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Balance in the American German
Shepherd Show Dog |
I would like to share some ideas found through researching the
American German Shepherd (GSD) as a herding breed and how
the overall balance and structure is affected by severe angles.
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This breed originated as a herding
dog. Herding dogs are trotting dogs that must have great endurance, strength
and agility. In 1899 the first registry was created for GSDs
called the SV (Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde), a society devoted to the development of
the German Shepherd in |
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1898 Hornad
von Grafrath SZ1, the very first German Shepherd
Dog (more
historic pictures) |
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Keeping in mind the GSD's original purpose my premise is this: Breeding a dog
solely for its flying trot (see below) has left the American
German Shepherd (GSD) wobbly and easily taken off balance. This breed
features an attractive fault which pleases the 'fancy' but is, in fact, a
detriment to its original function. The main point of concern is agility and
balance in the structure of these dogs. Out of the herding group, the GSD
stands apart with an exaggerated topline and
extremely long stride. |
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Beauty or extremes often win
in dog shows. If the stride is supposed to be long, then of course, the
longer the better. If the stride should be long, then breeders will find a
way to develop longer striding dogs. Selection for aesthetics and extremes
has made the American GSD what
it is today. At present these dogs are not bred to function as working dogs,
but to win in the show ring, regardless of whether it improves the dog's original
purpose or not. There should be balanced angulation for
dogs designed to be endurance trotters such as
the GSD. That means the angle at the point of shoulder should be nearly equal
to the angle at the stifle, and the angle at the elbow should be nearly equal
to that of the hock joint. One definition of "Balanced Angulation" is whatever angulation
is needed for the function of the breed during locomotion. Functional tests performed on dogs indicate that 45 degree
layback is undesirable for a trotting dog. (Brown, 1986) If the angle on the
shoulder of the GSD remains at a 45 degree angle as is widely believed to be
correct, it will also continue to affect the angle of the rear. It is not reasonable to measure the angulation
of the rear leg, since this position can be stretched as little or as much as
desired. But there is a limit to how far the rear pasterns (from the paw to
the hock joint) can be pulled in towards the ischium
and kept on a vertical line. The rear pasterns shouldn't be slanted forward
or backward to view these angles. In realizing these variable distances, some take their
measurements of angle from structural points on the body. For instance, in
demonstrating topline differences between German GSDs and American GSDs, a 30
degree angle could be found common in both types of dog using a straight line
from the Not only can the problem of defining the rear angluation
be confusing, it allows for many varied perceptions. The
AKC (American
Kennel Club) standards requirement can be taken by breeders many different
ways. Right now it's for a maximum angulation in
both front and rear. |
Taken from the AKC Standard:
Hindquarters
The whole
assembly of the thigh, viewed from the side, is broad with upper and lower thigh
well muscled, forming as nearly as possible a right angle. The upper thigh bone
parallels the shoulder blade while the lower thigh bone parallels the upper
arm. The metatarsus (the unit between the hock joint and the paw) is short,
strong and tightly articulated.
Gait
A German Shepherd
dog is a trotting dog, and its structure has been developed to meet the
requirements of its work. General Impression—The gait
is outreaching, elastic, seemingly without effort, smooth and rhythmic,
covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum number of steps. At a
walk it covers a great deal of ground, with long stride of both hind legs and
forelegs. At a trot the dog covers still more ground with even longer stride,
[my emphasis] and moves powerfully but easily, with co-ordination and balance
so that the gait appears to be the steady motion of a well lubricated machine.
