do you have a straight backed german shepherd?

[ThatVikRinA22]

if so - is it healthy?
if you are happy with your dogs health please tell me where you got it from.....

having spent the last 2 days on google i am losing the will to live - i want an old fashioned, straight backed german shepherd - preferably long coated.

having googled for days i cant find a breeder with good hip/elbow scores who has had their dogs tested for haemophillia (and i know DM is a problem too....as is epilepsy.)

not bothered about colours or show standards or anything like that - its to be a pet.

but doing research into many breeders many use dogs which have inbred problems - and im seriously starting to wonder whether getting a GSD is a good idea at all.

ive emailed the dog section of the force i work in and they breed their own and they are not for sale - i suspect this will be the same of most forces but i will try to ask around.

do you have a healthy GSD? where did you get it? is it a show line (slopey backed) or a pet line? or a working line?

thanks

[Yonididnaedaethat]

I have 2 straight backed, I was actually stopped in the street by a man who told me it was so nice to see them compared to the slope back ones proud moment

I came across mine by mistake, I was looking for a kitten but somehow ended up with a GSD, then 6 months later went back for another from the family I bought from. They have different mums but same dad. Mines are 2 whites that aren't common where I stay so I get asked a lot what breed they are.

Bit of a pointless post lol as I don't know breeders and the lady I got mine from has stopped breeding from hers now as her 2 bitches have had 2 litters each so wont use them again.

[moosemama]

Can't really help, but I totally understand your problem.

We had a gorgeous, straight back, long-coated bear of a GSD back in the early 90's (she was a rescue we found at death's door and nursed back to health) and fell hook, line and sinker for GSDs as a result.

Dh and I always say we will have another GSD when our dcs are grown, but we never see dogs like our old girl anymore. There are some nice dogs around, but all roached or sloped backed and/or with various health problems.

A few years ago I spent months trying to track down a breeder for the type of dog we would like, but failed and as a result decided that if/when we do get another, as it seems we can't have the type we want (without importing, which is something we wouldn't do) we will rescue instead and take what the universe throws at us in terms of dealing with health issues. We couldn't bring ourselves to buy a sloped back dog and if we found a straight backed one that came without the necessary health checks that would be a no as well, so we'd rather offer a home to one that really needs us.

If you do manage to find a breeder that does all the necessary health checks, has good steady temperaments and breeds old-style, straight back, long-coated dogs, please do pm me, because we would be very interested.

Good luck.

[Cheddars]

This is the dog that won Crufts this year. I just can't understand how the sloppy back came to be preferred over a straight back.

proper dog

OMG

[ABumDance]

I found a kennel in Ireland that breed straight backs, they are called Alsace Royale GSD. I'm not sure how that suits you location wise though and I do not have any recommendations for you as it was just for research. Worth a look surely?

[ThatVikRinA22]

well.
ive had some really interesting conversations today.

apparently they should have a gently sloping back but not a banana shaped back or a poker straight back.

they are made to work - and trot all day - so apparently the back shouldnt be poker straight. nor should it be as in the OMG eg above!

i have found some really knowledgeable people through word of mouth and with chrissies help on here.....ive spoken to many breeders and have sussed out who to steer clear of and who to visit.
feel progress has been made today after days and days of googling.

[moosemama]

Yep that's the problem right there Cheddars - you pictures are 1) sloped 2) straight and 3) roached.

I had a terrible row with someone once when I said something about roach-backed dogs becoming popular and that is was bad for the breed (this was a long time ago, when there were still plenty of straight backed dogs about).

I was told in a rather aggressive manner, that the sloped backed dogs were closer to German Type and therefore correct. I'm not convinced, as surely strong straight backs are preferable for working dogs than the weaker sloped ones and these historical images would seem to contradict that theory as well. Even the Kennel Club aren't happy with the current trend in sloping backs.

[http://www.oldgermanshepherd.com/forum/wbb/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=1828 This girl]] looks just my old girlie in the face, but much shorter coated.

They have some gorgeous dogs on their website and all breeding stock fully tested, but again, they're abroad.

[moosemama]

It's the very slight slope that gives them they're beautiful gait and ability to pace/trot all day.

