A CONFORMATION TEST in GSD WORKING TRIALS - REQUIRED - Page 11

Ok, let's say I have an excellent working female GSD with ok structure, but impeccable temperament.  She is a high end working dog, but I have no plans of breeding her; I just want to compete at the WUSV.  Do I need a show rating?  She's not being bred, do I need OFA or an A stamp?  What if it's a great male, top working dog...but I don't want to stud him....do I need to Koer Klasse him and get a show rating?  Why should I ?  If I just want to enter him in working trials?  Now, for people interested in breeding it should be a different story.  A dog should earn the right to be bred, by trials and being shown.  But that's not for everyone.  

If you are going to show your dog at the Siegar show, a National dog sporting event for the GSD make sure your dog can do the bitework.  It's really not that hard.  If the dog or you are not capable of performing at the national level, don't enter.  Simple to me.  But the judges need to toughen up and put the VA structured dogs with the poor bitework behind the good structured working dogs with excellent bite work.  Then you would have the working dogs coming out and being shown at the national competitions.  You may wind up with a nicely structured dog that works well going VA.  And isn't that what we all want, kind of the golden middle thing.  I thing the last thing we need is to water down the working ability of the GSD any further.

JMO, FWIW

Jim

KCzaja, I was with Dennis at that Sieger show,in Washington State and his account is accurate. Btw, Dennis was not as "green" as he depicts himself, as he'd been in the sport for several years at that point and was already a very good helper with several years' experience. And yes, it WAS VA Lasso.

 Very simple issues to respond to:
First: animules: My dogs are Show dogs, and this subject is about Working Dogs. I have NOT proposed that Working Dogs compete in National Shows. You clearly do not fully understand that, or you think your being clever, think again!

As for comparing Show dogs bitework with Working dogs bitework, this thread is NOT about that issue. I accept there is a need to improve the working ability of many show dogs, and when the working dogs dramatically improve their overall conformation, there will be more willingness by show breeders to use them. 

Many other comments are NOTHING to do with the subject of the thread, it appears that many do not read the posts, or understand them, they jump in ill prepared and shoot from the hip, missing the target by miles. They make stereotypical diversionary comments all too typical from working dog people on show dogs. Precisely the waffle and assumptions routinely spewed forth on this site by some 'self proclaimed' working people. The regularly repeated rumours, mainly inaccurate, or based on wishful thinking, and even outright lies, and frequently repeated because they appeal to the MOST BASIC instincts of the human (un)competitive minds.

THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOUR IS MORE COMMON IN CHILDREN, AND MOST CHILDREN GROW OUT OF IT WITH NORMAL MATURITY.

I would accept that my proposal should only be applied to GSD National & International Working Trials....... NOT MIXED BREED TRIALS.

Quote
"Some 'V' graded Working GSD are being used for the 'G' graded dogs to hide behind. In this debate, stop focusing on your best, and focus on how to improve the rest."

I just had a look at the Bundeseiger 2008 results and the top 10 placed dogs had the following conformation ratings.

1st  K1 V rated
2nd K1 SG
3rd       SG
4th       SG
5th  K1  SG
6th  K1  V
7th  no ratings listed
8th K1 SG
9th        V
9th K2  G

Margaret N-J

I will see your point when I see showline dogs with better conformation ratings in the top ten at the Bundeseiger.  When I get time I will study the whole list and see where the showlind dogs were and their conformation ratings.

Margaret N-J

I think it´s better to focus on more urgent things like different type of healthproblems instead of looks in the working GSD. By the way, if by conformation is meant a straight back,normal angualtion and the general look of a strong functional working GSD(think something like a wolf in apperance;)) then this may be a good idea, but not if the conformation is supposed to be the showlike conformation that have been introduced the last 30-40 years or so.

 Videx :

                     How can you even keep blathering on about conformation when the judges are the problem, They are obviously not grading to the standard, all this is moot unless your willing to address the very apperant problem that the judges will not judge by the written standard.