As breeders our first responsibility is to the breed. We should be breeding to the standard in the hopes of obtaining as close to perfection as possible. We are not suppose to be breeding to what the general public's life-style is about, or what the trend is for winning in the conformation ring or any other area of performance. If we breed correctly, it will be there. Some of the comments I hear from potential puppy buyers and others that do not own GSDs; why do they walk funny, why are their rears so low, why do they hide when we go to see them and why does the breeder say they just need more socialization? They all want dogs that look like a GSD, that can be a family companion and are healthy and sound. They don't want extreme side-gait, they are not into hard dogs with exceptional bite and holds, they want all rounders. They want what they read in the Standard. When you compromise the standard, and not just areas of temperament, you move away from what it should be and that is not good breeding. New words come into the GSD vocabulary such as, ski-slopes, toe draggers, mish-mashers, pin-heads, wave at you (ears and fornt feet), spooks, soft temperament, hard temperament, extreme this and extreme that. They want correct. A correct GSD can do it all. And not all people should own a GSD. Lyn Chernak ~ CherLyn Shepherds ~ Three Generations ~ GSDCA 13 Club ~ Membership CherLyn's Dixie, BH, CDX, RAE, TC, HIC, CGC Ulric vom Kriegerhaus, RN, TC, CGC ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2009. 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://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================