There have been a number of reports published in the last few years concerning the health of dogs generally. On the whole these have been produced as a reaction to a television programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed. This programme showed footage of GSDs at both a Manchester Show and Crufts and illustrated to the public at large that certain strains of GSD were being bred with hindquarters that elicited the commentary "half dog, half frog".

The most important report was The Bateson Report . There were specific things in that report which are relevant here. The following quotes are verbatim:

Selection for exaggerated characteristics

4.16 Many respondents referred to problems arising from the selection for extreme traits. Some argued that these problems are so prevalent that both dog owners and the veterinary profession have become desensitised to the difficulties suffered by these dogs. This was also referred to as selecting for fashions in form, to the neglect of selecting for characteristics beneficial to the dog. ....Key points included:

a. The most commonly mentioned breeds in this category were .... the German Shepherd Dog (the Germanic type with the so-called “banana” backs);

Problems and potential solutions

5.11 The problems most commonly identified and discussed in the interviews included the following:

.....

b. Welfare issues specific to dogs of individual breeds (whether pure-bred or registered pedigree) such as the inheritance of disease or selection for extreme characteristics.

c. The very small effective population sizes in some breeds of dogs.

Pedigree dog breeders

7.17 In its recommendations the Council for Science and Society (1988) wrote as follows: “ … many influential members of breed societies are passionately committed to maintaining the typical appearance of breeds as they stand, regardless of the animals’ ultimate welfare.”

7.18 ... In the past year the Kennel Club has targeted particular breeds, including the Bulldog and the German Shepherd, where drastic action is required.

7.21 Even so, the Kennel Club and the breed societies are faced with serious problems when attempting to influence people who reckon that they have nothing to learn and resent bureaucratic interference. The Kennel Club fears that if the breed clubs were pushed too hard to change their ways, some of them would secede. The Club’s revenue stream and its influence could be seriously disrupted and arguably the welfare of dogs might also be compromised.

Addressing inbreeding, inherited disease and selection for extreme morphologies

8.3 Revisions of Breed Standards should recognize the need to avoid the selection for extreme morphologies that can damage the health and welfare of the dog. When possible, revisions should involve guidance from the Advisory Council on Dog Breeding. Where a welfare problem already exists within a breed, the breed standard should be amended specifically to encourage the selection for morphologies that will improve the welfare status of the breed. In these instances the breed standard may need to be more precise, either by aid of diagrams or quantitative ratios, in order to encourage the necessary changes.

This campaign would argue strongly that the current Kennel Club GSD standard is not enforced by the Kennel Club because it fears the secession of the main GSD breed clubs and loss of registration revenue (cf 7.21 above). GSDs are normally the third most popular breed for registrations and this would be a serious revenue drop.

As a result of this the judging of GSDs at KC authorised shows has degenerated into a situation similar to that of the Martin Brothers in Germany in the 1970s and 80s with judges favoring the type that they prefer rather than the dog which is closest to the standard. (4.16 and 7.17 above). This can be amply demonstrated by inspection of entries at shows, in particular Championship shows. It can be clearly seen that certain breeders attend specific shows where they are aware of the type of dog the judge prefers. This is less pronounced at Open shows but it still exists where there are GSD classes.

The Alsatian Breed Campaign believes that the current Kennel Club standard for German Shepherd dogs could be used for the 'new' breed of Alsatian and that the German Shepherd dog standard should be replaced by the FCI or SV standard with appropriate alterations to suit the current conformation of the breed in the UK. However, for completeness, a 'new' standard is included here. This is based on the Kennel Club standard but has drawn on input from the USA and Canada where, arguably, the standard is closer to the original von Stephanitz definition.

The Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) produced a report : A Healthier Future for Pedigree Dogs (November 2009). This did not mention German Shepherds individually as a breed but listed amongst those who gave evidence were The German Shepherd Dog Breed Council of Great Britain and the GSD League of Great Britain. The GSD Council claims to represent the German Shepherd dog in Great Britain and numbers a considerable number of local breed clubs amongst its membership. These two respondents and the British Association for German Shepherd Dogs between them represent the majority of those people that show SV type GSDs in the UK. There was no representation from the Alsatian type breeders.