The difference between German (Working Line) and the North American Shepherd (Showline)
VS
Working Line Show Line
What has happened to the German Shepherd of North America? The German Shepherd was originally bred for herding but over the years the breed has turned into a dog of several working jobs. If you have ever watched a herding trial its easy to see how much the dog relies on its physical ability to move quickly and turn corners in the blink of the eye. So what has happened to the German Shepherd of North America? Well the answer to that is very simple "MONEY". Here's an example, if we take any dog even a dog straight out of the pound with no pedigree or history and that dog wins a number of events or shows breeders feel the value of the animal goes up and there for it should be bred. I am not saying that the dog from the pound is any less of a working dog then a pink papered German Shepherd, but everything changes when it comes to breeding. The goal of any breeder should be to breed to improve the breed period.
I have heard it said that the split with the German and North American Shepherd started happening in the early to mid 80's. Some where down the line either with one dog or a kennel, over stretched and over angulated in the front and rear dogs started being bred. My guess is after this dog won once or twice breeders felt they had a better chance of winning if they bred according to that top winning dog. If a breeders stud dog or brood bitch wins a national or large show event they can sell the puppies for twice as much then their normal stock. Since then breeders of the North American Shepherd have taken this idea to the extreme. Its very sad to go to a CKC/AKC/UKC show and see dogs that walk on their hocks (back legs), when people talk or refer to the North American German Shepherd most of the time they just call them (slopped Back) Shepherds. Most SV
judges will say that the most important part of the German
Shepherd structure is the rear drive of the dog. Ok now
lets put structure aside and talk about temperament for a
moment. This is true for the simple fact that the CKC/AKC has bred the working ability out of the German Shepherd. By working ability I mean structure but more importantly temperament and drive to want to work. In Germany a litter of puppies cannot be registered with the SV unless both parents have Schutzhund titles.
A true Pink papered Import Shepherd from Germany has both parents with Working Titles in the Sport of Schutzhund & hips Certified before they are allowed to breed. These titles take thousands of hours of training (usually 2-3 years). Schutzhund is all about accountability. No breeding is allowed unless both parents have a minimum title of a Sch1 & Hips must be Certified to get there pedigree papers. So in the big picture that means that every dog in his pedigree for the last 100 years was smart enough, genetically capable enough to get those titles. Schutzhund is more intense obedience & way better protection training than any police dog training in my opinion. In Canada & USA the CKC/AKC does not demand any of these things in order to breed except pedigree. So think of all the shepherds out there that have been breed that did not have Certified Hips, Titles,( I don't mean show titles, that the AKC or CKC have) every dog in the pedigree had the same titles for the last 100 years.
Remember the old saying you get what you pay for? If you pay $300-$600 for a North American Shepherd ask yourself this. Is this dog smart enough, genetically capable enough to get those same titles as a Working Line German Import dog? Is This dog Inbred to close too family members? Is this dogs parents Hips certified ?
When most people hear the name German Shepherd they automatically think "Bad Hips". The reason for this is to many bad breeders not being held accountable, not getting the hips certified ,not caring just so they can breed and sell their dogs under the radar for cheap $300-$600 and not care just to make a buck. The only ones who get hurt are the dogs. To Many bad Breeders out there "Breed for Greed". Good Breeders breed for their own needs and for the betterment of the breed.
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Your
Comments
9/9/2011
Name:
Theresa
Message:
I am in agreement with Kimberlee. Just as the
English Cocker Spaniel is a separate breed from the
American Cocker Spaniel in the USA, the segement of
GSD's in American should be reclassified as American
Shepherds. I live in the USA and have seen these
atrocities in the ring. At one show - UKC show
supporting white shepherds - I actually saw dogs
FALL OVER when they were being gaited in a small
ring - the corner was apparently too tight, yet no
other breed fell over when taking the same corner.
I will say that I do not think extreme inbreeding is
the issue here - its not the genes, its the people.
Poor choices made by breeders [so they keep
selecting for the same crippling traits] that are
being rewarded in the ring by judges. I fault both
breeder/exhibitor and judge for selecting the genes
to appear this way.
6/21/2011
Name:
Kimberlee Jones
Message:
It is amazing to
me that a show judge can sit there and say with full
belief that the show dog that can't function
properly due to its conformation is more suited to
the task that the working dog fulfills perfectly.
To me, the North American GSD should be
appropriately named the American Shepherd as they
are so far a cry from what the original German
Shepherd it is temperament, movement, and
conformation that you cannot say it is the same
breed of dog!
Great comparisons on the true German Shepherd and
that deformed thing they call the show line GSD.
Best,
Kimberlee
2/18/2011
Name:
W.L.
Message:
Hi! I was just
writing to let you know that the North American
showlines that you are using to compair against the
Euro workingline is actually a Euro showline, hope
that info helps you in some way. If you would like a
picture of a North American showline I am sure you
can find on by simply googling North American
Showline dogs.
2/17/2011
Name:
Christian
Message:
I just read your
article about German GSD v. N. American GSD. I am
not sure it's accurate. I've been researching GSD's
for about 2 months now, and every single breeder
I've researched breeds only dogs with OFA
certification or have the SV's "a" stamp. How can
you say that North American GSDs (which covers all
of the US and Canada, mind you) are poorly bred and
have bad hips?
Also, you live in Washington state. When you breed
your imported dogs, and the puppies are born in
Washington, are those puppies not North American
GSDs? Of course they are. According to your article,
then, your puppies have been improperly bred and
have bad hips. I'm sure that is not the message you
intend to convey, but that's the message
nonetheless.
I am not writing to get into an argument with you,
but rather, just to point out that you seem to make
sweeping statements that are over-inclusive and, in
fact, denigrate your own dogs.
Also, one of the last statements, "Good breeders
breed for their own needs and for the betterment of
the breed." I would strongly disgree. What does a
breeder's needs have to do with bettering the breed
of a GSD? Who cares what your needs are. Your needs
might be hindering the betterment of the breed in
some way. There are a lot of unwanted dogs in this
world living miserable lives. If you feel the need
to breed dogs, you better damned well be doing it to
better the breed, notwithstanding your needs. After
all, GSDs are an international breed. If all
breeders SUBJECTIVELY considered "their needs" in
breeding, and not just the OBJECTIVE breed standard,
you would have many different types of GSDs, which
you claim you are trying to prevent.
That said, I am not criticizing your breeding
program, as I have not researched it, and you very
well may be the best kennel in all the world for all
I know. I just wanted to address your over-reaching
statements because I think it may perpetuate the
myth that North American GSDs all have hip problems
and are unworthy specimens. I think all of your
puppies would disagree with that myth, too.
VS
