Editing German Shepherd (section)

== Modern breed ==

[[File:GSD-Metrics.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|A common breed club's goal for German Shepherd body conformity, criticised by the UK Kennel Club]]
The modern German Shepherd breed is criticised by experts for straying away from [[Max von Stephanitz]]'s original ideology that German Shepherds should be bred primarily as working dogs and that breeding should be strictly controlled to eliminate defects quickly.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/germanshepherdha00drma|title=The German Shepherd Dog Handbook|first=Mary Belle|last=Brazil-Adelman|date=2000|publisher=[[Barron's Educational Series]]|isbn=0764113321}}</ref>{{Rp|6}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wgsdca.org/?page_id=45|url-status=dead|title=GSD vs. WGSD – It's not a black or white issue!|website=White German Shepherd Dog Club of America|first=Aimee|last=Harder|quote=As Max von Stephanitz stated, 'A pleasing appearance is desirable, but it can not put the dog's working ability into question.' [...] Max pounded the issue that the German Shepherd was a working breed first and foremost.|access-date=20 July 2008|archive-date=10 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110064652/http://wgsdca.org/?page_id=45}}</ref> He believed that, above all else, German Shepherds should be bred for intelligence and working ability.{{sfnp|Kern|1990|pp=11–21}}

=== Controversy ===

[[The Kennel Club]], in the United Kingdom, is involved in a dispute with German Shepherd breed clubs about the issue of soundness in the show strain of the breed.<ref name="thekennelclub.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2926 |title=German Shepherd Dogs – The Soundness Issue |website=The Kennel Club |date=8 February 2010 |access-date=2 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501104611/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2926 |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=KC confirms position on German Shepherds|url=http://www.ourdogs.co.uk/News/2010/Feb2010/News190210/gsd.htm|website=Our Dogs-UK|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> Some show strains have been bred with an extremely roached topline (back) that causes poor gait in the hind legs.

The issue was raised in the BBC documentary, ''[[Pedigree Dogs Exposed]]'', which said that critics of the breed describe it as "half dog, half frog". An orthopaedic vet remarked on footage of dogs in a show ring that they were "not normal".

The Kennel Club's position is that "this issue of soundness is not a simple difference of opinion, it is the fundamental issue of the breed's essential conformation and movement."<ref name="thekennelclub.org.uk"/> The Kennel Club has decided to retrain judges to penalise dogs with these problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2942 |title=German Shepherd Dogs – Judges Training Programme |website=The Kennel Club |date=16 February 2010 |access-date=2 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019060222/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=2942 |archive-date=19 October 2011 }}</ref>

The Kennel Club also recommends testing for [[haemophilia]] and hip dysplasia, other common problems with the breed.<ref name="HaemophiliaScreening">{{cite web|title=GSD Breed Council&nbsp;– Haemophilia 'A' Testing|url=http://www.gsdbreedcouncil.co.uk/bimp/haemo/haemo.htm|website=Gsdbreedcouncil.co.uk|access-date=29 October 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name="KCGSDHealthScreening">{{cite web|title=German Shepherd Dog Health|url=https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/health.aspx?id=5106|series=Breed Information Centre|website=The Kennel Club|access-date=29 October 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014728/https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/health.aspx?id=5106|url-status=dead}}</ref>