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What is a Breed Standard ?
Each breed of dog has a certain set of standards set forth by the breed clubs, judges & breed creators for that particular breed. Standards describe a breeds physcial qualities & character attributes. The Standards are a tool used to help breeders create dogs that more closely resemble what a breed is suppose to look like , act like , its size , color, temperament , structure & movement .These traits are what sets each breed apart from another , allowing novices to recognize a shepherd for a shepherd or a pug for a pug .
What is acceptable in a German Shepherd Dog [ GSD] what should it look like /
act like /move like .What are its temperament traits ?See links below .Pay close attention to descriptions given for faults by the 3 recognized world registry services below ;
why is the color white a fault & not allowed in all recognized registries ?This breed was created to have darker coloring & strong pigment as set forth in its standard .Its purpose is a herding /guarding breed . A white dog has several disadvantages in trying to do what it was created and bred to do .1st its proven sheep respond and move better for a darker dog .So a darker dog can get sheep moving with less nips from the dog & less pain/ damage to sheep .2nd , a shepherd often attends his flock from a distance using the dog which he commands primary by hand signal to move the sheep . A white dog is hard to spot & easily lost in a flock of white sheep .As a guarding breed ,a white dog really stands out in the wrong way , for a policeman a white dog can be a death sentence as its color screams to the bad guy -here i am just shoot me or my partner .White dogs are not used often in sport , protection , herding or breeding , therefore the best whites are not put forth to demonstrate their abilities. Since the white GSD is not used by serious fanciers of the breed whom work/show these dogs the gene pool is smaller on this color.That fact explains why white GSD are unproven /untested for brains/structure & workability .I have yet to see a schutzhund titled white GSD .
Why is a German Shepherd STANDARD even needed ?
When someone breeds what ever they want without using a standard ,results are seen in dogs who no longer look as the breed should ,nor act like the breed should & may not have correct movement to do what they were created for .This type breeding can further effect overall health , structure & character of dogs. Without a standard to follow ,dogs are used to do breeding with poor temperament ,uncorrect size [ to small or to tall for their breed ] dogs of wrong color , dogs with hair to long or dogs that lack undercoats ,dogs with to large of ears , to long of snouts ,dogs who can not do what they were bred to do .
In USA the over breeding & lack of standard has taken its toll on most breeds in the form of the following examples -white dogs in breeds that never before had the color white until last 10 years [ labs ,dobermanns,danes,boxers] or you see toy breeds far larger than they should be minature poodles weighing 25 lbs up. The Dalmation has suffered the publics fad to the extreme of causing deafness in the breed & severe loss of the spotting gene so well known to the breed .Examples abound from human folley . The latest EXAMPLE of fad breeding can be seen here poos
German shepherd breed feels the effect . Example - Lets say that breeder settles on white& starts selecting white german shepherds to breed from . Since white is a fault & is not backed by serious breeders , nor by AKC, SV or FCI then white shepherds are not campaigned in the breed ring or on the work field - so often white German Shepherds come from a lineage which have not proven their abilities in brains,show or workability .Since white is not accepted recognized color by the world registering bodies the gene pool is restricted to those few people who cater to white .This reduces a breeder of whites to using a small number of dogs to do their breeding from , drastically hinders the white gene pool ,often encourages line breeding & interbreeding to get the sort after color of white, blue,liver or blonde . It is not uncommon to see these colored dogs pedigrees containing the same dogs name listed in the pedigree several times within 3 or 4 generations .
For the person whose fad is longer coated dogs , often longer coated dogs have lack of undercoat. The undercoats function is to keep the dog from the elements of rain , cold /heat & pest like ants,flys &misquito's . The fault of a wiry wavy long coat distracts from the dogs apperance by hiding its structure ,giving a false look to the dog of being larger than it really is, as well as it can make the dog over heat in hotter climate .This breed has enough hair & shedding in the normal coat much less to seek out long coats .Coated dogs are not considered as serious of a fault as some of the other fads listed herein as long as pigment & other good traits are present .
persons selecting for taller or bigger than what the standard list, change the built of the dog by breeding over size.Although the average pet owner greets over size with open arms , their size does slow them in sport /work/show .Larger size has also been linked tohigher incidence of hip & joint maladies .Breeders must not go to far -as over size will effect general health in the dogs .
