Talk:White German Shepherd Dog

Editor's comments

Hi Michael--and thanks very much for starting an article on this lovely breed.

Couple of comments. I'd like the tone to feel a little lighter. The most important thing is that everyone browsing or "surfing into" a dog breed article should want to read right to the end.

We haven't (yet?) set absolute rules for these articles, or indeed for many...if any...of CZ's species and variety articles, and I think that's good; the author has leeway and can write in his own style.

However, I think some guidelines are in order for the sake of consistency.

1. Articles should describe the general appearance of the dog in easily-understood and engaging language. State anything unique about the breed. Go on to talk about the breed's origin and history, as much as is known, and keep fact separated from folklore (fortunately, much easier to do when speaking of GSDs :) than some other breeds.)

2. I am adamant that breed standards will not be a part of the articles. They're dull. Rather, describing the salient points of the breed standard and giving links to the breed standard(s) of your choice is the way to go in my opinion.

3. Items not specific to the breed under discussion should be kept to a minimum. No detailed discussion of general dog topics such as genetics, whelping, choosing a reputable breeder, how to care for puppies--unless there are items specifically relating to this breed, consider discussing these at more general articles: dog, terrier, herding dog, dog breeding, etc.

4. Items of interest only to the most obsessed breed fancier should be relegated to subpages, if they belong in the article at all. For example, no in-depth listing of who-begat-who--Champion Lillypilly of Orison out of Pathos Intrepid by Dangerous Liaison and so on ad infinitum. By all means do mention dogs of significance, but that's it. No listing of champions and show results.

5. Let's keep external linking out of the main narrative, placing external links on the subpages and in notes if necessary.

6. Keep an international audience in mind; avoid speaking only in terms of one's own country.

Having said all this, I am quite willing to edit this myself, but I thought I'd give you some notes; you're much closer to the subject and might prefer to work on it yourself before I or someone else performs invasive surgery.

Please drop me a line about any of this at anytime. talk to Aleta here!

Aleta Curry 17:38, 13 March 2008 (CDT)