Paul opines... I guess I don't see it the same way as some do. I beleive there are some lines...that are doing very well when it comes to functional dogs...I do think dogs are better now than they were 20 years ago. That said...there are some breeders who have profligated lines with inate problems that cannot be cast aside...and it shows in their progeney. There are some folks on "Da List" ...who post about problems who have the very genes in their own program...but do not see or do not care. It should be that breeders of 30 + years experience would see...the difference. Some dogs don't show the problems yet pass them along to other progeney who do...it is a genetic thing you know. And...these breeders I refer to know full well when the signs are bad...yet they continue to breed...breed...breed...knowing full well it does nothing to improve the breed. I say to anyone who cares...look to your own breeding program and consider the lines you choose to represent your dogs...Are they functional? Too many ride the wave of the winning dogs but not the correct dogs...I rest my case...like it would change anything. Paul ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================