Westminster 2009

[cassiesmom]

Can someone answer a question about the German shepherd for me? (Okay, two - is it properly called a German shepherd dog, or a German shepherd?) I don't know anything about dog anatomy, but it looked to me when viewed from the side that the dog's hips weren't level with his shoulders. Like his back legs were shorter than his front legs? Is that how the dog is supposed to look? I also thought it was cute when the Puli jumped up off the floor with all four feet and the audience laughed. I just like to see all the different breeds, especially the breeds represented by PT dogs! Little ones, big ones, fluffy ones, sleek ones, hunters and herders and everything else dogs do.

[Ginger's Mom]

Shayna, Devon, Irescue I think you may all be on the west coast, but they just showed the Toller a little while ago. His name is Tyson, and I was wondering what you ladies thought of him? I thought he was gorgeous (I really like the more solid Tollers, like him), but I don't really have the experience with the breed that you ladies do. So what did you think of him? Wah, I want one, lol.

[cali]

Tyson is a nice dog, I havent seen him move though, I cant see the online videos and I missed the Retrievers on TV. I used to like Maverick too till I saw him move, it was awful, completly ruined him for me lol.

Giselle, keep in mind that I could care less about show standards, when I look at dogs, I look at general soundness as compared to what the breed as a WORKING dog should be built. I dont know the show standards and I dont give a rats behind whats "correct" per a show standard. I was impressed by the picture, but seeing the dog attempt to move and stack ruined it completly. Ladybug actually has a physicial problem with her hind end, and that GSDs rear was clearly weaker then ladybugs.

[Giselle]

I didn't see a weak rear, per se. I saw a GSD rear, which, by the very nature of its build, will seem weaker than, say, a Weim's. I saw a slight cowhock, which is inevitable because of the angulation of the rear. Due to the very nature of the GSD standard, I don't think it's possible to have an extremely strong rear when in freestack, unless the rear angulations change:


Cassiesmom, yes, the GSD's rear is supposed to be extremely well angulated and held lower than the front via the slightly sloping back, which gives it that distinctive flying look.