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
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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.
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.
I never understood the sloped back short hind leg thing. It makes me think of a hyena.
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.
I take one of my dogs to a holistic vet, and I mostly see German Shepherds and Labs. Mine are Cavaliers, a breed that similarly suffers from inbred conditions but not nearly as severe as what happens to German Shepherds.
My adult Cavs (ages 7 & 8) have mild mitral-valve disease, from which they will likely die eventually. One, though, has “chiari malformation” (skull smaller than the brain), but regular acupuncture has kept her from having full blown Syringomyelia (see http://cavalierhealth.org/syringomyelia.htm) and keeps her comfortable and active. It worked so well I started going to an acupuncturist myself, and he saved me from having to get elbow surgery.
My dogs are comfortable and happy, and we buy from a small, fully accredited breeder, so I don’t feel as if we are the problem, although I recognize that buying one of these dogs inherently contributes to it. Our dogs enrich our lives immeasurably, and I can only hope that we do the same for them.
The British are inbreeding too......