Gloria Birch - Awards

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Gloria F Birch: German Shepherd Dogs are what I would want all people to be like. The greater part of me wants to be like them. German Shepherds are loyal, sensitive, courageous, intuitive, intelligent, wise, and very honest. They are very clear about their feelings of passion, jealousy, and love. Is it any wonder why they are so popular and loved by so many? Other than shedding, they make the perfect companion.

Gloria F Birch: I guess if you know and admire fine art, have some education in physics and genetics, with the reality that we are leaving a footprint with what we do, then yes. I love art, music, and nature. Some German Shepherds are elegant and stunning to look at; some call it “eye candy.” You will not forget the “look of eagles” in a German Shepherd. Music is all about timing, so when the structure is well balanced and sound in movement it’s like music to the ear. Then, they move with grace and ease, like watching poetry in motion with perfectly timed music. Nature is all about balance. I never forget that fact. One must always keep the vision and action coming back to the AKC
Breed Standard.

Gloria F Birch: Selecting a stud for my female starts by evaluating her. What are her qualities, breed type (looks like a female), temperament, soundness of structure, and excellence of movement (as angulated as possible as long as they are sound)? What are her faults? As a dear friend of mine says, “If you don’t fault, you can’t correct.” Thereafter, seek out males with similar qualities and know their faults.

After this physical exam, the second most important part about breeding is the pedigree. Make sure, if you are linebreeding, that the dog you are linebreeding on has the same qualities as the dam and sire. Know their shortcomings. It’s always nice when dogs used for breeding have credentials such as DM clear, OFA, temperament tested, championships, and performance titles. Check out the second, third, and fourth generations. “Records live, opinions die,” so “breed the best to the best and place the rest.” We look at babies at birth, proportions of 8-to-10 are easy to see when they are nursing. The angles of front and rears are well defined.

Then we evaluate them at 5 to 5-1/2 weeks and again at 4-1/2 months. At 5 weeks, if you have a good imagination, the puppies will look and move as they will at 4-1/2 and 11 months. We usually select a couple, then place the rest in loving homes.

Gloria F Birch: The German Shepherd Dog Standard is beautifully written and easily applied when breeding and judging. We must always adhere to it in all aspects of our breed.

Gloria F Birch: There are so many positive things about purebred dogs. There would not be rescues if all breeders took care of never letting one of their pups end up in the rescue system, and if spaying and neutering was affordable or free. We are a group of breeders dedicated to improving each breed, with the guidance from the AKC. More advertising about positive, planned purebred breeding practices is important.

Thank you to the AKC for the honor of the Herding Breeder of the Year award. And thank you for giving me this interview. 

Gloria Birch | Covy-Tucker Hill German Shepherd Dogs – Showsight Magazine