Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show - Page 11

quit rationalizing and be honest that is all.

I'm sick of the excuses, the rationalizing etc.  I've had nothing but working dogs in my life.  and none have ever had any problems living in the house.  none needed to be kenneled because they have so much drive.  and they do have drive.  Lots of it..

It's not hard to do sport with a medium drive dog.  It's had with a no drive dog for sure, but medium?  that's easy.  and who cares?  those that keep their dogs in kennels to make them "crazy" and talk about how "hard" they are are no better than those making excuses as to why they need to destroy a working breed of dog because they can't handle one.

Get your dogs, train them, interact with them, and if you have one worthy of being a breeder, breed it.  Quit changing the criteria to fit your lifestyle. 

if you're going to breed, KNOW YOUR BREED.  if you don't know why the "test" that is now a sport is used, better do some research.  If you don't know how a biting dog relates to a herding dog, time to pick up a book, if you don't know why a good nose, loyalty, strength in physical and mental senses, strong nerve and drive, lots of it, is important in everything from herding, to schutzhund, to SAR to leading the blind, it's time to stop breeding and start learning. 

double post

Zdog, that's one of the best posts I've ever read on here!  [Stands up and applauds]

Random: I thought the Labrador Retriever showing was a chunky monkey

Yes, Flashbang, that's the latest fad in the show ring for labs. They are being shown 10 to 20 lbs. overweight. (I have a friend who shows labs, and I found this out from her.)  I wish breed clubs had the moxie to stand up to fads that are harmful to the health and working ability of their dog breed, and say NO! This is not right and we are not going to allow it. 

Zdog,

Who is rationalizing what? I am not excusing myself – you are attacking and want me to excuse myself. I just state my ideas however ‘unthinkable’ they may sound to you.

I learned long time ago that the only person I can influence and change is myself. I am who I am and if you don’t like it – it’s your problem, not mine.

And you are missing one point, blindly attacking the fact that I prefer Am lines – WE BOTH AGREE that GSDs should have a drive. I opt for medium drive and my dog has such, and I breed for same (not that I am a big breeder – maybe a litter a year so I don’t have to worry about my pups going to people I don’t want them to go to). I don’t like couch potatoes, I like to be active with my dog. I DO NOT WANT “biting dog”, I want the dog that knows what to bite and when. I want the dog that doesn’t jump of the cliff only because his ball went there… That’s it.

Why am I not a proponent of ’ your’ type of dog (whatever that is)? Just my personal preference. If you like it, I’m glad for you. Everybody should be happy and proud with their dogs.

“The proof is always at the end of the leash” – I really love that quote and I think I'm starting to overuse it !

I have an idea - does anybody know what kind of dogs GSD judges from Westminster Kennel Club own? I mean what lines? Am Lines, German line, Working Line, etc?

I curious to know...

Having ever owned, bred or trained a GSD is not a requirement for judging the GSD in All Breed shows.

Rik 

So on what basis do they judge them? Do they have to pass a test of knowing what the GSD looks and behave like or is it their pure personal preference? Would their personal preference of 'looks' influence the dogs that have been shown?

I think (at least going by what the judge said this last time) they judge all the dogs according to their STANDARD.  And  I say hooorah!