S.V.Report

SV Changes the Standard.

Written by John R Walker

It is reported in the July –August 1997 edition of the canine journal WUFF that the SV, now under Herr Peter Mebler, has changed the 1993 version of the breed standard so that a straight back is now specified. !

This follows hard on the heels of what must be one of the most scathing attacks ever by an SV insider. In the previous edition when Dr Helmut Raiser described the currently fashionable GSD conformation as being

" A dog at the front and a frog at the back".

I couldn’t have put it better myself&ldots;&ldots;

The new wording is as follows with the relevent change highlighted in bold type:

Die Oberlinie verlauft vom Halsansatz uber den homen langen Widerrest und uber den GERADEN RUCKEN bis zur leicht abfallendenKruppe ohne sichtbare Unterbrechung. Der Rucken ist maBig lang, fest,kraftig und gut bemuskelt.

(Please excuse the non German text but you will know what it means).

The important change from the 1993 version is that the Standard now demands a straight back rather than a gently sloping back.

Under the new heading of the Pathological Geometry the article puts forward the veterninary viewpoint that the currently fashionableconformation representsan unnatural physiological structure around the region of the hip joints, and in the lumbar-sacral regeon of the spine around the loin and croup. From this comes exostosis (bony outgrowths) which narrow the spinal canal causing damage to the spinal canal and the nerve within which is chronic and can be correspondingly painful to the animal.

The article then goes on to say that the change in the Standard shows, this time, what farsighted functionaries at the highest level in the SV have again been saying.

A Little of the recent History

Some prominent members of the German veterinary profession have been campaigning for some time to return to a straight backline following increasing evidence that the currently fashionableconvex hinged backline is responsible , in whole or in part, for the many skeletal ills which currently impact upon breed health, movement , and fitness for work.

Professor Wegner, geneticist of the Hanover Veterinary School has led a campaign over many years to return to a more traditional and more bio-mechanically optimised shape.. In various articles and in his book , Kleine Kynologie, he has made repeated attacks on the SV for allowing the breed to stray from the Physical and mental prowess which made the GSD the World’s leading utility dog.

In Germany 1996 was designated the year of the dog by the BTK (Bundestierarztekammer- The german equivalent of the British Veterinary Association) and the GSD figured prominently amongst the breeds said to be causing widespread concern over the general health status. The BTK papers inclueded contibutions from a number of leading German Veterianry professionals up to Professor level, inclueding the BTK President Professor Gunter Pschorn.

Under the sub heading of diseases which two breeds have been susceptable to for decades the GSD, was itemised as follows:

.HD (Huftgelenksdysplasie)

Myasthenia gravis ( Erkrankung an Neerven/Muskeln)

Bandscheibenvorfall (Schaferhundelahme)

Harnsteinbildung

Magendrehung.

Item one is self explanitory- it is hip dysplasia. Item two ie degenerative wasting of nerve and muscle tissue. Item three is prolapse of the vertabrae, which is one logical outcome from the current unnatural spine angulationsresulting in (literally) "SHEPHERD DOG LAMENESS" . The most likely translation for item four seems to be urinary calculas/retention. Item five is GATRIC TORSION.

The SV has just offered you a partial solution.

"NOW YOU CAN BREED DOGS AGAIN NOT FROGS"