They are just such an awesome breed. It breaks my heart to see poorly bred dogs with bad conformation being held up as breed champions.

Good to hear you're making some progress on where to find the right pup.

[GladitsnotJustMe]

Mine is straight backed, but sadly still has weak legs.

So many people comment on how nice it is to see one with a good straight back though

[KittyLane1]

Mine is straight backed, sable coat with huge straight ears. I am regularly stopped, mainly by old men, telling me she is a perfect German Shepherd.

I knew nothing about straight or long backs I just wanted a German Shepherd so I got a traditional one by accident. She is very healthy, gorgeous and happy. Must say however, she is the laziest dog alive, she huffs if she even has to move out my way. She is walked regularly for 30-90 mins at a time and has been known to sit down and rest (vet has checked her out btw, she is perfectly healthy just an overgrown lap dog)

[krishnars]

I have 7 months old, Straight backed, White & Silver long coated GSD, but I am not a breeder. I bought it from a pets shop

[MrsChnandlerBong]

A dog from a pet shop? In the UK?

[gsdlover90]

you need to be looking at the English bloodlines, sadly the judge at crufts favoured Germanic bloodlines, humpty back camels we called them. We had same experience with Tarro under judge lewis, insulting English bloodlines and awarding to Germanic, fortunately the next year we won a 2nd under roy Brandon-lornaville affix. Eventually I lost interest in showing and had a gsd from a farm, she lived to 17, and had a long haired rescue who could be trusted with anyone and anything, he lived to 14. Sadly am now in a wheelchair and it's me and the cat against the world. You need to check out rescue centres or attend dog shows and talk, all breeders have puppies/dogs not show quality and happy for good homes.Don't know your area but found lots of excellent breeders round Doncaster area good luck

[starjumper]

This thread is old. I'd love to know if OP did find one?

[BloodyDogHairs]

Hmm reading this post and I thought oh that poster sounds like me.....and then I realised it is a zombie thread and one of the post's was mine under a different name

[mumof4girlsanddogs]

www.k9guardians.co.uk/traditional-straight-backed-gsds/ shows the difference between the sloped back german shepherds and the more traditional straight backed gsds. Crufts winner in 2016 caused a debate over this but actually it was all the result of breeding after world war II and there are breeders who prefer the traditional, old fashioned, real or old world german shepherd pups and who do all the screening needed like hip,s elbows and also the dna testing for degenerative myopathy, etc

look at
www.k9guardians.co.uk/traditional-straight-backed-gsds/ for more info

[Booboostwo]

I agree with the posters above that a gently sloping back is perfectly acceptable and entirely different from a roach back. Also keep in mind that when photographed in show position the back legs are placed in such a way that they emphasize the slope.

Here's my boy, long haired, tested for everything (mum for DM, the breeder could not find sires tested for DM - we are in France), I think he looks lovely, but I am biased! He is six months old.

You may also want to look up Old Fashioned GSDs, they are not KC registered but they work specifically to breed a more traditional looking dog rather than modern show lines, like this breeder
alsaceroyalegermanshepherds.com/

I don't know this breeder at all, and I am not recommending her therefore, but you may like the type of dog she breeds.

[Bubble2bubble]

I don't know anything about that breeder, but they are in Ireland, where straight backed shepherds are actually fairly common.
Quite a few if you have a look at the videos of this Northern Irish based rescue

[SparklingRaspberry]

I do!

Everyone comments on how nice it is to see a healthy looking gsd with a nice back instead of a deformed one. I hate seeing poorly bred gsd's.

Have a look at the mother/father and ask for hip and elbow scores when visiting.

My pups father was a police dog so as you can imagine his health had to be immaculate.

Perhaps it's worth contacting the police and asking about failed police dogs that need rehomed? You're not gunna find any police gsd with a bad back.

[Maywood]

Hello fellow shepherd lovers. I have a large (40k) straight backed bitch and i'm looking for a suitable mate, without any luck so far. If anyone knows of one, it would be great if they could help. She has a good hip score .

[Katieward1970]

Hi have you tried Lornaville gsd in Doncaster ? If you need any contact info please just message me ! Can't recommend highly enough not only as he's a relative but also have a fantastic true correct bitch from him ! X