German Shepherd people? I got a question.

[goldensammy]

Why is it that German shepherds are always standing like this when they are being showed? I've ALWAYS been wondering that....

as opposed to this...



Thank you!

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I wonder that, too. I always feel sorry for them when I see it. It looks so uncomfortable.

[Blaze]

I found this a while ago.

Just as the sloped back and extreme angulation have become the stereotype for the American show line dogs, many Germanshow line dogs have a curved or “roached” back, where the spine angles up behind the withers, peaks, and then slopes downward again towards the croup.

I think it just has to do with the lines. Not all of them stand like that but others do. I've owned a couple of GSDs, from different breeders and lines and 1 of them constantly had a sloped back, it was just naturally her lol but it does look very uncomfortable. I don't know exactly why they do it other than that but I'm sure someone else will be able to give you a better explanation.

[whimzikal]

I'm glad someone asked and even more glad someone knew the answer!
We were watching a dog show when Kody was about 4 or 5 and he giggles thinking the dog was going potty. (LOL)
I love the look of the GSD, just never knew why they stood that way

[goldensammy]

Thanks for the answer!

[msmkm]

Originally Posted by goldensammy

Why is it that German shepherds are always standing like this when they are being showed? I've ALWAYS been wondering that....

as opposed to this...

Thank you!

Neither of mine ever stood/stand like that, but they also have very straight backs, no sloping which I much prefer. Not being a breeder or show dog person I could be wrong, but my understanding is the exagerated slope is a North American thing, and not something found with the original German dogs.