what is wrong with the American Kennel Club?!

Furballsmom

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Yesterday, Thanksgiving Day, the National Dog show judge for the Herding Group gave the award to the German Shepard Dog (GSD). This dog, named River, was also highly awarded at Westminster's show earlier in the year.

GSDs are a breed that has been known to have hip issues, and here the "industry" of the dog show world is promoting and breeding GSD's with at least a 10 degree downward slope in their back from their shoulders to their tail, which I would think puts an incredible strain on their hips, knees, hocks et al.

Yet, on a current facebook page, even owners who have GSD's with straight backs are praising River's awards, saying how River is so representative of the breed etc., and one of the announcers during yesterday's dog show was exclaiming about how much he loves River .. ..

However, not everyone agrees. I have seen GSD's in my neighborhood with that sloped back, and their hind legs were actually knocking together with each step, at a walk (never mind the poor things trying to run :( ).

This article says it better than I can;
Archive

The Kennel Club in the UK changed their policy, in part due to this petition and other people putting pressure on them. I so wish the AKC would as well;
Sign the Petition (Edit; this petition is closed, I posted it for informational purposes only, regarding how the UK handled things).
 
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Tik cat's mum

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I have to agree with you. I grew up with German shepherd's the last one I had when my youngest son was a toddler. He had a straight back just like the one's I grew up with. But I look now and feel so sad because these dog's you can tell they will have problems. My youngest is twenty now and when I went to the breeder a straight back was the first thing I looked for on mum and dad, then was the parents hip scored. The petition was closed when I tried to sign it unfortunately.
 

fionasmom

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As a lot of people have figured out, I have owned GSDs. They are, IMO, one of the most highly misbred of all dog breeds, right up there with the pugs and Frenchies who have to try to suck in air when they breathe. My previous GSD, before the one who passed in February of this year, had degenerative myelopathy for the last two years of his life, ultimately needing to be let go as it moved up his body and reached his front legs. My last one had one medical condition after another despite being the sweetest boy. Cushings, melanoma, amputation, thyroid, eye surgery, anal adenocarcinoma. While I only rescue, some of my friends who have gone to great lengths and expense to get a dog from a "top" breeder have faced huge medical issues as well, along with suffering for the dog.

It is heartbreaking to see those roach backed dogs and to know what they will probably go through.
 

OopsyDaisy

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As a lot of people have figured out, I have owned GSDs. They are, IMO, one of the most highly misbred of all dog breeds, right up there with the pugs and Frenchies who have to try to suck in air when they breathe. My previous GSD, before the one who passed in February of this year, had degenerative myelopathy for the last two years of his life, ultimately needing to be let go as it moved up his body and reached his front legs. My last one had one medical condition after another despite being the sweetest boy. Cushings, melanoma, amputation, thyroid, eye surgery, anal adenocarcinoma. While I only rescue, some of my friends who have gone to great lengths and expense to get a dog from a "top" breeder have faced huge medical issues as well, along with suffering for the dog.

It is heartbreaking to see those roach backed dogs and to know what they will probably go through.
Downright abusive. I'm so sorry for what you went through with your dogs. Holly was a rescue too, then when my MIL passed away, we took her. Poor thing was just bones in the back end, falling all over the place until she couldn't even stand up anymore. Why? I just have to ask why? So wrong on every level.
 
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Furballsmom

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I'd start a petition to ask the AKC to make a change like they did in the UK, but I don't have twitter followers or that sort of thing where I feel like I'd get enough signatures.
 

OopsyDaisy

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This is what the CKC have under their breed standards.

Topline The withers should be higher than, and sloping into, the level back to enable a proper attachment of the shoulder blades. The back should be straight and very strongly developed without sag or roach, the section from the wither to the croup being relatively short. (The desirable long proportion of the Shepherd Dog is not derived from a long back but from overall length with relation to height, which is achieved by breadth of forequarter and hindquarter viewed from the side.) Loin: viewed from the top, broad and strong, blending smoothly into the back without undue length between the last rib and the thigh, when viewed from the side. Croup should be long and gradually sloping. Too level or flat a croup prevents proper functioning of the hindquarter, which must be able to reach well under the body. A steep croup also limits the action of the hindquarter.
 

Jcatbird

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Oh no! I get so very upset when I see things like this. Not just with AKC but other groups that encourage irresponsible breeding of any kind of animal! I grew up with a beloved GSD as well. She delighted in running, leaping and being highly active. She was gentle and loving and I can’t imagine breeders purposely breeding and knowing the genetics of the parents will only lead to suffering. Yes. I will sign.
 
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