The Making of a Universal Sieger - Page 3

Randy,

Thanks for the insight.  It has really opened my eyes as to what is involved at that level.   I knew there had to be a lot of money, time, and energy involved but

really, I had no idea......

Your topics are always insightful and informative.  Keep 'em coming!

I was hoping some of the successful participants could share their experience here. Hopefully they will contribute. It's really about them and their accomplishment.

For those tuning in that are considering the Universal pursuit here are some thoughts about putting together your plan. It's based on personal experience and watching the path others have taken.

First and foremost. You have to get a good dog. The Universal competition is an equalizer. It doesn't matter working line or showline. It's a measure of the German Shepherd breed standard. By definition the German Shepherd has work requirements and structural requirements. Your prospect needs both. The Universal dog is a different dog too. It's not an extreme dog.

Research your breeders. Those that have gone before you successfully in this quest have done so extensively. They found breeders with similar interests and documented results. They got a prospect from them.

Read the other thread about working ability. Success generally repeats itself. The dogs from successful dogs are an excellent place to start. You have to get a showline that works or a working line with good conformation. Do not skimp on your prospect. Your success, the value of your investment, all of your time, energy, and resources are riding on this decision. Make the right choice in the beginning. Go for working ability over conformation. The dog has to pass the trial to even be considered.

You're going to have just as good a show program as working program. Plan on getting two experts to help you in each area. No one has done both successfully. Show and field are two seperate expertises. Get two experts to help you. Look at the National results for both work and show and see if any of those that have shown success are willing to help.

Put your plan together before you make the first move. Map it out. Do you have the time and resources to devote? Put numbers in for costs. Dog, training, travelling, helper fees, etc.

    I only wish I had it IN ME, to get out there and win! i remember when I was a kid, I just knew I was going to end up being an Olympic Equestrian Winner. My horse was going to take me over every hurdle there
    Same with my dogs. It is all my short comings why I will never get there. I believe my Bullinger boy, with the right trainer, could have gone a long way in the dog world!

(charity, I will put pics up of my boy Duke on another thread so as not to impose my dogs on this thread, that is a very nice one. I find several great threads lately.)

I have a 10 month old working line male who I intend to show and possibly do these show/trial events as well later on.  He is a very good SchH prospect, so far doing great in all three phases (as much as a 10 month old can do).  I have not shown him in a WDA or USA event yet because I want a good handler (hoping for Carlos Huerta as he handles the dog's sire) and need to do more ring training.  I want him to show well, not just get his show cards.  His father is V rated, KKL1 and has actually defeated a VA1 dog in the working class show ring.  And, he's better at working than show!

Have you spoke to pedro jiminez? He did very well with alex winning usca universal sieger twice with ALEX VOM EISENHAUS who I am the proud breeder of. I know its a lot of work & dedication not to mention the expense incurred to compete at that level. Good luck. Kurt. Vom eisenhaus kennels

The accomplishments of Pedro with Alex are notable not only for the fact that they did it twice in a row but also for the fact that Alex is one of the few pure workingline dogs to V-rate twice at the Sieger show. I personally know both dog and handler... I see this dog regularly whenever I visit Pedro who is a very close friend and Alex will be 11 yrs old on July 9th. At this age he still shows the health and energy of a 7-8 yr old dog.

I know Pedro like my own brother and have seen his preparation for the Univ. Sieger title as well as trained under him when I competed for the same title....

To go for the Univ. Sieger title, you need a dog that has been worked regularly and trained honestly from 12 weeks.

You need a dog that can take the pressure of multiple trials on multiple field and different helpers with only 15 minutes of practice time on the field before the real thing.

You need a dog that can travel across the country on a non-stop flight and get out of the crate and be ready to work 1 hr after landing.

You need to be able to make the financial committment to this kind of travel and downtime from whatever work you normally do to pay your mortgage.

It takes a lot to even begin to compete, it takes even more to pass respectably and it takes a lot of support from many people to get on the podium.

I think Javir is a great example of universal sieger.  He has shown and V-rated in two BSZS (not just the USA shows) and shown progeny there.  I don't even need to list his working accomplishments.  This is not to diminish any of the other dogs mentioned in this thread.  They and their owners all deserve a round of applause.

@ mystere Risk, you have probably seen and met autobahn,too. :-)


mystere, I may have. but I can only relate to Randy saying he can't make the steps. That made me LOL, because I am athletic enough to make them. It's just that after the first half dozen or so, I can't remember where I'm at.


anyway, if i have met autobahn, I'm pretty damn sure I didn't like it any more than I do now. and if autobahn is another former AM. s/l person, lets see the contributions to the GSD. there are a few folks here qualified to make an assessment on on what a GSD should be.

And if Dog1 is bragging, heaven help you all if Rik can come up with a good dog,  I'll wear all yall's azzes out bragging on my dog.  you see, it's really all about the dog.

best,
Rik Atchley

autobahn, this is the 2'nd time I've seen you have called someone to task for bragging. let's get this down to the dog level. what do you have to brag on. put your dog out here. Dog1 did.

how close have you come to Universal Sieger.

barring that, how close have you come to a 90 degree shoulder. Rik is betting that you have never whiffed either. Why breed dogs to a standard when Dave or Ed can tell you what it should be.

anyway, waiting on your dogs.

Rik Atchley