[big_dawg_axle]

I seen this site a while back and was totally shocked. These shepherds are referred to as Panda Shepherds, I'm assuming since they are spotted. I gotta admit, they are some very striking dogs! But, I was curious about what you all think about it.....any comments?

Here's the link...
http://www.pandashepherds.com/

 

[Superpup]

I personally don't like them.

I like my regular GSD.

 

[bearlasmom]

the pups are cute but then all pups are, i prefer the standard sheps

 

[tracyc]

Breeders who are breeding based on coat color aren't focusing on the important qualities, IMO.

These may be great dogs (temperament, health, and strucutre) I have no idea. But intentionally selecting dogs that have disqualifying faults and enhancing those faults doesn't seem like they have the best interest of the breed in mind.

 

[lcht2]

if i could i would own every different coated GSD there is...that would be a cool retirement dream lol

 

[AbbyK9]

If you head down into the breeders section of the forum and search a while back, there's been some spirited discussion going on the "panda" shepherds.

I think it's great (and responsible) that they are studying what caused this kind of coloration to appear. But I think it's bad breeding practice to create this new "breed" by purposely breeding dogs that have a fault in regards to color. Sounds to me like the main purpose here is not improving or creating a breed, but making money by offering people a "rare" breed with "unusual" coloring.

 

[XPistolX]

They look like a mix between a blue heeler/border collie and gsd. I dont like them.

 

[wrenny]

Can I ask why it matters what color they are breeding? I may come off the wrong way but in response to Lucas and Historian's post, who cares about their "color fault."

Who's to say its disqualifying? The AKC? Disqualifying for shows? Sure, but that's like 20% of the dog population. I'm sure these breeders and all their clients, don't care about shows or anything. So if the dog's have great health and temp, color means crap to me.

 

[Brightelf]

Wrenny, because they are focusing on color, making it a priority, it means other, more crucial priorities do not get met. It is typical that when someone is riding the crest of a wave of trendy, hip popularity with a newfangled color-breed, they focus on 'the wow factor' to the extent that other things get less emphasis, such as working ability, health, and... hold onto your wallets.. temperament. Greeders cashing in on a trend-- designer dogs of any type-- often have their fame and wallets in mind, and not bettering a breed already beset with HUGE health and temperament problems, but create a teeny genepool of dogs that specificly are geared towards that wow factor as priority.

 

[sklippstein]

Personally I prefer the standard GSD, they are cute, but I'm not overly fond of the "white" face they have. I'll take my gorgeous black/tan faced GSD any day.

 

[tibvixie101]

I think they're really interesting looking, but dont think i would ever own one. Like some of the others have posted, im not for people breeding, unless they are trying to better the breed, not make it a designer brand.

 

[AbbyK9]

Patti explained very well how I feel about breeding for color.

I would have zero problems with the panda people if they had one pup come up as a panda, studied the heck out of why this genetic change occurred and how it affects the coat, and then didn't breed the dog.

Instead, they got a dog that was an interesting and unique color. So they are breeding her to get pups with that coloring, not knowing whether there are any health or genetic concerns associated with this color, and now they're making them out to be some kind of "rare breed" due to their coloring. Mind you, they are *still* German Shepherds - they have GSD parents and heritage, just not GSD coloring. So exactly what makes them a rare breed? The color and the fact that people wanting something 'different' will pay money to buy that color and claim it as a 'rare, unusual, special' breed.

What I don't see on their site, between all the "championship" certificates they have for each panda dog, are titles. Obedience, herding, Schutzhund, any of that. The only panda dog they have a title on is Frankie, and it's an obedience title.

If they're going to breed them, why not make sure they're worth breeding for something OTHER than color. Like working ability, temperament, etc?

 

[Vinnie]

This has been discussed many times on this board but for some reason I can’t find the original threads. If I recall correctly, these “panda shepherds” have never been proven to be purebred GSDs. So to me it’s like buying any other mixed bred. There’s nothing wrong with that but don’t try to pass them off and sell them as some “rare” form of GSD. That’s just deceiving.

 

[DHau]

They look like a mixed breed. I prefer the breed standards better.

 

[onyx'girl]

 

[KCandMace]

Ok here is my two cents...
White German shepherds are considered a fault. They are beautiful and sound dogs but disliked because a group of people say they are faulty. And now they are considered a separate breed in the rare dog breed assoc. This has happened with many dog breeds as they have developed over the years. Do you remember how the GSD started out? They weren't always as they are now and certain colors were bred out. Some people are trying to breed them back in. As long as they are being ethical about their breeding I have no problems with how the dogs look. Colors have never mattered to me, what does is genetics and disease.

 

[Fodder]

Originally Posted By: wrennyCan I ask why it matters what color they are breeding? I may come off the wrong way but in response to Lucas and Historian's post, who cares about their "color fault."

*cough* inbreeding *cough*

& everything that patti and historian mentioned.

 

[lish91883]

No shepherd can be a bad color. I'm not a fan of the Panda's, but love the Blue's. As long as they are breeding sound dogs (Temperment, hips, ect) then I don't see any problem with wanting to breed the Panda's, Blues, or Livers. Just my 2 cents.

 

[arycrest]

Originally Posted By: VinnieThis has been discussed many times on this board but for some reason I can’t find the original threads. If I recall correctly, these “panda shepherds” have never been proven to be purebred GSDs. So to me it’s like buying any other mixed bred. There’s nothing wrong with that but don’t try to pass them off and sell them as some “rare” form of GSD. That’s just deceiving.

I may be wrong, but if I recall correctly, the original "Panda" shepherd (Frankie?) was DNA'ed and she was a GSD???? Or at least her parents who are registered GSDs were DNA'ed as being her parents - guess I should say it that way.

 

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted By: Arycrest

Originally Posted By: VinnieThis has been discussed many times on this board but for some reason I can’t find the original threads. If I recall correctly, these “panda shepherds” have never been proven to be purebred GSDs. So to me it’s like buying any other mixed bred. There’s nothing wrong with that but don’t try to pass them off and sell them as some “rare” form of GSD. That’s just deceiving.

I may be wrong, but if I recall correctly, the original "Panda" shepherd (Frankie?) was DNA'ed and she was a GSD???? Or at least her parents who are registered GSDs were DNA'ed as being her parents - guess I should say it that way.

I believe the sire & dam (to Franka) were "registered" as GSDs but not DNA tested to be proven purebreds. Registering doesn't mean a thing here in America really. It's just someone's word, written down on paper, money sent in to the registering agency - but nothing is proven by registration. I don't think her parents were ever proven to be purebred GSDs through DNA tests and therefore how can anyone say for sure that she was a purebred? That was always one of my biggest problem with these Panda Shepherds.

Second, a spontaneous mutation would only occur “spontaneously”. So why does this seem to keep recurring with such frequency in Franka’s offspring? Has anyone ever bothered to check these references? (Anyone can say anything on the internet - and may do.) I personally think it’s a scam that these are purebred dogs and that does bother me because then it’s just a person trying to fool people into thinking they’re getting a “rare” color GSD.

Just my opinion.