Differences between domestic and imported dogs?

Question

Is there a noticeable difference in your breed of choice?

Answer 1

It all depends on if the dog has a good blood line and is it pure breed.

Pure breed dogs are better and are better at what they do, such as attack dogs and are even easier to train. But a Rottweiler is a  Rottweiler it will still be hard to train.

Answer 2

There sure are!! Not only between American and European dogs, but between all German Shepherd Dog lines. In my honest opinion, American line dogs are not comparable to import dogs in any way. American line dogs have no working ability anymore. They are either pets or show dogs. European dogs are mainly working dogs or show dogs. Now I'm not saying that there are no pets in Europe, but the majority are work/pet or show/pet whereas in America dogs are either show/pet or pet. Does that make sense?

West German Show Lines

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/pictures...

German Working Lines (Belgian and Dutch lines)

http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_...

East German Lines (DDR)

http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_...

Czech and Slovak Lines

http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_...

American Show Lines

http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_...

British Lines

http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_...

The differences are astounding. Some of these could be considered a separate breed. This topic is one of my favorite subjects for debate as a matter of fact ;-)

Not only are there noticeable differences between lines, there are differences between dogs of a certain line. There are also combined line dogs. Then there is show quality vs. working quality vs. pet quality German Shepherd Dogs (The Rottweiler in your first picture falls under American pet quality).

Here is just one example of a pet quality German Shepherd Dog in the United States. Now, pet quality dogs can all look different. Take a look at this common structure and shape....

http://showcase.netins.net/web/pointview...

compared to this other common pet quality dog.

http://leerburg.com/Photos/longhair.jpg

There are coat length/color differences. There are differences in type. There are differences in behavior. Not all lines are the same and not all dogs of the same line are the same. German Shepherd Dogs are a very diverse breed of dog.

ADD: I have to agree with Loki. The dog in your first picture is a pet quality (BYB) Rottweiler. Just like GSDs, there are differences between American show and pet. There are also differences between import show and work. You did make your point though. Great question!!

ADD2: I also agree that viewpoints on breeding and buying dogs are very different in the two countries. I know this may not be fair to say, but it seems like Americans will buy a dog regardless of its breeding whereas in Germany etc. most dog buyers know what to look for in a dog and will buy based on quality. They pay more attention to health clearances and performance when purchasing a dog. There are good breeders in America, but they are forced to compete with irresponsible family breeders and the pet trade. In Germany, there are not as many families breeding their pets.

Answer 3

the only difference i can tell is that one is from the states and one is from the country of origin.

Answer 4

Yikes. Okay, that "American" Rottweiler is a terrible example of the breed, in any country. I know you're trying to make a point, but that is a straight up BYB Rott.

Most of what I see at the shows and the obedience ring looks like this:

http://judgeseducation.com/rottweiler/ph...

Here's an interesting article from the American Rottie Club on "German" vs. "American" Rottweilers (kind of addressing the same):

http://www.amrottclub.org/gvamerican.pdf

ADD: As for the differences in my breed, Ulva pretty much answered the question for me. :)

I will add that some of the Continental European/Australian Siberians bear closer resemblance to the US dogs, whereas the Asians have merely imported the flashiest show stock they can find from North America, and have no interest in whether or not the breed can actually work -- Asian Siberians tend to be short-legged tanks with a ton of coat.

ADD2: I understand what you're saying, and Shanna did provide a great answer, but I guess I just can't relate to the idea that Europeans "do things better", as this is not necessarily the case in my breed. While there are aspects of breeding/proving dogs in Europe that I wish were done here, none of them are done with European Siberians. Maybe with the protection breeds, but not with every breed.

There are good European Siberian kennels, and there are crappy ones. Just like there are here. Perhaps it is because the Siberian didn't originate in Europe, with an established group of Working devotees.

This is a whole, esoteric can of worms I can get into, but I won't! :) But do you see what I'm saying? European does not = better quality in all breeds.

ADD2: Shanna -- I see your point, and I definitely agree that America seems overrun with BYBs compared to Europe, and that our cultures' dog breeding philosophies are radically different. I also completely agree that working ability in all functional breeds does not seem as valuable here as markings, docile temperaments, and other housepet traits. Well put!

