mentors - Page 1

Have you ever been a mentor or been mentored by someone?  How would you define the relationship and would you consider it valuable? 

When I bought my first female, I got a lot of advice from Janis Novak on the old germanshepherds. com webboard.  I looked up to her, had the chance to speak with her at many local shows.  She even had a young friend of mine who was learning to handle take a puppy of hers into the ring.  My interactions with her were invaluable,  she always struck me as honest, opinionated, and many things she said about breeding and showing have stuck with me.

I don't know if thats the kind of reply you were looking for, but she came to my mind immediately.

yes it is.  I have always wanted to create some sort of mentor type program that would match people together as a kind of support/team system.  The biggest problem is I am not really sure anyone would ever find it valuable and a lot of people do tend to form these types of relationships kind of naturally through the course of breeding/purchasing/ and boards like this.  It is probably a dumb idea.

As far as mentors go I think they are one of the most important things when getting a dog - I muddled through with our mutt - it all turned out well but I didnt really know what I was doing.

As far as now - a couple of people come to mind...My breeder has been a great help but its hard to talk to her sometimes...then there is someone I know who bred AmLine Shepherds for 20 years and now breeds Borzois - she helps me out with just about everything from suggestions of food to training options to structure and temperment.  There are also a couple of working line breeders I have talked to and trainers who have been a great service...and last but certainly not least the members of my breed club have been great :)  I have really talked to a bunch of people because I figure that is the best way I can learn.

I think a Mentorship program is an outstanding idea - lol - I am in the military and it's something I used throughout four years of Senior Military College and am using in the National Guard.  It would be kind of neat if there was a database of people in their different locations who were willing to be a mentor are at least someone to bounce ideas off of...you get alot off of these forums and talking to people on the phone but I think there is so much more you can get through actually seeing things done and maybe working with that person one on one with training and socialization and even more so with breeding and the like....those are probably the best places to have a nearby mentor because that person can be with you during whelping and offer advice and suggestions during the breeding and the like.

~Cate

We're trying to establish a mentoring program at my local all breed club.  I already mentor a junior handler in Conformation (along with a couple of pro's) that shows soft coated wheatens.  She's a very talented young girl and she really wants to start showing GSD's so we'll see. 

I've had several wonderful mentors that I met on an on-line GSD board. They've been a great source of information and support.  I don't breed but would have consider it BEFORE meeting some of the folks on that board and learning exactly how little I understood about breeding.   Now I try to pass on the education they've given me to new GSD owners from my area.  So that's become an informal mentoring program as well.

Lisa,  Not a dumb idea at all...  I think one of the things many of us are missing the boat on is Mentorship...   I've come to know "of" some great people on this board,  I don't know them,  but I know of them and have a general idea of what they are about through this board, and through emails...  There are those who will help others and then there are those who will damn all but to the detrement of the breed and eventually themselves.  (no name mentioned on purpose)

I would like to think I have been able to Mentor many of our purchasers,  (in some aspects of the GSD)  I'll give them what I know, ( from personal experience, and or Veterinarian adivce/explanation to a specific condition )  I'll even give them my thoughts,  But tell them the difference between the two,  (ie the bloat thing is a theory I happen to beleive in but does not make it fact)   I will also point them to some one who knows alot more than I do when it comes to a situation I do not know how to help them with,  I don't just leave them hanging,  and am (when possible) available and in attendance for the "discovery"  So far we have great relationships with out buyers, and I'll continue to bend over backwards to keep it that way !    :-)

I will say that being in attendance to this board has definately helped me to learn things...  I read almost all of them )unless they are pure mud slining then I don't bother)   But I only comment on the few I feel comfortable to comment on, ( though lately that is becoming difficult )

Seems you can't win no matter what...  If you have a problem your stupid,  Dare to ask a question and your stupid,  If you've experienced an issue and want to share it your stupid, and if you have had experience in a topic that was brought up and think you "might" be able to share some useful information your stupid...  anyway you get the idea.  LOL.

Your Ideas of Mentorship are NOT Stupid !!!!    They should be more closely evaluated and implimented into more breeding programs then maybe there would not be so much "Stupidity"   :-)

   I consider most of you all to be my mentor/s, I know for the most part the "good, the bad and the ugly" on this board, I ask or comment on something and cull accordingly to whomever might respond...But know this, there are some folks here that know so much more than I ever will if they tell me something I believe it and try it...

   Thanks to all of you who have offered support and help along my way towards being all that I could be to my GSDs....Just when you think you know it all along comes someone with another view that makes sense and is reasonable...Learning something from most of you everyday...

      Thanks,

            Rob