I remember way back when I was lil we had 2 not at the same time & they look
pretty different from the ones I see now.
Whats the difference in them? A lot of the ones you see now have that back that slopes way
down- almost like their hind legs are midget size.
Is there some that breed for this sloped back & others that breed for not? I myself prefer the look of
the ones I had when I was little.
Is there difference in the breeding of certain kinds like one for show & one for working or are they all bred
for this sloped back look?
Just curious cause it doesn't look to be very healthy for the dog.

Have a look here http://royalair.org/pasttopresent.htm

It's a sad thing that they were bred like that for the show ring in some cases

You might want to have a look at working line GSD' s, a good amount of those will be the type you remember.
I particularly like the sable ones.

People do breed for different shapes.  Someone I know breeds (well, used to breed, I don't think she does any more) for a straighter back, they are still showable but they do working trials as well.

I know breeders of the sloped back dogs will argue that they are perfectly able to work, and indeed some are, but for me that just doesn't justify breeding them that way - it's just unnecessary.

I had a GSD as a child, and several since, and love the breed, but absolutely hate what has been done to it. If anything discredits show breeders in the eyes of the general public and many dog lovers it is the grotesque, manic creature that this most handsome and wise dog has been transformed into. I fervently hope that some truly responsible breeders are still breeding "proper" GSDs. My most recent one died last year of cancer-- she had a straight back and near perfect hips, but was a rescue so I have no idea of her origins, though I suspect she was of housing scheme origin, given where she was rescued from at 9 months. She did have one soft ear though :-), but despite that was much closer to my idea of a good GSD than anything in the show ring.
It is really good to see other show breeders condemning what has been done to the GSD in this thread.

Thanks
I to prefer the normal back really don't like the slope they are breeding for- looks wrong in my eye's.

Wow, thanks for that link - I think GSD show breeders should all take a good long look at what they have done to their breed. :-(

I don't show, but I have a mixed line GSD. The sire is from a working background, (trained security/guard dog) whilst the dam comes from showing lines with some great results in her pedigree. Even though the dam is from show lines, I must stress that they are of a more sensible conformation than your average show line GSD without the heavy angulation that you see in a lot of them, but showline none the less.

If you are seriously interested in the breed, I suggest you visit Discover Dogs or Crufts. They often have a large GSD stand and the last two times I've been, there have been a very good mixture from longcoated heavy set (in my eyes beautiful but pretty useless for the purpose they were bred for) to the much lighter working type GSDs.

In my opinion it is the perfect mix and Nando is a really handsome dog (although I would say that given he is my dog!) He can be a handful which I expect he gets from his working lines however his temperament is brilliant and he is relaxed and chilled inside the house.

Here are a few pictures of mine so you can get an idea of his physique and conformation. He was quite young in the beach picture (about 12 months) but it is the only proper side-on picture I have. He is around 18 months in the second picture and the third picture was about last week or the week before

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/josh7456/photo1-2.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/josh7456/562926_10151984034180023_1731220945_n.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a332/josh7456/942995_10152849826365023_65670457_n.jpg

> Have a look here http://royalair.org/pasttopresent.htm

I am so shocked about the changes shown on that page. I had a lovely GSD when growing up. I knew they had changed but had not appreciated quite the extent. HOW can todays breeders justify the conformation? Can't they see how wrong it is compared to the standard? What are judges thinking? Surely they can see that the rear conformation must be bad for the dogs health. With such a high profile breed as a GSD being abused in this manner it is no wonder the general public have such a low opinion of show breeders.

I have a straight back long hair gsd and much prefer them to the slope but I fear gsd people will forever argue this one.

Josh, Nando looks stunning :)

There are show breeders who do not go with the excessively sloping croup/arched back.

There are many GSD clubs. 

People in the breed will show under the judge who likes their type, so at some shows you will see more traditionally 'normal' canine conformation, and at others the type that posters and people in breeds with more normal conformation are disliking.

Often the twain never meet.  At all breed shows you tend to see more of the tradional type.

The Kennel Club are addressign teh rear instability issue with it's instructions to judges,a dn it seems the SV (German breed authority) are acknowledgign the issues too.

It will take time to undo the exageration.

To me Nando is just the 'right' type - nice strong hindquarters, with just a little bit of a slope as per the standard. Nicely balanced - some of the modern dogs are all head and forequarters, and then it just tails off pathetically. :-(

I stood and watched the GSD judging at Border Union yesterday. Coming from a small utility breed I was pretty shocked at the amount of double handling that was going on, never mind the movement of some of the dogs!

I think the movement of the sloped dogs really is horrible to watch. It looks so unnatural particularly walking and trotting. I wonder if the way the show dogs are taught to stand in the show pose has an impact on their confirmation. My gsd came from show lines but he has a lovely straight back.

There is no doubt that standing with the hind quarters excessively flexed gives a horrid top line but a slopping croup should not cause this degree of deformity. I am at a total loss to know what the appeal is most or us shy away from the unbalanced conformation and inefficient movement but although I have owned them and loved them I am glad they were not so in my day. Beauty in this case really must be in the eye of the (owner)

I really wish I could get a video of Nando doing what I call his 'show trot'- I don't show so I haven't a clue if its actually how show dogs are supposed to trot when shown- however he has a really nice natural trot, he looks great.

GSD's are not my breed so I cant really debate too much but IMO the original straight back looks much better. Looks more 'normal' and far healthier for the dog.
When out and about I instantly spot the GS's with the short legs and sloping backs and they just don't look comfortable.

I personally feel some breeders breed for the extreme which is just sad- it goes right up their with the English Bulldogs
where there faces are so pushed in breathing is hard not to mention c-sections & AI. I think a dog should be able to function properly
as well as breed & free whelp normal (of course problems can arise just like people).

In the long run not sure if I am high on show dogs more would like a working type dog that is bred for what it can do more so then
how it looks in the show ring so to speak.

Even the Boston terriers are being bred for a stockier look, tighter feet & more pushed in faces & bigger heads- which brings it around
again to mostly c-sections.

Just sad :-(