We're partial to around here. We have two females. I've never seen a basset win big at one of those hi fallutin dog shows.
Posted on 02/16/2011 6:36:57 AM PST by Immerito
A 5-year-old named Hickory pulled a huge surprise Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club, winning best in show and the title of America's top dog. She became the first of her breed to capture the purple-and-gold ribbon and shiny silver bowl.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
The biggest “attitude” I’ve ever seen by a Best In Show dog at Westminster was about 4 years ago - the papillon had it in spades.
We're partial to around here. We have two females. I've never seen a basset win big at one of those hi fallutin dog shows.
That’s what it’s supposed to be. At least, by conformation.
If it was pure “beauty”, no Bloodhound or Bulldog or many others would ever win.
I’m just glad the Obama dog didn’t win BIS. Bad enough she made BIG/BOG/Gr1. I am so sick of the Obama-worship - even Hallmark marketing Obama PWD “BO” plush dogs!!!
It is, in proper form, still a "medium" dog, in truth. I don't like the definitions of dog size. In the beginning, they were still bigger than the various "Belgian" shepherds. But today's (and since the '30s) GS are heftier than the original. I disagree with "small ears" - never. Never like a spitz-type dog.
As to "slant backs" - actually, American dogs usually have flat backs - it's the SHOW STANCE, exaggerated 3-point stance due to too-long legs - that makes them seem "slanted". German dogs - the "show" types - have roach backs, which in no way should be on this kind of dog, and is meant for greyhounds.
This is Flora, the "Beauty of the Breed" - still very old-fashioned; nary a "small ear" about her and she was quite typical:
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German WORKING lines - actually, any “European” working line.
German SHOW lines are what was seen in LongElegantLegs’ picture.
The backs are different between the European and American German Shepherd Dog.
Hence did I mention American flats and German roaches (but show dogs, only - working are flat - another post).
Look at how much muscle mass that dog has.She had to be a fast mover,but a sprinter like a quarter horse.My import Shepherds have a deeper chest,more lung capacity but not quite as much hind leg muscling.
All German show dogs of the last 30 years still have too much roach back (as does the dog pictured - apologies if he’s yours). Inappropriate for a shepherding dog, better for dogs that run full-tilt like greyhounds.
She’s not big in bone or mass, but I’m just showing what the typical conformation of the German Shepherd was c.1910. Flora Berkemyer was NOT typical in marking - many were still wolfy or black or otherwise sable- or salty-like. Hence did she so stamp the breed we’ve since known with her color and markings that she is known as the “Beauty of the Breed”.
Conformation changed dramatically from the ‘20s to the ‘30s. Then we seem to have had these splits - both bad - starting in the Horrible ‘60s (the ‘60s ruined EVERYthing) and from which we still haven’t broken free.
The Austrians do well with their Shepherds also.
I met 3 of the Scottish Deerhound puppies and several adults at a show once. They were all friendly kissing me and wanting to be petted and all over the place. The breeder really brought out a good tempered dog in hers.
They sure do. They have star quality that says “Look at Me”. I saw one that was a Pomeranian. You just knew you were looking at a winner and she was star quality.
Kind of like the name of the Bearded Collie, the Herding Group winner: GCH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins.
Exactly! That Portuguese Water dog was hideous. I have see then at the dog shows. I know a couple of breeders and they were shocked that it won the group. Something fishy went on in the breed and group judging. Thankfully the Italian judge wasn’t impressed with the ugly “BO”.
Exactly! That Portuguese Water dog was hideous. I have seen them at the dog shows. I know a couple of breeders and they were shocked that it won the group. Something fishy went on in the breed and group judging. Thankfully the Italian judge wasn’t impressed with the ugly “BO”.
I wish. He was VA2 in Germany in his day, because he's a sable. He was bought by someone in China for 6 figures, so somebody besides me thinks he's one of the nicest dogs Germany has produced.
The dog below, although rated SG, is not a German showline. He is a Czech working dog and well known sire of working dogs. He has the same topline the sable VA does in my earlier post, so even the Czech's breed that trait. And there are no better breeders of working dogs in Europe.
Sorry, Euro show lines have a roach due to Quanto and Mutz that hasn’t let up. Just as I don’t care what American AKC types think is good, I don’t care what holier-than-thou Germans think, either. They’ve all basically ruined a great breed. Only the German/Euro working lines show good consistent conformation - but I still suspect their health and temperament (too sharp - go back to being a “shepherd”).
Why have we lost shares in the jobs GS invented? Why hardly any blind-guide GS, lost to those goober Labs? Why are more and more MIL/police turning to Belgian Mals? Wonder why.
Sometimes, we need to look at the forest instead of the trees.
I was rooting for the Bearded Collie and the smooth Fox Hound, Sneak a Peek.
Sorry, but that deer hound is just an ugly dog. I cannot picture myself cuddling up with it. She doesn’t even look nice to pet. Perhaps, if I knew the dog personally, I’d think differently.
While I’m on the subject of ugly — how about that Pekinese? Have the standards changed for Pekinese over the last 60 years? When I was a child I thought they were cute. But, lately the ones in the dog shows just look like a mop with ugly teeth.
Apologies to all who love Pekinese and Deer Hounds.
My friend has a beautiful GSD with the sloping back. "Reagan" is about 9-10 now and somewhat broken down now with her hind legs giving away from time to time. She's such a sweet dog that it is a real shame. I give her 2 more years, at most. My friend gives that dog the best of care and the finest vets, but that sloping back is hard on her skeleton. My "rescue" Golden is the same age and still in great shape. The only problem with dogs is that they don't live long enough.
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