The Continuous Evolution of the GSD

[GSDnut]

Hi y'all,

Very interesting article at this web page - 30 generations of GSDs, in word and picture from todaty, back to 1895. May I quickly - as a result of this, make an observation, and re-iterate 'The German Shepherd Dog is a continuously evolving (and improving!!) Breed'

Have a look at the pics, Father and Son, 2003 - 1895, and then tell me I am wrong, as I have been preaching on that theme for the last 30 or more years.

Its just a pity that some breeders and 'showpeople' want to stay at some point on the evolutionary scale and not move with the breeds evolution.

Find the article and pics at :-

www.aniwa.com

BTW - is there any way I can save the article and pics exactlty as they are, please?

Kind regards,

John

[Schaeferhund]

Very interesting

Save it to your offline Favorutes.

[Norm]

Whether the dogs pictured are true representatives of evolution is a matter of opinion. IMHO the ones shown since Condor v Zollgrenzschutzhaus are a deviation not an evolution. Evolution is a natural process. The modern dogs pictured have been changed by man's interference and selection, not by natural selection.

[Currmudgeon]

Norm said:

Whether the dogs pictured are true representatives of evolution is a matter of opinion. ... Evolution is a natural process.

This is true of any breeding program. It is impossible for the breed not to evolve. Hand of Man or Hand of God, it's still evolution, unless you want to use a different word.

But the fact remains that the breed is changing. Every breed is. Whether the changes represent an improvement or a degradation becomes a matter of opinion. We can't draw a line in the sand, or on the calendar, and say that we want to freeze the breed, there. It can't happen. It won't happen.

So maybe the question should be, "Where should the breed go from here?" What traits should be emphasized. Which ones can be neglected?

[Norm]

Or maybe the question should be "The standard, breed to it or ignore it?"

Currmudgeon said:

So maybe the question should be, "Where should the breed go from here?" What traits should be emphasized. Which ones can be neglected?

[ovejero]

Perhaps the same forces that drives the evolution of humankind affect the evolution of those things man-made, so, in a way it is simply a matter of semantics.

The breed changes constantly. The driving force behind its change are the decisions of those who control its direction. We could deny that fact and argue that what drives changes are breeders, but in reality, the breeder that does not conform to the requirements of policy is mostly non-competitive, not taken seriously, and most of all goes largley unrewarded and unnoticed.

I am not particularly unhappy with where this "evolution" has planted us today. Burried within the genetic makeup of our dogs lies the potential for change in any and every direction. Even traits that are mostly "forgotten" such as a true working dog with a powerful temperament and true protective instincts (not talking about Schutzhund dogs) is still alive in many animals and surfaces, although in less numbers, in litters throughout the world.

One has to believe that there remains some ideallistic desire to preserve and protect the breed in the hearts of those who drive its evolution. If anything, the simple fact that the GSD has taken a backseat world wide to other breeds in the areas of service-dogs is enough for the hirearchy to react and reflect and move ahead with a plan of restoration and refocus. Let's hope it continues and that it is effective.

RC

[GSDnut]

I am glad that everyone posted such 'informed' responses in this topic and for once, I cannot do 'little extractions' and add my notes, but just say I agree with you all.

I probably chose the wrong word when I used 'evolution' but yes - this is a man-made breed, as are most breeds, and yes it is a man-made evolution. In my eyes there is a vast difference in the breed over, say, the last 20 years, let alone the 100 years that this article covers. That difference, to me is a structural improvement, and also an 'artistical' improvement. The beautiful curves and balanced structure of a modern GSD are a joy to the eye. 50 years ago, my Mother was saying that a perfect GSD was a series of 'S's' - just look at any GSD in 'stance', and count the number of 'S's' you can see. This is more pronounced today, than in Mums day when we were breeding very 'square' dogs. I am sure if she were alive she would be breeding to a type - not totally 'German' or 'English' - but at a point somewhere between the two extremes, which is where I would like to be, to put my 'two cents worth' into the breed.

What I really wanted to emphasise - which was not picked up on, was that all these 'types' that we have throughout the world, are really points on this evolutionary scale where people have jumped off and stayed.

Nature has been doing this over the natural history of the world, and from the ameoba to the human being animals have 'jumped off' the chain, and continued developing on their own direction. The selection criteria has been purely 'survival of the fittest' and many species have failed.

Man - as the very end of one branch off the evolutionary trail has in the last 200 years or so, totally ruined our chances of successful evolution. Then, a man would choose a wife that could bear his children, work in the fields, and was fit and healthy. The woman chose a healthy fit male who could hunt and provide for her. Our selection criteria now is mainly based on beauty and intelligence and a mystical thing called 'Love' - physical attributes are a minor part of the selection process.. In my opinion due to this, the human race will rapidly deteriorate in the physical attributes it needs to survive.

In the end, we will probably (if we havn't already!) do the same to our wonderful breed. I think at the moment a few GSDs would survive in the wild, would your dog? Mine certainly wouldn't !! I wonder if they see themselves (My dogs), as human members of a human pack, or that we are dogs and pack leaders in their doggy pack!!! LOL -
I think the last sentence would stand alone as a great topic in the forum, and would provide a very interesting discussion!!

Kind regards all - Have a great weekend,

John