Definitely nothing wrong with a nice GSD that can be versatile as the breed was meant to be. I'm one of these owners that sees something happening in front of me and has no idea how it could be prevented. Even within the GSD world working bred lines are shunned for not meeting breed standards where as I think they exceed. I've been told my dog does not meet the standards and questioned if she's in fact a pure bred but only at the pedigree shows. At other events people see the sheer GSD beauty and intelligence and do not even question her breed. To me the breed standard means very little if the dog is not fit for the original purpose, I know all breeds evolve and change slightly but it's a sad day when dogs are unfortunately only bred to 'look a certain way'.

Cheesus!!! So he was well aware what would happen, but dog was still offlead. Totally avoidable then. I make sure I take the girls out when its less likely people will be about. After the number of times Cariad and Lona were attacked by the same dogs from being very young, I make sure my youngsters are as safe as I can keep them, but very sad I have to do this I think.

To me the 'working line'GSD are almost a totally different dog, if I was to get a GSD, then it would be working line. However I am too old and too involved in the Utonagan dog now anyway. Another dog I would love (if only I was younger) is a Malinois.

In nature sh*t does happen unfortunately and yes, the breeder is very well thought of and their dogs are extensively health tested (way over and above what the KC recommend).

Here is what Fitzpatrick Referrals says about HD.

"What is the cause of hip dysplasia?
This condition is primarily of genetic cause, although environmental factors such as obesity during puppyhood may influence whether an animal with the genes coding for hip dysplasia will develop a clinical problem. Current estimates state that more than one hundred genes code for hip dysplasia. It is important to recognize that environmental factors are unable to cause hip dysplasia, although they can influence whether an animal with the genes that code for hip dysplasia will develop a clinical problem. There is no evidence to support the concept that excessive exercise during puppyhood can contribute to the development of hip dysplasia."

Ollie's boarding fee's at the vet school in 2010 were £50 a night.

The Bernese breed club are very hot on movement in the show ring. But as I well know even a reputable breeder with parents who are tested for hips and elbows with extremely good scores can sometimes throw one or two out that do have problems. Sometimes it can be enviromental too bad diet wrong exercise in a large breed particularly.
Doesn't excuse those wanting to make a fast buck and breeding very poorly bred type.

Working line GSDs are genetically different to the West German Show Line GSDs. This doesn't surprise me.

This is the GSD story - but beware, you will be in floods of tears!

https://www.thesupervet.com/dandi/

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/t...mand/59953-007

Yup tears. Last bit was a bit blurry for me to read
I like though - as morbid as it might sound - that they show that it's not all happy endings and that it is real life. Makes me cuddle and appreciate my girl that little bit more. Poor puppy though

Oooh nooooo, still fill up when I think about it, absolutely stunning boy, and died so young before his life even began
That is very very interesting about HD and the genetic codes.
Like you yourself say Lynn, the breeder can do everything possible, and it still goes wrong, as Moobli says, its nature.
Was saying to my friend who has ended up with a high scoring GSD despite being from low score parents. When my two older girls mother was tested (after having had a couple of litters) she was found to be in the '30's. But my girls, are pretty low scoring, Lona's is a bit strange as she was knocked by a car when young (apparently she is 'crippled with HD' yeah course she is- still moves beautifully at 11) but her offspring have been as low as 9 and average at 13. Their father was by no means that low, but I have often wondered as to how a high scoring mother and average scoring father produced them. The litter was probably one of the most tested litter strangely so I am aware of their siblings scores, all between 12 and 15.

I knew there was an article somewhere on working lines being genetically different to show lines

https://www.rsv2000.de/en/news/speci...g-des-dsh.html