[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: [Germanshepherds4Show] What happened to our dog's posternums?

  • From: "Nancy Harper" <nancy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <carolynmckenna@xxxxxxxxx>, "Kathaleen Strong" <inflight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <Germanshepherds4show@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <CHGermanShepherdShowDogsList@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:34:07 -0500

I am seeing some dogs and bitches moving with their necks and heads up
instead of forward, I am not talking slightly up , I mean like a giraffe.
Nancy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "carolyn mckenna" <carolynmckenna@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Kathaleen Strong" <inflight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
<Germanshepherds4show@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>;
<CHGermanShepherdShowDogsList@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "showgsd" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 7:41 PM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: [Germanshepherds4Show] What happened to our dog's
posternums?


      Kathaleen has hit the nail on the head ( as she usually does ) when
she addresses the
  pushed forward fore assembly. In fact, it is most likely the pushed
forward front that causes
  the appearance of lack of prosternum. In the pictures Kathaleen sent,
notice that the head
  is well forward of the forelegs, the point of shoulder in line with the
poll of the neck (right
  behind the ears ).  Also note the return of upper arm (45 degree
opposition to the blade )
  This can only be achieved when the blade meets the upper arm at 90 degrees
called for in
  our standard. This places the elbow directly under the top of the blade
and the front is
  balanced.  When the whole shoulder assembly is pushed forward, the
prosternum is then
  half hidden by that faulty placement, thus causing it to seem lacking.
This is addressed only
  briefly in our standard, but we must realize that our standard, a good
one, was written
  five to six decades ago when the dog world was made up of people who
really knew
  dogs, structure, and function. Thus, it was felt to be unnecessary to go
into lengthy
  expalnations and descriptions. It is good to have people like Kathaleen to
guide in what
  may soon become a breed "in vogue".

Kathaleen Strong <inflight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
              Hi Barbara:

  This is a good topic.  I think I mentioned I was noticing this trend this
a while back - like maybe 2 years ago - only to be told I'm losing it.  I
was one of the first to really get excited about locked hocks - about 13
years ago - now it's something that people are working to fix.  A few years
ago, I got a little excited about correctly sized animals - especially
bitches, now we see the trend of very large (very oversized) bitches.  And
yes, I agree the trend I started noticing about 2 years ago about the lack
of prosternum/forechest and the forward placement of the fore-assembly, is
definitely something we are seeing.  However, trends are just that -
          1.
    the general course or prevailing tendency; drift: trends in the teaching
of foreign languages; the trend of events.

          2.
    style; vogue: the new trend in women's apparel.

  One thing for sure - when a certain trend is being noticed by more than
just myself - I think it means it's something the breeders of the breed need
to start being aware of when they are choosing breeding partners.  Another
thing for sure - people who gripe about people noticing these trends and
accuse them of fault-judgement, are forgetting that perhaps these trends are
in their own backyards and they are so used to seeing them, they think the
trend is correct, when it may or may not be.  Trends also come in the good
and the bad.  One of the Good trends I've noticed over the past few years is
wonderful breed type standing.  But as our breed is a movement breed,
ideally we should be looking for more than standing type.

  Personally, as a breeder, I try to breed animals that mirror what my ideal
of a dog is, and of course I try very hard to remain true to what the
standard calls for.  Unfortunately, with every roll of the dice, it's a
gamble, sometimes it works out and sometimes not.  As far as prosternum and
forequarter, I think I've got a good start when Inflight reentered the
breeding game - Marcus is really proving to be excellent in giving his get
lovely substance, prosternum, type, excellent coordination with very good
fore-assemblies.



Marcus Kids:

Inflight's Singin' In the Rain (at 11 months) - the next picture is Rodney
at 3 months

  Followed by the repeats of the above puppy at the same age - I think we
have prosternums, forehands, motion, bone, type, and wonderful temperament.
But I'm being realistic - they're puppies, so we'll see.



  Inflight's Total Eclipse - owned by Kim McNamara, Georgia
Inflight's Time to Tango


Inflight's The Shadow Knows
Inflight's Trouble With A T

  So, while trends towards things which are not necessarily correct
according to the standard continue to occur, good breeders will stay true to
the 4 R's of breeding:


  ü       Remember what is ideal, understanding that recognizing their dog's
faults is probably just as important as recognizing it's virtues -
especially when it comes time to breed that animal - it's not fault
judgment, it's being a smart breeder.
  ü       Remain strongly individualistic (as in using outside opinions as
information only, not letting someone else rule their breeding program)
  ü       Read the Standard over and over
  ü       Research, research, research

  At least that's what's worked for me.

  Kathaleen



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============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2007.  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 - www.showgsd.org
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