GSDs have different “lines”, depending on the country of origin and breeding stock. I think the dog at Crufts is what’s considered “West German Show Line” (someone please correct me if I’m wrong). The German dogs are usually red and black, look heavier overall and shorter in the back. The American Show Line has a long straight back - see Rumor the Westminster winner. They are usually colored more like RinTinTin. IMHO,the show lines are kind of the equivalent of halter bred Arabians or QH. It’s all about the gait - they want to see a floaty, ground-covering trot and the extreme angulation in the hocks and pasterns and sloping long hip contribute to that. There are also “working lines” - mostly dogs of East German and Czech descent. These dogs are bred for performance, and won’t win in the confirmation ring. But they can be very high drive and might not fit in as a mellow family pet.
Another thing to note is that in the confirmation ring, the tradition is to “stack” a GSD so as to show off the angles of the shoulders, hips, and hocks. This requires setting the one rear leg under the body, and one extended. This is a lot different than the square or stretched out stacks that the other breeds use, where the legs are parallel. The hips kind of roll under, and can make it look like the dog is practically crippled. I’ve seen photos of dogs that looked terribly roach-backed in a stack, but standing normally they look fine.
Every time the “Crippled GSD” discussion comes up, someone always mentions how dogs “back in the day” didn’t look like that. I’m not so sure they are right (at least about what was in the show ring). Lockenhaus German Shepherds, who bred Rumor has a “history” page with ASL dogs from over the past 30 years or so.
http://www.lockenhausgermanshepherds.com/other-past-dogs.html
Scroll down to the bottom slideshow and look at Mandy in her show portrait from 1978 (I think). She looks a lot like a modern ASL.
The biggest difference I can see between the dogs from the 80’s and Rumor is that Rumor’s pastern is longer and more angled. I’m sure that contributes to her movement. You can see how breeding for that angulation might lead to selection of dogs that are TOO angled to actually function normally - that’s how you wind up with the weak-pasterned, sickle hocked trainwrecks. Also referred to as “hock-walkers” if they can’t trot out correctly.
Speaking of function… Check out Lockenhaus’ Ch. Charger. He’s out of the same dam as Rumor, he’s won his Championship, and now he’s doing agility. There’s an actual picture of him in action.
