Beautiful Shepherd!
I understand that in order to get that quality of German Shepherd today, you need to seek out the European bloodlines. Is my understanding correct?
I’d say generally the ideal conformation - or close to it - is best found in “WORKING-LINE” German dogs. Other Euros are quite close from what I’ve seen, but it’s more nebulous. In any case, NOT “SHOW-LINE” German dogs, who are huge, bear-headed, and have horrific greyhound-like roach-backs. (Not to mention the terrible allergies that seem to plague these lines, a dirty little secret about GS and maybe German lines in particular.)
But between some other health or character faults, and the arrogance of “reputable” breeders, I’m thinking of next time looking for a good “back-yard bred” GS. They may not know what they’re doing, but many times they’re the best-formed dogs I’ve seen.
I will admit my Tara (breeder, perhaps not most reputable) is the most gorgeous dog I’ve seen, wonderful conformation (once had a perfect fluid bouncy trot, before the hip dysplasia really got her) - but she has poor character and terrible allergies.