Why Are German Shepherds' Backs Sloped? The Controversy Over The Modern Breed Standard

Why Are German Shepherds' Backs Sloped? https://www.anythinggermanshepherd.co... Hi there, today we’re going to look at the controversy surrounding the sloping of German Shepherd backs. While early German Shepherds had a leaner, more wolf-like appearance, today they’re larger, stronger and have a distinctly different coat and color than wild wolves. This is one of the most common questions regarding the breed’s evolution, as many wonder if this sloping back is normal? And why don’t all dog breeds have a sloping back? There’s no evidence in the original breed standard that the German Shepherd is supposed to have a visibly sloped back. Many now suspect that the sloped back is due to a skeletal deformity caused by intensive interbreeding for specific appearance standards. The controversy over this sloped back has a long history. A public outcry began after video footage surfaced of the 2016 winner of the Crufts competition, which showed a German Shepherd struggling to move. Viewers questioned whether the exaggerated slope of the dog’s back was behind the dog’s obvious anxiety and hesitation to obey its trainer’s commands. The owner and the dog show have both denied allegations of animal cruelty, and the owner swore that her dog had been given a clean bill of health prior to competing. The BBC later released a documentary which showed “then and now” pictures of early German Shepherds and German Shepherds today. The change in appearance is obvious even to casual viewers. The Royal Veterinary College has also published survey results from 430 clinics reporting how exaggerated breeding standards are causing cruel health complications for German Shepherds. German Shepherd Breed Standards are typically developed by breed clubs that participate in either working dog or show dog competitions. Working dog breeders tend to focus on temperament and performance traits, while show dog breeders usually focus on looks. Any time animal breeding is manipulated to reliably produce certain traits, there’s always a risk of health or temperament problems down the line. Today, GSD breeders have to test the health of the parent dogs. The major known genetic weaknesses that are tested for include: Hip and elbow dysplasia, cardiac issues, autoimmune thyroiditis, degenerative myelopathy, and eye issues. This intense breeding appears to have formed weaknesses in the development of the spinal and skeletal systems. Sadly, German Shepherds are now known to “Hock Walk”, which is a more recent condition. The “hock” is essentially the dog’s ankle, and this occurs when the angle of a German Shepherd’s lower spine is curved to a degree where it causes the ankle and not the foot, to touch the ground. Sometimes the dog will even walk on both hocks, instead of on both feet. These sorts of imbalances can form when the dog’s spine doesn’t grow properly. Performing extensive research on potential breeders will be vital prior to getting a German Shepherd. This due diligence can potentially save you years of heartache and thousands of dollars in veterinary costs – Vetting reputable breeders will give you the greatest chance of bringing home a healthy German Shepherd puppy. We hope you found this video informative and helpful. Thank you for watching, and feel free to subscribe to our channel! This presentation contains images that were used under a Creative Commons License. Click here to see the full list of images and attributions: https://link.attribute.to/cc/2422545