WHY ISNT THE STANDARD FOLLOWED IN USA ? In USA each breeder is allowed to do as they choose , their are no rules to qualify for registering pups -except breeder pays a fee for the parents & pups to be registered .In USA , you can breed whatever to whatever & register those pups .In Europe you must follow the SV or FCI standard or your pups are not allowed to be registered . In Europe ,dogs that have faults are removed from breeding as well as their names are published for all to see -dogs producing major faults are banned from future breeding .In Europe the dog must not only prove itself smart by earning titles , its hip status must be good and all of this is to be proven before breeding . Europe also insist& enforces DNA certification to further keep the breed true.
Why does breeding by standard matter ? The standard, if followed removes dogs with faults from the gene pool . This helps to rid the breed of dogs who pass on faults & helps keep the breed looking as it should .Without a standard breeds sart looking unlike what they are suppose to .
Breeding selection should never be based on color, coat length or size of dog as you leave behind the most desirable traits of what makes this breed what it is .Breeders who select solely for color , size or coat type create oddities on purpose to suite either the unknowing public or their own taste - not the desire of the overall public .Health , Temperament , correct structure ,pedigree & workability all go hand n hand in keeping the GSD as it should be .
Selecting for extremes in size rather it be over large size or a smaller compact , greatly effect the dogs gait & structure .These size changes often result in poor movement , less stability , less stagmia & over all stress on joints. Those choosing to select breeding pairs for faulted criteria change the dogs over all gentic makeup & its health .
splits in the German Shepherd , USA offers a wide type of German Shepherd .We have the American bred , the German show line, the German work line ,the czech bred. In addtion we have many breeders mixing two or more of these types above . Example German Show line bred to Czech line .
Along with all of the above , USA also produces in over abundance Long hair , White Blue, Liver, Blonde , Shiloh Shepherd .A few even have recently taken these fads further by creating a whole "new " type of breed in the German Shepherd , its called the Panda German Shepherd .[ looks like a border collie or Austrailian shepherd mixed with German Shepherd ]
whats next for the German Shepherd? guess that it will be taking its turn for yet another new fad type called Shepherdpoo ? this custom fad of designer dogs infecting Americans with breeding is a invent whatever & charge whatever breeding mixed breeds like the cockapoo ,pickapoo,malteepoo. see this article please .We are destroying with our need for so called fad of rarity, uniqueness & curiousties .
why do most breeders stay away from dilute colors in this breed ? Close your eyes and think of a GSD . Im willing to bet the image that comes to your mind is a blk/tan or blk./red colored dog . Serious breeders wish to breed their dogs based on the set forth rules in the standard not fads .Serious breeders wish to create dogs that are easily recognized as GSD's & that will be accepted by those who show , work, trial & promote this breeds attributes .They do not wish to loose pigment , structure or movement in their dogs .They like the dog as it is ,do not wish to create a fad type of dog ,instead they feel the orginial is always the best & has been tried & proven to be what most see or want in the GSD.Serious breeders are not into rarities , fads of fashion or rare color .Serious breeders are into the breed for the long haul in creating dogs that will be accepted as they have been from the beginning of the breed .
why are blue , liver & white colored German Shepherds culled from Europe ?
The Europeans created this dog ,they set forth the first breed standard for this dog . Their standards have always exceeded the guide lines used by registing bodies here in USA .European's select superior dogs to utilize this breeds many traits to help them in every day life with work .They chose traits best suited for the dogs & which always conform to breed standard . European's enforce strict breed standards which call for all undesirable dogs to be removed from breeding thus stopping the undesirable traits from being further produced.The European's take dog breeding far more serious than Americans . They believe in a higher standard of excellence in their Dogs .Since white , blue or liver is a disqualifying fault in Europe no one breeds or shows these colors as German Shepherds under FCI OR SV shows .If such a pup is ever born with those colorings it is sold at a reduced rate or given away not to be bred from .
Only in the USA can someone do as they wish regardless of effect on the dogs in apperance or health & standard rules.
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