So here’s a thing: All these dogs pictured above are purebred German shepherds.

The top two are from American show lines. They are bred solely for appearances and are not required to have any working titles. They are not required to pass any temperament tests and are not even required to be free of hip displaysia. These are (generally) some fucked-up German shepherds. 

The next two down are from German show lines. German breeding regulations require all breeding stock to have schutzhund or herding titles, but this is not the top priority for show breeders, who continue to produce dogs with absurd conformation. 

The bottom two are from European working lines. They are bred for drive, health, and temperament. The goal is to produce a dog who will not just prove to be sufficient to obtain titles in herding or schutzhund, but who will excel in a variety of working endeavors. These dogs embody what German shepherds are meant to be: Healthy, hearty working dogs.

You can read more about the ever-widening rift between show GSDs and working GSDs HERE.