Actually the walk is one of the biggest factors for me picking a puppy. I usually choose at the 5 week mark, watch until 6 weeks because my companion puppies go to their homes at 8 weeks. By 5 weeks I can sit outside and watch and watch and watch. I am looking for balance on different terrain, a "lion cub" type of walk. Obviously early on I can see things like structure, bone, depth of body etc., but if I don't see that "lion cub" movement at a walk it's probably not a good one. Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions visit _http://www.pinehillgsds.com/_ (http://www.pinehillgsds.com/) In a message dated 7/21/2011 9:03:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, janandmort@xxxxxxx writes: I like to see the walk for the reasons I stated BUT faults are visible in all phases. We must not just judge on motion alone but consider all aspects of the dog exhibited --the stand picture, coming and going, the walk and all phases of the trot and of course temperament and character. If a male looks like a female but has superb movement the breeding worth is questionable and therefore must be penalized. Males move differently than females but the qualities are the same. So in direct answer to your question all factors are considered and the walk is part of the equation. Thank you for the post, MG What was was, what is is --but what was is and what is was!! Morton Goldfarb -----Original Message----- From: Samuel Israel <israelfriedberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: janandmort <janandmort@xxxxxxx> Sent: Thu, Jul 21, 2011 3:44 pm Subject: RE: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Fwd: [gsdshowlist] Motion in the German Shepherd Dog Thanks. I always wondered why judges walked the dogs. I still wonder a bit. How can't you see a fault when they are gaiting, especially on a loose lead? Is there something you can see when they walk that you can't really see when they gait on a loose lead? Tax Advice Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS under Circular 230, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments), unless otherwise specifically stated, was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: All information transmitted hereby is intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient(s), please note that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this communication in error should notify us immediately by reply email and delete the original message. Samuel Israel, Esq. Israel, Friedberg & Korbatov, LLP 11601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2200 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Telephone No. (310) 553-2200 Fax No. (310) 553-2280 -----Original Message----- From: showgsd-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:showgsd-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of morton goldfarb Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 12:02 PM To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Fwd: [gsdshowlist] Motion in the German Shepherd Dog This is my response to an e-mail for someone who read my post on movement and commented on the point below. Morton Your post has some interesting comments and questions as well. A loose lead is important for many reasons and I always as for it at some point in my judging but not continuously as many judges do. What I look for in the loose lead gait is what is going on in overall dryness and how the shoulder assembly responds --that is does the dog fall on the forehand---and what the middle piece is doing and the hindquarter --does the dog kick out and how is the under reach or drive. I can usually determine this in a few steps. After that I let the handler determine tight or loose lease as they know their animal!! As stated in my post I do not like the "racing gait" so often seen as this is not the natural gait. I do not believe that I will see faults in the fast gait that I have not picked up in my evaluation previously--but everyone sees things differently. I will ask for a slightly faster gait or will ask the handler to let me see their entry at what they think is the animals best gait and usually that is not the breakneck speed that is so common. I often think this is done for spectator support but??? The point about the front reach and how far it should extend was prefaced by "if the anatomy is correct" and that means length of neck,proper head carriage and proper proportions of head to the rest of the anatomy. If the head is lifted it will be affected in some cases but nothing is without exception. Again there are exceptions to every nuance but in most cases if the front foot reaches beyond the nose it is usually brought back to touch the ground behind it's forward extension point. The walk is a very important gait and in contradiction to your statement that you rarely see the dog in a walk I see it all the time. The walk also includes the pace and it is important for many reasons in my judging. Overall harmony is obvious, balance and proportions are easily seen, rear drive and front extension are easily evaluated and after gaiting one can see in the walk overall dryness and ligament strength and especially looseness in the fore assembly. I am glad that you " don't mind being wrong occasionally" but I do not think you are wrong as this is the subjective aspect of evaluating objective objects(German Shepherd Dogs). I appreciate your opinion and hope that some knowledge will be gained by these discussions!! I have had great teachers who helped me learn about our wonderful Breed and I am sorry to say they have all passed away and through many years of continuous study hope that I can give what I know to those whose true interest is the betterment of the German Shepherd Dog. There is so much more to go over and if the interest is there then perhaps we will!! __,_._,___ ===========================================================================P OST is Copyrighted 2011. 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. 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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. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. 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. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any post. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================