally Posted By: Murphy-ElperroguapoJMHO, the sloping back is a 'side-effect' of the elongated stifles and exaggerated angles of their hind legs. It's just that the slope is more obvious to the average person and that's why it gets the attention rather than their hind-end construction.
That makes sense. The angles in the hind legs are very much extreme, which would cause a slope overall. Again I would think that would make it harder to run and make them not be able to herd as well, since they are in the herding group. Just watching the dogs gate I can almost bet that Meega, along with most of the shepherds I see on here would run circles around that one.
I Have an Am bred that I show/will be showing ( we have already done one show and we will be doing another the 13th and 14th of this month) She is not as sloped as most of the shepherds and she doesnt wobble when she walks either, I got a lot of good comments about her while we were at the show. Some of the ppl there were disturbed at how some of the shepherds were moving in the ring. Some of the ppl LOVED my girl because her movement was not like the others and she was VERY socialable. Anyways, I plan on titling my dog in many different things, this spring I will start some herding with her. I will be doing agility with her too depending on what her hips come back.
well it is very sad for me to see what has become of "american showline" shepherds. a beautifully moving shepherd is indeed a sight to see. nobody saw one tonight. her rear conformation and movement did not look sound
Kathy can you youtube it or maybe pull it up on animal planet.com?
I only caught a little of the show. I miss dogshows.
I went to what seemed like a gazillion as a kid. My favorite part of them then was all the awesome vendor booths...oh and the fact that I would walk around thinking I was so awesome with Rottweilers twice my size! LOL!
I turned on the TV just as they were showing the herding group (yay for lucky timing) and was excited to see three of the four types of Belgians in the ring, but disappointed to see the German Shepherd.
I didn't think that the dog moved the way a German Shepherd should move, at all, and the comment that was made by the commentator was just odd. She explained that the purpose of the slope to the back is so the dog can keep his head low while herding sheep. Huh?
My computer connection is so slow here I cannot download video at all. Sometimes even pictures here take forever. Oh well...... I will see the next one.
Actually, there was one dog one of the commentators said was in the agility ring earlier. The dog had an RN and a MXJ I believe. I forgot which breed, though, but I did jump up in excitement when I saw it.
Originally Posted By: Historian
I didn't think that the dog moved the way a German Shepherd should move, at all, and the comment that was made by the commentator was just odd. She explained that the purpose of the slope to the back is so the dog can keep his head low while herding sheep. Huh?
So I just bought a 11 month old German Shepherd from a breeder. So I spent the day with him today and he is listening to me sitting and comes when I call him. Butt....he doesn't listen to me when I ask him to go potty. And I am kind of worried because I don't want him having accidents in the...
Unique things you have trained your dog to do, and how you did it... Things that are not part of traditional obedience but friends find amazing!
For example:
I have taught my dogs that they are only allowed on the main floor of the house. Not upstairs, not in the basement. No gates no doors. I...
Hi
I’m new to this site and I am also a new owner to a GSD pup. She is 15 weeks now. Anytime I let her roam around our home she is constantly stuffing around nonstop. When we go for walks she does the same. Is this a normal thing? Any advice
I have tons of qu to ask.
my family rescued a G.S.D from a no-kill shelter and I need help in house training her. if she was a lab I would know what to do and how to train her but she is a bit hard-headed and will not listen at all to me, she just turns her head to look the other way. like I...
Hello! I present you Luna! She's 8 months old German Shepherd she's very active and a few weeks ago I took her to a park and I noticed that some other German Shepherd around her age are quite different physically Luna has a straight back and very long legs unlike the others dogs I want to know...
A forum community dedicated to all German Shepherd owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bloodlines, training, breeding, service dogs, and more!