The feet travel close to the ground on both forward reach and backward push. In
order to achieve ideal movement of this kind, there must be good muscular
development and ligamentation. The hindquarters
deliver, through the back, a powerful forward thrust which slightly lifts the
whole animal and drives the body forward. Reaching far under, and passing the
imprint left by the front foot, the hind foot takes hold of the ground; then
hock, stifle and upper thigh come into play and sweep back, the stroke of the
hind leg finishing with the foot still close to the ground in a smooth
follow-through. The over-reach of the hindquarter usually necessitates one hind
foot passing outside and the other hind foot passing inside the track of the
forefeet, and such action is not faulty unless the locomotion is crabwise with
the dog's body sideways out of the normal straight line. [my
emphasis]
Transmission
The typical smooth, flowing gait is
maintained with great strength and firmness of back. The whole effort of the
hindquarter is transmitted to the forequarter through the loin, back, and
withers. At full trot, the back must remain firm…The forelegs should reach out
close to the ground in a long stride in harmony with that of the hindquarters
[my emphasis].…Faults of gait, whether from front, rear, or side, are to be
considered very serious faults.
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This American GSD is known for
its flying trot, a trotting style altered by humans. In the AKC's GSD standard, it is suggested that side
overreaching is required for exceptionally long strides, necessitating the
extreme angulation not found in other dog breeds. |
This excerpt taken from "The GSD Today", written for the
American GSD fancier, is a good example of the popular belief in extreme angulation. "We
prefer a dog with exceptionally good rear angulation
as it gives him that strong forward propulsion and powerful drive he needs to
maintain a smooth, effortless gait. This type of hindquarter, besides being esthetically pleasing to the eye, is also enduring, for
well angulated dogs keep their feet low to the ground, eliminating waste
motion. Some people erroneously criticize a dog who
has good rear angulation, blaming this feature for
any galling faults. In all probability the faulty dog has a poor shoulder and
is not a balanced animal. If the dog had a good shoulder to accompany the good
rear angulation he would be able to outmove any others."
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This has been the direction
most American Breeders have sadly been going in for much too long now. Some
in the study of dog structure and the GSD have raised comment on the apparent
concept in the American fancy of "the more angulation,
the better." As Curtis Brown points out in Dog Locomotion and Gait
Analysis "We now have
German Shepherds with angulation which can never be
used; in the walk they are disgraceful and in the trot, the hock joint never
straightens (sickle-hocked)." In "The German Shepherd Dog, A Genetic History", Dr.
Malcolm B. Willis states "…and
hind angulation that bordered on the abnormal. Breeders
proudly advertised their dogs as 'extreme at both ends'…Movement had become the god but there was
concentration upon side gait without real regard to front and hind movement
(Loeb, 1988). [my emphasis] The
god of movement was nothing but a graven image…It is a tragedy and, alas, one
sees no end to it." |
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Pottle (1984) of Covy-Tucker Hills kennels in an
interview opined that American Shepherds were structurally the best in the
world! Her partner Birch (1984) felt that German imports could not compete in
the show ring but she then went on to state categorically that 'a superstar at Covy-Tucker Hills has to have more than extreme angulation and movement to win'. The admission that extreme
angulation is needed gives the lie to any claim the GSDs in the
Even the American White Shepherd Association has a breed standard
that emphasizes the working ability and discourages the extreme angulation seen in many colored
American GSDs today. "This is a herding dog that must have the agility,
freedom of movement and endurance to do the work required of it. When gaiting,
the dog should move smoothly with all parts working in harmony. Overall
balance, strength and firmness of movement is to be
given more emphasis than a sidegait showing a flying
trot." [my emphasis] In looking at a
skeleton that fits many of the current herding dogs today and that of the GSD
there are two big differences. The distance of the hock from
the body, and the angle of the rear leg joint including its movement in the hip
socket.
Taking into account that the rear leg can be posed any distance
from the body, here again the rear pasterns shouldn't be slanted forward or
backward but positioned as closely to the ischium as
possible. (The dog should be able to physically hold this postion
by themselves comfortably) This position of the leg is still so far behind the
body that even though it creates an incredibly long stride at the same time it
leaves the dog with a lack of balance and loss of agility. Observation of other
herding breeds in motion during a specific task…herding, jumping, changing
direction; all require balance which is found with dogs whose feet are firmly
set close to their bodies for stability. (See diagram B)
Compare the difference between diagram A and B and the position of
the rear thigh bone in the hip socket. Note how the angles are different in
each. With the rear leg at this angle it does little to support the body as the
foot pushes out off the ground. In my opinion this weakens the overall movement
of the dog; a turn in direction or shift easily causes the dog to lose balance.
