Okay, back. I just thought of something. In the same way working people accuse conformation people of showing dogs that could not do their original work....How can you justify that? How can you (general you) look at a BIS GSD and say, No, that's wrong. That dog can't work."

Take, for example, Pepi of Gaia Greyhounds


As a conformation dog, he excelled. As you can see, he has a wonderful, type-y head, well-bent hindlegs, and a deep chest, which, according to the GCA allows for large lungs to accomodate the Greyhound when in full sprint. However, he is the opposite of virtually all NGA greys, and he is the epitome of what an NGA supporter would deem "detrimental" to the breed. But does that mean he couldn't work? Nope. He could. Before his death, he was a Junior Courser and had his first two legs on his Senior Courser.

The same holds true for all breeds. There are plenty of GSD champions who work in Schutzhund. There are plenty of AKC Labs doing fieldwork. Likewise, there are plenty of Cocker Spaniels, Parson Russel Terriers, Border Collies, and Doberman Pinscher champions successfully doing the work that was originally intended, whether it be through AKC sanctioned events like Earthdog and Lure Coursing or non-AKC sanctioned events like NOFCA (field coursing).