Trimming a long coat GSD to show it???

I read that a semi long coat German Shepherd was showed having had its ears and legs "trimmed" to make it look like a normal coat! Now this stinks of cheating to me, but cant judges tell? Surely thay can? I also read that once a "professional" groomer did notice, but still placed it second!

its still a GSD at the end of the day, must have been a good example to have come second even if the trim was noticed..... I noticed at crufts a lot of people with all different breeds trimming their dogs, backs of legs, ears, between toes etc. So I wouldn't IMO say it was cheating but I am not a proffessional show person, so have no real experience, if it beat me I wouldn't complain it was obvioulsy a good dog.

Others may disagree

Yes its a GSD but long coats are not allowed, its not just trimmed like some breeds, its altering the whole Dog JUST to be able to show it. I agree with you on some of the trimming though!
Dawn.

You would never get away with it on a long coat but with a semi you could (obviously) . I think I know the dog your talking about have read it on the website but sssshhhhh lol

I just find showing is so very political and it takes the fun out of it, cos thats what is all about isn't it???

It's not just GSD's I have heard of it happening in

I would think a good judge could tell the difference between a 'correct' coat and one that had been trimmed, but you never know.

On the other hand the coat is only one part of the overall dog, in our breed a longcoat isn't desirable as it would not be able to perform it's original function, however it isn't a disqualification. Therefore a long coat could be shown, however it is highly unlikely they would be placed - hence why some people might feel the need to trim.

As Kirsty said it happens in other breeds too, including Mals and a good judge would be able to tell if a dog had been trimmed as it affects the ends of the hairs, making them feel different.

However I don't agree with them being unlikely to be placed, I've seen a few that have been placed regularly, also by so-called breed specialists, one of them at my local shows often !!

There is no reason why you can't show a long coat, the standard says "no hard and fast rule for length of hair; mole-type coats undesirable

In that case Pita, why trim it? They obviously know its incorrect, but if as you say there is no reason they cant show it, why try to hide it? Thats what I mean by cheating.
Dawn.

There is a difference in trimming dogs whom are allowed to be trimmed and trimming dogs who's coats 'should' remain natural !

Many breeds are trimmed to enhance their outline etc, whereas GSD and other breeds like Mals are supposed to be left natural and unaltered, so it is acceptable in some breeds but not others, therefore it IS cheating in breeds where is it not acceptable.

I was talking more about Champ shows, not Open or Exemption If a long coat has better construction and would be more able to perform the job it was bred for than a normal coated dog then there is no feasible reason that they shouldn't be placed higher - although it says a lot about the quality of the dogs being exhibited