Looking for Hodie(An old member here i learnt few important things from) - Page 3

Hund, wendy was trying to make her way into "the dog world", had her own thoughts and opinions, right ,wrong or indifferent, same as the rest of us.
She was here, same as the rest of us, trying to learn about the breed.Some have actual knowledge, others swear some bogus bs they read, or heard was proven fact, and then there are the know it all know nothings.
Hootie AND her blowfish (as I like to call (her)them, were self proclaimed "experts". Was nothing they did not know about the breed: training, health, breeding, standards, etc.
Anyone that questioned or disagreed with her, them, would be , tied to the whipping post, AND flogged, by these disguised experts.
I mean if you did not know every thing about the breed, you had no business owning or wanting a German Shepherd.
Go spend time at a club, and learn about the breed before even considering ownership.
Different opinion then theirs,OMG....you be belittled and insulted.
Sad fact, all this internet bullying was done by teachers, police and other professionals (and I use the term loosely )hence; Hootie and her blowfish.
So, when her hypocrisy was exposed and her face was recognized. ...
I guess it was too much.
One person calls her out...ALL database posters are now a waste of her time.

Kitkat, we all see things differently and some of your assumptions are way off from the truth and what actually happened.

I never knew Hodie and can't figure out how to search a member's name on this particular forum so that I can read back to some of their posts to see if they truly did know their stuff or if they were full of it...but kitkat's story isn't foreign to me and I've seen it time and time again on different dog forums. As I stated earlier, usually the person, or group of people is made up of someone middle of the road that in the case of working dogs has titled a few dogs, possibly imported some titled ones as well, bred a few decent litters, managed to put a puppy or two in the hands of fellow club members who also went on to title their dogs at their club trial and now that person considers themselves god's gift to working dogs. These people get a following on the internet that they can't have in real life because the people on the internet believe titling a dog in IPO is the greatest thing ever while the people in real life know that a club trial title is just that...a club trial title.

Usually a big portion of their credibility comes from the magical, mythical, only they can understand and can't dare to begin to explain on the internet, knowledge of pedigrees and the ability to breed dogs based on pedigree alone without the need to watch them work. And generally the working thing gets dismissed because "IPO is a sport and not a breed test like it was back in their day." They center their protection of the breed around the "don't breed untitled dogs thing" until they fail to title a dog, lose access to their club, get old, keep back dogs that are unable to perform the work because they have become kennel blind, ect, and then start breeding untitled dogs. This then creates an issue but as long as they can keep that under wraps as much as possible, they will still have their fanboys on the interweb. But even then, if it does get out, most will defend them by saying they've had enough experience to breed untitled dogs so it's all good. I mean...Germany still makes their breed wardens and judges title their breeding stock, but these special folk on the internet know way more than anyone like that so they don't have to follow the rules they try to make everyone else follow.

It's not a secret why most people with real success aren't on the forums or discussing anything on the internet. When they do come on, they get run off by the "middle men and their lackeys." Sad, but true. No "real" information about dogs truly gets shared, everyone is out there protecting their own, selling their own, or just wanting to feel like they're special when they really aren't. Unfortunately this type of environment doesn't allow new people to truly get unbiased opinions and knowledge. They're either run off or they learn to fall in line with the status quo and eventually after a decade or so become the middle men themselves and are busy defending the cartel and the honor of their "mentors."

Well, harsh, BW ! Maybe much truth in that, but don't get too
depressed / depressing. There are still some of us online
who can share a little real knowledge and breed philosophy!
If one has no axe to grind, ie is not a breeder or competitor,
but is well versed in the care of dogs in general & GSDs in
particular, and if you can share politely / accept that others
have their own beliefs and way of doing things / & not gather
a bunch of camp followers, then hopefully one can still be of
use to a forum !

I still, myself, believe large working breeds need some base
knowledge of dog handling and care from their potential
owners, that people should do their homework and ideally join
or at least visit clubs, competitions, shows etc, first. I still think
folk should be very careful about why & how they breed, and
that entails establishing the 'breed-worthiness' of their stock,
by Breed Reports, qualifications in competition or work, but I
also believe that people who say that should stick to it in their
own breeding !  I still feel it is morally reprehensible to churn
out specimens of any breed JUST BECAUSE THE TYPE
SELLS - without reference to the breed's Standard (however
well cared for or good-natured those dogs are). I don't
believe these things 'cos I got them out of a book somewhere,
I believe in them due to 45 years experience, watching what
dog owners do / the problems they have / what becomes of
the dogs ... I don't have ANY claim to be "breed royalty" and
don't want 'fans' hanging on my every word, or walking on
eggshells, thinking they cannot argue with me. But it IS nice
to be thanked or acknowledged occasionally, if I can be helpful.
I am sure I am not alone in any of this.

I have never seen a perfect German Shepherd, but I have seen some superb GS over the years. I have never met a person that knows everything about the breed, but I have met some people that have immense knowledge of the breed. The amount of bitterness, rancor, and pettiness in the dog world is legendary. At the end of the day, I think every top has to sit on their own bottom, and hopefully it fits.

To the excellent post by gustav, I'll say it another way; people, don't let your mouth overload your arse.

Really LIKE that line about 'tops & bottoms' Cliff,
can I nick it sometime ? :)

BW, If you use user search and search out Hodies name you will find some of her posts on her profile page.

I originally met Sharyn (Hodie) on a Yahoo GSD group some time in the 90's and we had corresponded for years, both on that group and in private emails, before there was a forum on this site. I always considered her reasonably knowledgeable about the breed and about dogs in general but always thought of her more as an equal than, "royalty," an assessment with which I think she would agree. I remember how excited she was when she bought her property in Colorado and what big hopes she had for it. It went well for several years but I think juggling a rescue, boarding kennel, fledgling schutzhund club, and small breeding operation ultimately took its toll. The last time I was in touch with her, she indicated that some health issues were interfering with her ability to effectively run her kennel without help and that she was facing some financial difficulties because of that.

Shortly thereafter, she dropped off of the map and I never heard from her again. At this point I don't know if she's even still alive (she would be 68, I think) or where she is. The kennel has been closed for some time now and the schutzhund club appears to be defunct as well. I doubt anyone here will be able to find her unless she wants to be found but hope she is well.

As for the person she with whom she had issues, her name is Windy, not Wendy. While I will agree that she may have come across as a little brash in her early years in the breed, I do think, based on my recollections, that it could have been handled with more tact, especially if our goal is to encourage others in the breed and in the sport. Either way, Windy did not give up and has learned a lot and made great progress since then. She has had some degree of success in both the training and showing of her dogs, is the president of her own recently formed schutzhund club in Texas and is even a certified helper. Good for her for not allowing her enthusiasm to be dampened!

Nice, informative, post Keith.  TY