Picture request: GSD Showline vs Working line.

[GlassOnion]

Ok Google Image has failed me. Either that or I'm not sure what I'm looking for. So hopefully one of ya'll does.

What I'm looking for is pictures to compare the two types by. Only thing I know of is that the Showline has that particular stance about them and I think it's missing from the working line. But pictures on Google show it as being in both lines.

This is what I'm talking about.

Is that a show, work, or could it be both?

 

[sheplovr]

That dog could be both I breed both, but West Lines, East are more hiper, have different bone structure, not as pretty no offense anybody.

I just prefer the West Lines I import that has show/work lines from V-VA parents with Shutzhund titles also. They make great pets, pretty, easy to train, sound nerves, bonds to family or one person, can go out and work, come home and be a companion without being nervous and jumpy.

Just my personal opinion and research I have done for years, have had Germans live in my homes explaining things that make a good dog for protection or family pets. Look at mine and they look like that one also. Good top lines, some roachy that work, but that is the way they are bred for work now in Germany and other countries. I can tell most all the Check work lines as most are dark, sable dark, skinny rears, just not the looks I like. Good luck in your search honey...

 

[Romy]

Show lines can look different depending on the country. Here is a pretty good breakdown on a few of the different show/working strains with pictures:

http://www.thegermanshepherddog.com/

In Germany show dogs have to get working titles to be bred, so they should look the same. In America the show line is extremely different, as they trot down on their hocks (I can't stand it). They are also really narrow with narrow heads and finer bone. Here is a picture of Tengu from the front. The GSD rescue folks thought from her looks, that she was a mix of west german and american showlines. She had a really narrow "fine" head typical of american show dogs along with a bit more bone and a roach (10 months-ish in the pic, she was oversized too).

This page has some interesting comparisons between old and new in west germany:

http://www.justshepherds.com/wgshow.htm

My own preference for looks are the DDR and czech blends, they just have an "aura" of business about them. Plus I can't stand roach backs, just a preference. Anko was a DDR dog, and she didn't just want to please you, she wanted to BE you, lol. She was very awesome and loads of fun to train. She craved hours of hand signals. If she didn't get it though, she could be a handful making up her own jobs. If I was ever to want a really drivey working dog that's what I'd pick, but they definitely are not for everybody.

 

[Romy]

Asked some friends about the west german dogs. There are two separate types, and both work.

There is the high lines (i.e. show lines). They are required to title in work, but also show. These are the dogs that people are breeding the roach backs into. The dog you posted a picture of looks like a west german high line dog.

And then you have the west german working lines. These are more hardcore working dogs and typically don't ever enter the show ring. Willow is mostly west german working lines. She has massive bone. Here is a picture of her from the front so you can see the difference between her width and head size compared to Tengu.

Gah, all my pictures of her are from the front, 3/4 view, or with her all stretched out running. I'll try and get some of her topline next week when we visit.

 

[GlassOnion]

Thanks for the information ya'll.

Yah I'd like a working line as I don't like the down in the pasterns/roached back as well.

I can't really tell a difference between the East and West GSD though. It looks like it's coat color (West seems to have the tri-color where as east is predominantly monocolored) but that may have just been those two dogs. Honestly I've seen GSDs in all shapes and sizes and am just wondering which is which and how to tell the difference.

But I love that tri-color coat. Sable is the name of it IIRC.

 

[Romy]

Sables are pretty. Ok, on a mystical quest here to find a picture of Willow's topline, though it doesn't matter much anymore, lol.

Here is a youtube video of Strider and Willow, it's blurry at first but then on the 8th second there is a very clear shot of her from the side, and then her running down a hill with a borzoi nose up her butt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsKqW_kvMGU

I have no life. lol

 

[BigDogs]

What I'm looking for is pictures to compare the two types by. Only thing I know of is that the Showline has that particular stance about them and I think it's missing from the working line. But pictures on Google show it as being in both lines.

I think the stance you are referring to is known as "stacking" which is taught from a very early age. It is used to show the dogs' best qualities while showing or photographing. The american show lines are probably the easiest to train to stand, since they are not as hyper as the European working lines.

If you look in the pictures section, my Rx and Sonya are both german working lines. They are standing in much more natural poses.