Amanda -- You've always made excellent points, but you've changed *so much* since the "Mutt Mommy" days. :) Thank you for another thought provoking question!

Answer 5

Yes my breed of choice is a Rottweiler and obviously their is a difference, as you have illustrated. I personally prefer the look of the European Rottweiler from those images.

Are you sure its a purebred American rottweiler? I know they are allowed a small amount of white on their coats( not desired but allowed), but that dog has more than I would have expected. http://www.flickr.com/photos/68737936@N0... If its purebred its probably badly bred.

Answer 6

The European Rottweiler probably doesn't bark in English.  

Answer 7

It depends on where you import from.

I have two breeds, but, I'll focus on one.

The Afghan Hound is actually a Persian Sight Hound, "native" imports are very rare to any country, but, "native" dogs are where our Hounds came from in the first place.  Australian Afghans are of a certain type, as are American, European and lines from Great Britain.

They are all Afghan Hounds, but, the Standards vary a bit from the American Parent Club to The FCI  and  KC(United Kingdom). Not enough to make huge differences in the breed, but,enough to be noticeable, differences in size and style mostly.

I imagine it would be different if you were to import a dog to/from England to/from the US that was from a breed that traditionally has tails and, or ears cropped.

Answer 8

It depends heavily on what the conformation style is in a particular region.  Though the example you posted of an american Rottweiler isn't a good example of what's in the show ring in the US.

Answer 9

Do you really want/need an answer to this one Amanda, can anyone not see the difference between the 2 dogs?

One looks like a Rottie and the other looks like..well, not a Rottie!!

In my breed, the malinois, there is a HUGE difference between American and European dogs, mostly in their working abilities!!

I cannot wait to see the answers you get here!!

Answer 10

I don't know this for certain, but in my research, I have read that for terriers, breeders in Great Britain tend to have dogs that retain more of the working ability, whereas North American breeders are breeding more for conformation.  I think that may hold true for all the working breeds.  And of course, there are breeders in North America that trial their dogs in the field as well, and choose their breeding stock accordingly - I personally think they are the small minority, though.  

Great pictures - they really show the difference!

Answer 11

Well, Eurpoeans actually take breeding seriously and don't breed dogs based simply upon if they want to or not. Dogs in Europe that aren't breeding quality aren't bred while dogs in America are bred if their owner thinks they're cute or might bring in some extra cash. The result is American dogs of any breed tend to be so far from standard that they hardly resemble their breed anymore. That's not to say that there aren't excellent American breeders working hard to preserve their breed but it's getting harder and harder to find those breeders.

In my breed, the European dogs still have the ability to work while American breeders seemed to have focused solely on creating a decent pet. I blame bad breeding practices as well as the sue-happy nation we have become which labels any dog that tends to be even slightly aggressive as 'dangerous' leaving people to think that they need to breed any protective instinct out of the breed. A well bred Doberman does have an aggressive side but they aren't the unpredictable time bombs people make them out to be, they are well adjusted and very trustworthy, it's the ill-bred dog that maintains none of it's natural protective and confident instinct and borders on fearful that scares me.

Loki, I get exactly what you are saying and agree that American bred dogs can be just as high quality as European dogs, if not better in some cases, but I think the problem is that American society has just accepted that it's okay for the average Joe to breed their dogs and people will shell out big bucks for those backyard bred dogs encouraging more and more of them to breed. While in Europe, it is still widely known that quality produces quality and people won't pay big bucks for a litter that isn't up to par.

There are still excellent American breeders but they are constantly struggling to compete with the ever growing BYB's while European breeders have much less of that particular problem making it easier to find well bred dogs there vs in America. The average pet dog in Europe is going to better bred than your average pet dog in America, but like you said, there are always going to be good and bad examples anywhere in the world.

Answer 12

From what I can tell and have heard of my breed, the European dogs have shorter pointier muzzles, not quite as big ears, and better (silkier/stronger) coats.

UK: http://www.sunshoopapillons.co.uk/galler...

Germany: http://www.schwabenhof-papillons.de/engl...

USA: http://www.braylorspapillons.com/trancep... (scroll to bottom)

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