From Facebook Louis Donald:
-Not surprisingly, a number of people who read my recent posts, particularly those in which I was critical of some aspects of the managed development of the German Shepherd Dog, have asked me a very fair question:
“So what does your breed-standard-compliant German Shepherd Dog actually look like?”
It is a great question, because if we are prepared to discuss where we believe the breed has drifted, we should also be prepared to show clearly what we believe the breed should be.
Unlike many people who have expressed an opinion on this subject, I can answer that visually. Some years ago, I commissioned an international dog artist to create my interpretation of a German Shepherd Dog that conforms closely to the intent of the SV breed standard.
This is it.
This is the German Shepherd Dog I fell in love with 60 years ago as a young boy, and it is still the dog I admire today.
For me, the beauty of the German Shepherd Dog has never been about exaggeration. It lies in balance, harmony, strength, athleticism, nobility and the impression of a dog built to work. Every part should belong to the whole, with nothing so extreme that it overwhelms the dog’s overall form or function.
I admire many breeds of dogs, but to my eye, a German Shepherd Dog that truly reflects the breed standard is the most beautiful pedigree dog in the world.
That belief is also one of the reasons I continue to write, question, debate and sometimes criticise. It is not simply about what we have today. It is about what we leave behind.
I want young people discovering this breed 20, 30 or 50 years from now to experience the same fascination and admiration that captured me all those years ago.
That, more than anything, is worth protecting. –
