Having always been an advocate of One Breed + One
Standard = One Type, had you asked me less than 6mths ago should we
make a request to the KC to split our beloved German Shepherd Dog
into two separates Breeds (German Shepherd Dog and Alsatian), I
would not have hesitated in giving you an emphatic NO. For up to now
I have spent my years in this breed firmly believing that eventually
ALL in the UK would be sure to find that ‘Common Ground’ where we
could once again be united in One Standard, One Type. However, now
after 30+ years I feel it’s time to admit I was wrong. Take a look
at the two photos above then try to tell me the construction of
these two dogs are defined by the same breed standard? There may
only be One Standard but comparing the photo’s above there is no
denying there are definitely two types and if that is so how can
they both possibly belong to the same breed? Thus ask me now should
the breed be split and you will receive a resounding, wholehearted
YES. So what happened, why did I change my mind?
My Reasons
Without doubt it was at a Breed Council Meeting in
November when my tolerance for ‘the other side’ finally ended. For
when one of the best (if not thee best ever) constructed German
Shepherds I have ever seen was subjected to ridicule by the
disparaging remarks made in letters to the KC from Alsatian type
fanciers after his Crufts 2008 BOB appearance, I cannot deny it
provoked such an anger inside me I actually felt bereft. It was then
I realised that if they couldn’t appreciate this dog then there is
no Common Ground left where both sides could meet in the middle, for
if this dog couldn’t Unite the two, then nothing else was ever
likely to come close and it is time for both sides to call it a day.
Enough is Enough. The UK Alsatianists have in fact
created their own type distinctly separate from that of the
International German Shepherd Breed and if that is the type they
love then so be it, they should be allowed to enjoy their dogs and
leave us to enjoy ours and the only peaceful way to do this is to
split them into two separate Breeds –German Shepherd Dog and
Alsatian.
The fact the KC still consult the Alsatian enthusiast
on very important aspects appertaining to our Breed of German
Shepherd Dog quite simply appals me. I don’t want Alsatian
enthusiasts deciding what changes should be made to our German
Shepherd Breed Standard or advising which photo of a dog to use to
represent our breed on the KC website, or recommending the names of
judges to preside over our breed handing out CC’s to incorrect types
then display them to the World as UK GSD Champions. I no longer want
the amount of Epilepsy and HD occurrences within the mostly non
Health Screen testing Alsatian community to be constantly attributed
to the amount still affected in our Breed via veterinary statistics.
And if that isn’t enough I do not want to run the risk of having to
lock horns with the Alsatianists who inevitably side with the KC
every time we request the KC only register litters from Health
Screened parents.
Inevitably there will be some who will argue that the
fact some cannot breed the correct type is no reason to split the
breed and how can we separate a breed where all are descendants from
the same dog i.e. Horand who was the ‘Adam’ of the breed? However,
the counter argument could be that even Horand himself was a product
of the amalgamation or in other words uniting of the then, two
separate Breed types - the Thuringia and Wurttemberg. Therefore
perhaps the alternative argument that the amount of inbreeding gone
on in the Alsatian type over the years has in fact reverted it back
to a type pre - amalgamation i.e. Pre – Horand? Of course playing
devils advocate here it is only a theory but one worth consideration
perhaps?
The Alternative – Is there one?
Recently I was told “Sue your passion for this breed
is commendable but your idealism is not realistic”, well dreams
aren’t realistic but that doesn’t stop some of them from coming
true! Besides, isn’t the IDEAL what every genuine enthusiast should
be dreaming of and continually striving for? Or can it be true that
the majority in the UK actually believe Breed Passion is no longer
realistic and Ideals no longer achievable? Should I therefore accept
defeat, put my passion to rest and hand over the future of the breed
to those whose Ideals faded as Apathy Invaded, or in the hands of
those whose Ideals differ widely from the rest of the world
including my own or perhaps even worse still in the hands of those
who never had any Ideals to begin with and still don’t, except in
those which best suit their own-self serving agenda/s.
In 1919 the Alsatian Wolf Dog was registered in the
UK. In 1924 Wolf Dog was dropped, not tagged on in some bracketed
scenario for years to come but instantly kaput! In 1936 moves were
afoot to bring the breeds name in line with the breeds registered
name in its land of origin, but due to prejudice an objection to the
words German Shepherd were lodged with the KC and so the name
Alsatian remained for a further 41yrs. Finally in approx 1976/7 the
Breed was given its internationally recognised, rightful name of
German Shepherd Dog with the word (Alsatian) as a bracketed appendix
for an interim period to promote Public awareness and get them
adjusted to the name whilst at the same time serving to connect
those dogs on the KC database solely registered as Alsatians with
those now to be registered under the Universal breed name of German
Shepherd. I think upwards of 32yrs is more than enough time to
educate the public and void of any miracle I am sure we can safely
assume those registered solely as Alsatians have long since
departed.
With the KC having kept the appendix Alsatian tagged
to the registered breed name of German Shepherd Dog it could be
conceived as their admission of an existence of two breed types,
otherwise why have they already not reduced it to its singular
UNIVERSAL name of German Shepherd Dog? Indeed by keeping the
appendix attached for so long it could be said the KC have (if only
inadvertently) given credence to the formulation of this
fictitious Alsatian breed.
Even as our Ballot grows stronger on a daily basis
the KC may still refuse our request to split the breed if only on
the principle that there are insufficient ‘Alsatians’ to warrant the
formulation of a separate breed (after all it is insular to the UK
and therefore a unique new breed to the rest of the world). It may
be lost by the opposition voices of those whose purpose it serves to
play footsie in both camps. Or defeated by those who fear what a
split might prompt the German Shepherd Dog fraternity to try to
split from next, however I say that is a lame excuse, because a
split from the KC is not, nor should it ever be an option. We need
to fight for what we want and what is best for our breed whilst
remaining under the KC umbrella not remove ourselves from it. One
thing I can categorically say is that personally I would NEVER
support a split from the KC and if I am ever stupid enough to change
my mind you have my permission to shoot me.
So where do we go from here? Is there an alternative?
Well at the very least if the vote for the separation of the breed
is not successful at Breed Club level or is denied by the KC then we
MUST ensure the KC are left with no alternative but to remove the
world Alsatian as an appendix from the Breed name of German
Shepherd, for as I have already stated THERE IS NO SUCH BREED AS
ALSATIAN IN EXISTENCE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, so either the KC
accept the UK have created another separate Breed or they remove the
fictitious Alsatian name tag from the Internationally Established and World Wide
acknowledged breed of German Shepherd Dog.
Author Sue Belfield
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