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92083

http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91864&highlight=Sonya

 

[AllieMackie]

I think the stance you are referring to is known as "stacking" which is taught from a very early age. It is used to show the dogs' best qualities while showing or photographing. The american show lines are probably the easiest to train to stand, since they are not as hyper as the European working lines.

I think (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that they were referring more to the fact that a show GSD has a strong slope to their hindquarters, whereas many working GSDs do not. That's one of the easiest on-sight differences I notice.

 

[BigDogs]

Yes, stacking accentuates the slope. Most working lines do not have that extreme sloping, because it would interfere with their ability to work.

 

[release the hounds]

Skinny rears?? On working dogs??? I think you might be mistaken. Working lines have a more square build from the side and the front and I"m here to tell everyone right now that working lines are not "nervous" and "twitchy" and have to be kenneled. Mine live in the house with our family and cats as well.

Now if you get one thinking its going to be the perfect dog that you can let it out in the morning and then leave for work and come back 8-10 hours later, feed it dinner and go to bed, yes you will have one heck of an unruly dog. If you actually take time and interact with the dog they are as perfect as any dog in the house and can hit whole new levels in performance compared with "non" working dogs. all you have to do is put in the time.

as for the stack, you can hide or accuntuate certain parts of structure. I find it funny that every ad pic for a GSD is a stack when even the founder said a picture should be taken of a 'free' dog, not a posed stack. But then rarely are people doing things that created this noble breed, they think they all know better.

 

[Fran101]

kenya, from what i have been told, is more from a working line. she doesnt have the fluffy coat or big build and she is slimmer, lots of lean muscle, and is very drivey.

 

[Dekka]

The american show lines are probably the easiest to train to stand, since they are not as hyper as the European working lines.

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Talking to people who show and train GSD they seem to find it the other way. The high drive of a working line makes them easier to train. I know in my experience that the drivier the dog the easier they training.

Many people mistake drive for hyper. I have JRTs and would not call any of them hyper, they are just drivey dogs who need an outlet. If you give them an outlet they are very happy to be chill in the house.

 

[GlassOnion]

I think (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that they were referring more to the fact that a show GSD has a strong slope to their hindquarters,

You are correct.


Well I figured a working line would be for me. Now I just gotta decide if I have the time to get one. I'd have to leave it home alone for several hours due to school/work. Could work with it afterwords but there'd be a big gulf in the day where it's alone.

 

[Romy]

See if you can get your hands on a 2+ year old dog. Once they hit 2 they tend to settle down and lose that puppy frenetic craziness. There was a lady at the training facility with a GSD from DDR lines and she worked during the day. She said that he was walked in the morning, crated with toys while she was gone, and then when she got home she took turns putting him over an agility A frame. She would have the GSD go over it back and forth at lightning speed 75 times (part of this fulfilled the craving for repetitive hand signals, lol). Then she would take the dog for a walk.

 

[Jynx]

I agree with Dekka about people mistaking drive for hyper.

I have had american lines, I've have now, ddr/czech lines because that is what I prefer.
Not so much as 'lines' as what you put into a dog you will get out of a dog)

Many working line dogs are not for the average person. Mine are settle well in the house, but they require alot of physical as well as mental stimulation. If you aren't prepared to give that time, you'll end up with a dog you probably won't like much.

This is my 9mth old Masi, she is out of a slovakian imported by Eurosport female /narcotics certified by a ddr/czech SAR male who also has quite a few agility/obed titles. She is definately not for the faint of heart, but that's what I love about her..She's a quick learner, and eager to please, has alot of drive, and alot of energy, settles well but being very young, demands ALOT of my time..

This is my 12 yr old male Dodge who is DDR/american show lines,,he has been a dream dog to live with,,go with the flow type of guy, could go all day if you asked him, or lounge on the couch if ya didn't have time))

Lines aren't as important as finding a dog you can live with,,one that will fit into your lifestyle ..With that, I always suggest to people to find a breeder they can trust, KNOW exactly what you want and don't want when it comes to living with a dog (because first and foremost you have to be able to live with 'that' dog) and go from there.

Good luck with your search

 

[Xeph]

Here are some showlines to compare:

American

West German

 

[Amstaffer]

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