Top 10 "Golden Middle" Kennels in United States - Page 2

I have always been impressed with Dean Calderon's dogs.

If I were to ever buy a showline dog that can work it would be from http://www.wilmothdogs.com/WK9/

Their showline stud is also a working K9 and they also have a working line stud that is a K9. 

Nice site, but then they advertise one of their dogs as "high BH" when he got his BH.  There's no such thing, so that's a little offputting.

Tess,

There is a such thing as a High BH. It is usually regarded in club trials, but not always. Some clubs give a trophy for high BH as well as a medal just for obtaining your BH.

Kind regards,

John Kennedy

I know the first part of the BH is scored, but the rules say the numerical score is not to be given out, simply pass or fail.  And the second part is not numerically scored, so what? the judge says this dog is higher than that dog on the temperment test? 

I think it is a great for marketing a trial. Offer trophies and/or medals for the BH as well. Wouldn't you rather take a dog for his/her's BH where you know you would get a medal of some sort. This is especially big for the first timers.

Now I do know some club(s) that offer a High BH trophy. This should be done from the judge's stand point, but usually it is the owner/president of the club to decide. The sad part is, most of the times it is done by favorites. I have seen a dog and handler do so much better in there BH routine then others and not get the High BH. That to me is unfair and unsportlike. If you date the owner/president of a club, you will get a High BH..........lol.

Kind regards,

John Kennedy

(LOL)  Well, John, you just gave the perfect argument of sticking with the Rules and having it just be pass or fail, now didn't you?  (LOL again)

Our club prints up certificates ahead of time so whoever passes BH has a nice Certificate all ready.  So sure, giving a Cert. and/or a medal is great - but the point is, if you pass, you get one.  You don't have to compete against others for it.  Everybody roots for everybody else.  NO politics, no favorites as to which member is picked for "High BH."  Much nicer for the beginners - they'll get something to take home and hang up if they want, and it doesn't matter if they're competing against top trainers - they all Passed!  They're all the same that day.  We line up all the new BHs for a group photo and everyone's equal, n00b and famous trainer alike.  There's enough obsessing about points & scores later on in the Sch I, II, and III - it's fun that everybody's equal at BH time.  And most important, that's the way the rules are written - No Score, just pass or fail.

Apologies for highjacking the thread.  Back on topic:

ShellyK, who is the lovely dog in your photo in the first post?  Very nice.

He's a Kraftwerk dog I found on their website.

Yes, we do breed for the Golden Middle and I appreciate the kind comments.  Our 3 Patrol dogs( K-9's) are cross-trained, koered and all are Sch3.   In fact, all of our breeding dogs are koered.  All have eye appeal - at least, to us.  We have puppies that go to homes in all directions: schutzhund, conformation, police, companion, service.  We are a small breeder that cares what direction the GSD is taking.   We breed for what WE believe to be the proper direction.  There are many breeders(some already mentioned in this thread) that do a super, caring job with their breeding programs.  They are not always the biggest breeders, but are the ones that truly believe in the direction their breeding program is taking them.   Kudos to all of them!

Tess,

     I am sure that each club decides what awards  are given out at a trial's end. Several of our dog's have been awarded "high BH!"   The award wasn't our idea.  There is nothing on our website that is not true as you imply or I believe you say "offputting" and I appreciate you kind comment about our website being nice.   The "High BH's" that have been awarded to several of our dogs  were awarded by two different Schutzhund Clubs.  They determine the High BH by taking the point total from the first half( yes, it is scored.  Possible 60 points available, with a score of 42 needed to go on to the second half of the BH) and if there is a tie after the Part A of the BH, the judge uses the second half to identify the High BH award.   I know all clubs are different in how and what they recognize.  All ratings and titles take a lot of hard work and all should receive proper recognition.  I just wanted to set the record straight.  Yes, that award is given by some clubs and yes, the dog that we say achieved that award, did so.

From Tim and I and all of our "crew", we wish each and everyone on this board a Happy Holiday Season and hope that your 2009 is safe, successful and prosperous!!!!

Kathy Wilmoth of Wilmothhaus Kennels

www.wilmothdogs.com