The rear legs don't give support to the back part of the dog. The rear hip joint
has to support this part of the body. This leaves the joint more open to injury
with any quick change in direction. The GSD now only achieves real balance when
in forward motion.
References to a "full support" position in the GSD have
been made in connection to balance. In some German Shepherd
manuals the skeletal structure looks nothing like the GSD today. (Barwig et al, 1986) Some of these diagrams might not be
accurate but it still raises questions on what should be correct for this
breed. At any case, what might have been true in 1950 is no longer so. Static
and kinetic balance as well as gravity should be looked at and evaluated.
American GSDs in daily routine need to be able to
spin, change direction and walk without a loss of balance which at this time
they don't have.
Consideration should be taken to breed a GSD that can function in
all its many facets. In trials of agility, balance, endurance and strength this
breed is lacking what all other herding breeds have—balance. The origin of the
GSD shows a different body type with the feet set more closely under the body.
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Refer to the 1950's Axel von der Deininghauserheide and others in which you see dogs built
like other herding breeds we see today. I advocate a change in breeding back
in this direction. Let it be noted that many of the working German line GSDs
today are
extremely well balanced with excellent temperment.
American GSD breeders should take advantage of these other lines have to
offer. |
Bibliography
American Kennel Club, THe Complete Dog
Book: New York, Howell Book House, 1997
Barwig et al, The German Shepherd Book: Colorado, Hoflin Publishing, 1986
Blxler-Clark, Alice. Brlarda:
New Jersy: TFH Publications, Inc., 1994
Brown, Curtis, Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis:
Collier, Marget. Border Collies: New Jersy: TFH Publications, Inc., 1995
Lanting, Fred, The Topline of the German Shepherd Dog:
Lucas, Miranda. The bouvier des flandres:
PettengelI, Jim. The new rottweiler:
essential reading for owners, breeders:
Robertson, Narelle. Australian
cattle dogs: New Jersy: TFH Publications, Inc., 1992
Scott, J.p., and J.L. Fuller. Genetics and the Social Behavior of the
Dog.
Sloanem, Steve. Australian Kelpies: New Jersy: TFH Publications, Inc., 1991
PaIika, Liz, 1954. Australian shepherd: champion of versatiIity.
Turnquist, Marge. The Belgian sheepdog:
Strickland, Winifred Gibson and James A. Moses. The Germand
shepherd today:
Sundstrom, Harold W. and Sundstrom,
Mary O. Collies, A Complete pet owner’s manual: New
York: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., 1994
Walkowicz, Chris. The bearded collie: Virginia: Denlinger’s Publishers, Ltd. 1990
Willis, Malcom B., The German Shepherd Dog, A Genetic History: New York: Howell Book House, 1991
My husband and I started out with American line GSDs
4 years ago. I currently have three dogs. They have been shown in the breed
ring as well as the obedience ring. My dogs are worked in obedience, agility,
herding and flyball. I've shown two dogs to their UKC
championships and continue to put working titles on my dogs. Due to problems
with this breed health and structure wise; I began to research and talk to AKC
judges, UKC judges, Breeders, and the dog community in general. I have shown
other people’s dogs in breed as a way to work with as many American line GSDs as possible. And as part of my ongoing studies I
opened my home to breeders who had puppies stay for a week or two for
socialization and training. I have worked with other herding breeds as well as
German line GSDs which I base my comparisons on.
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Jean Mueller Cash |
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Copyright 2001 Jean Mueller.
jmueller123@uswest.net. All rights reserved.