Posted on 07/28/2017 3:17:50 AM PDT by C19fan
German Shepherds are living and dying in misery due to intensive breeding for “cosmetic” reasons, a major new report by the Royal Veterinary College has found. A survey of data collected from 430 clinics across the UK reveals arthritis, cancer, aggression and sloping backs are afflicting the breed at higher rates than others due to aggressive selection. Nearly one in two German Shepherds is being put down because they are unable to walk, experts said.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
If more owners didn’t give a dang about breed standards, it wouldn’t matter what the Kennel Club thought.
Anyone who is breeding animals should be keeping meticulous records to avoid inbreeding. It sounds like people are breeding them who have no idea how to manage the crosses.
It’s more the dishonesty of breeders who keep the fit puppies for breeding stock, and sell the problem pups to people for pets.
I’m lucky. I bought Gus (soon to be 5yo male) from a neophyte working dog line. I think it goes back to the breeder and how they select and nourish.
German Shepherd Hip Dysplasia
How to Take Care of Your Ailing German Shepherd
By Sora Wondra
December 06, 2013
https://www.petcarerx.com/article/german-shepherd-hip-dysplasia/1508
__________________________________
How To Prevent German Shepherd Hip Problems & Keep Your Pooch Pain Free
August 11, 2015
https://www.shepped.com/german-shepherd-hip-problems/
Another wonderful thing screwed up by modern people.
The kennel club should change the standard for the good of the breed. I can’t understand why they they don’t do this.
I owned and did some showing of a German Shepherd from Germany. The Americans have RUINED the breed. The desire for an angular back has created a breed of freaks with hindquarters fit for a chihuahua.
Americans should stop breeding GS completely and reintroduce normal stock from Germany and other countries.
It is a sin and a crime what we have done here.
German Shepherds were popular in the 70’s. I’ve only seen one in the last 20 years.
In my understading, the breeds were created by mating siblings for a series of generations.
I’ve not seen a German Shepard that looked like the one at the link, but if that is what they are breeding these days, no wonder the dogs are having problems.
Actually, the fix is to selectively bring in the original wolf stock. The breed needs a genetic refresh, and it would only take a few generations to fix.
Dr Dan O’Neill, who led the research, which is published in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, said a sloped back with shorter rear legs had become a fashionable look for show dogs, and that this was influencing breeding more widely.
There are a large number of American Shepherds here in Florida that all have very high, very strong hips.
Nah, they aren't show quality, but who cares, they are wonderful.
This is my Shepherd, Isis, and her little buddy Spirit.
Sorry for the screwy resolution, had to size the photo down quite a bit.
I never understood the sloped back short hind leg thing. It makes me think of a hyena.
I have 2 GS a male and female, same litter and they are marked the same, the male is large and his hips are high and has short hair. His sister is large also, has long hair and her hips do slope slightly. she was fine from birth but around 2 years old her brother ran by and hit her hard, she went flying and yelped but after that she has a different gait when walking , running she has no noticeable changes. they get plenty of exercise and are fine and friendly, The Vet xrayed her from stem to stern and there is no visible damage. They are 10 in November and the best friends in the world and I tell them often. I’m 86 and I want them to have a long life but I pray I out live them so their life style never changes.
>>There are a large number of American Shepherds here in Florida that all have very high, very strong hips.
Nah, they aren’t show quality, but who cares, they are wonderful.<<
That is my point. American GSs for show have become freaks. The non-show ones, such as those used by law enforcement and the military are still great from what I have seen. I used to see them a lot in Schutzhund training and they looked fine.
It was when I started to go to shows that I saw the bizarre things the purebred Americans hath wrought.
I hate when they do that.
Deaf Dalmatians bred for their spots,
Collies suffering from migraines due to their long skinny snouts pressing on their brains,
Pugs and other “flat-faced” breeds suffering from respiratory illness,
American Staffs bred to be aggressive,
Hip displaisur in Sheps and labs,
It goes on and on.
Most of my dogs over the years have been “Blends”. The only purebred dog I ever had was a total JERK, but I loved him still the same.
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