Breed Improvement Suggestions for the UK GSD Breed Council - Page 20

Ditto

There was once a good club called Northumberland & Durham that used to do the same!!!!

Joyce & Estweyn, same here.  I think it's happened for many reasons.  Decent club houses are hard to find,  harder to keep & so expensive. 

Some show goers send their dogs off for ringcraft training, then wonder why their dogs ignore their manic antics round the show ring... there are a few dogs that barely know who their owners are!  I loved Match nights & used to go to "All breed" ones too... excellent for getting your Shepherds used to other breeds. 

Jess, thanks for the Geography.  Guilford is my nearest.

I am not throwing in the towel (even Videx is talking positive on the two tier issue now) so there is light at the end of a very long tunnel, just dont want the whole situation to get left and toned down, the BC have done very little in the last 15 years other than hold regular meeting and progressed little, what makes anyone think it will change now its the same people talking the same story walking the same walk (but being very successful running round in circles

I agree in principle with the suggested two tier system of registrations, my only concern is that it will be not understood by the puppy buying public , some of whom then go on to become BYB, so breeders who flout the suggested health checks will still have a ready market for puppies ad infornitum.

In view of my concerns re the above, would it not be a responsible move for ALL breeders to endorse stock ' progeny not for registration 'UNTIL new owners are able to produce proof of having carried out the various health tests &  having passed etc , before this endorsement is lifted?

I have been following this practice for 30 years on all my litters & providing it is explained properly, the reason being for the good of the breed, ( I also put a written explanation in the puppy pack), I have never lost a sale due to it, in fact when explained , without exception, everyone applauds my reasons for doing it.

It is not a sure fire way of making people only breed in a responsible way, but at least they have to do some checks if they wish to register a litter.

A small guesture but surely better then nothing ? I am always staggered that more breeders do not endorse

singe

 I also endorse all my pups and I think endorsement's are the way forward ,

Rhoda and I would be lost without a GSD training club to go to. We have been going to Essington GSD training Club for over 20 years, and on the odd occassion to another excellent training club run by Leicester GSD Club. It is a 90 mile round trip to Essington and a 160 mile round trip to Leicester, and worth every mile we travel. We rarely miss a training night heald weekly and our dogs gain much from it. I have had the pleasure many years ago of attending a super training club in the North East, Newcastle, and the one at St. Helens, also the one that used to be run by Helen Bibby near Godmanchester, Cambridgshire, and also the one at Heads of the Valley and one in Crewe. I have been guest trainer at some of these clubs. A GSD Training club establishes a foundation for our breed in a geographical area. If any single development could revitalise our breed it is more GSD Training Clubs. I frequently feel I have enjoyed the best years our breed had to offer here in the UK. While I write this I have the same feeling, we have lost a great deal in our breed over the last 10 years. My enthusiasm for Essington is reinvigorated, thank you, I pity those without a training club.

Jess:  formulate a proposal which encompasses the principle of the two tier KC registration system based on an agreed and updated Breed Survey  which will include breed health issues and test results. Also to be considered and discussed the possible inclusion of character testing, the BH, soundness of mind and body, working ability/functionality, Line breeding limits, and other issues if and when considered appropriate.

This proposal to be printed and sent to EVERY GSD Breed Club with a request that it be placed on the GSD Breed Council agenda as soon as possible, and a request to each Club to give careful consideration to the possibilty of requesting a Special Breed Council meeting with this SINGLE and most important subject on the agenda.

I would also suggest sending a copy of the proposal, for information, directly to the Kennel Club.
I would also suggest requesting the WUSV Clubs, GSD League and BAGSD, to ask for any help and advise the WUSV and SV can offer them onthis very important proposal, which will shape the future for our breed here in the UK
.
I would also suggest that a copy is sent to the Breed Council Magazine, OUR DOGS and DOG WORLD for publication.
That will do for starters.

That is the way forward Videx, without the support of the Breed clubs I dont think the Breed Council will take the propositions seriously.  Perhaps the breed clubs could get together and use some elbow up the the back techniques if this proposal is not taken seriously, after all they pay to belong to the Breed Council.  I also agree that it should be a Special meeting rather than lost in the general meeting stuff.  This does need to move though as I think in the constitution they may have to give a certian amount of notice before calling a special meeting and as everyone has pointed out time is of the essense and strike while the iron is hot in the aftermath of the tv programme.

Videx - you are lucky to have the time and resources to travel such a distance to your  clubs.  Having got children it isnt always possible to go so far from home on a week night and as much as I want to do Schutzhund it isnt possible for me to just dissappear every Saturday or Sunday to go training.  This is something that I am having to wait for - when the kids are older and less dependent (hope I'm fit enough then!). 

12 years ago we were lucky and had 2 GSD ringcraft clubs but both of those have disappeared over the time and now it is a drive over 1hr 30mins + each way and unfortunately that is not an option for me at the moment in the evening.  However it doesnt stop me trying with my dogs and hopefully next year I will be able to make more time for more extensive training.  I imagine I am not alone in this problem and it makes it much harder for some to get their training beyond the basics.  I have even lost my good all breed training class, the hall has become out of bounds for dogs and after failing to get another venue the trainer has now given up, which is such a shame as much of my older dogs training which is still very evident was as a result of that club, it was a short distance from home and at sensible times and we regularly went twice a week. 

Videx

This is to big for an unknown individual to champion, in my original proposal i said the National clubs need to meet and agree, only with that would the KC MIGHT listen, there are people on this thread from BC GSDL and BAGSD they need to put agenda items relating to this subject to there next meeting and arrange to see each other to discuss the GSD and the way forward, this in reality will take years so regarding the tv programme the iron will have gone cold but if the level of support from the national organisations is there the KC might just have to listen