Friend interested in GSDs,can't find right breeder

[Lizaveta]

Hi all,

I have an acquaintance/friend who is trying to find a GSD breeder, but the dog he wants is the old-type GSD, not the GSDs he seems to see today, with the very sloped backs and..strange (only way I can describe them? I'm not a GSD expert :S) back legs. From what he's described he wants a GSD more like this:





Not this:



Originally I gave him the same type of advice that other dog forums did, to find a breeder who shows and health tests their dogs etc. But when looking at these types of breeders he hasn't been able to find anyone who breeds the more straight-backed type non-slopy looking dogs.

Is there a different -type- of GSD or something that looks more like the top 2 photos? Reading back over this it may sound a bit petty that he's that concerned, but that's the type of GSD he has his heart set on and if he doesn't like the kind we mostly see now I figure he should look for what he wants. And personally I too prefer the GSD in the top photos, with the straight back. He had a GSD when he was a kid who looked like this and has wanted to eventually have one like it.

I remember seeing a video that showed GSD champions from years ago comparing them to now and in the 1950s or so they looked much more like the dog in the first photos - so does anyone know if there are still breeders of these types of GSDs who do all health testing etc.? Like I said I'm no GSD expert, but by the looks of photos of champion GSDs from the recent years it doesn't look like the former type would be shown with any success, so by this time he isn't really concerned with any show titles, but is with everything else - health and temperament testing, working ability (he now lives on a farm, which is why he decided he's now in a position to get another dog), etc.

[RebelMoonGSDs]

Hello. Hope I can help a little.

Finding a breeder that "shows" their dogs, in this breed, means you'll get different versions of the breed depending on how you define "show".

The "show line" for confo ring tends to be more sloped, whether German lines or Am lines.

The working line dogs tend to be less slopey and have a straighter back.

So perhaps your friend should look more into working line German or Czech dogs. However, with working line dogs, he/she will also have to be careful, because they typically have a lot of drive (prey/play/protect) as compared to show lines, on either side. They will need a job, something to do, to stay out of trouble and keep from being bored.

**note- I am not saying this is ALWAYS the case with types and drives, just that a well-bred working line dog should display a fairly high drive**

[Lizaveta]

Ohh thanks, RebelMoon! So what he should be looking at is the working line of GSDs. I'll be sure to pass this on and tell him about the high drives they tend to have. This might not be a problem for him so much as he's sure to find a job for the GSD at the farm, from what I hear he's getting some livestock but I don't know him well enough to know for sure.

Thanks again! Glad to know you can still find the straight-back types of GSD.

[FourIsCompany]

Most of how a dog looks depends on how he's stacked or standing. My dogs are from show lines. Depending on how they're standing, they can look very sloped or very square. Here are a few pictures.

I'll also send you a PM with several GOOD breeders of both show and working lines.

B'asia looking sloped:





B'asia looking Square:



Jaia looking sloped:



Jaia looking square:

[Lizaveta]

Thanks, FourIsCompany, got your message and emailed the list you sent on to him!

[GSDtrent]

Just for variety, here's my working line German shepherd boy, at 6-7 months, I think (please excuse the camera and stack quality).



(he looks posessed, but that's just the flash. Also not a good stack, but this was our first time trying!)




But it definitely depends on the breeder you choose as well as the lines. Many American show lines don't have the extreme ski slope back, and many German show lines don't have the banana roached back.

[Shelteez]

I have a working line shepherd that doesn't really have the slope back. I'll post a pic of her stacking once i find some batteries! .

I am still learning about this breed but from what i understand by what my breeder told me those extreme slope backs really put a strain on a dog's hips. He has some beef with the way how AKC are making the shepherds look. Mine is from East German working line.

Have your friend take his time looking for a reputable breeder.

[Lizaveta]

Shelteez, my friend mentioned seeing a video of GSDs in an international show ring where when they walked their back legs wobbled like crazy, they looked like they were stumbling over themselves. I've never seen this in real life and I've met a few of the sloped-back type GSDs, but they were sold as pets and none of them were shown. I haven't met any show GSDs in person to be able to comment and I didn't actually see the video :/


GSDtrent, your photo isn't showing up

[GSDtrent]

Woops, didn't know how that happened.

I think I have it fixed.

[Lizaveta]

Originally Posted by GSDtrent

Woops, didn't know how that happened.

I think I have it fixed.

What a gorgeous dog!