Letter from Dr. Heinrich of the WUSV - Page 7

So long you can proof your dogs otherwise, I no longer stress over IPO titles. Especially not since it's been turned into a business rather than being a VOLUNTEER sport. 

 

But that isn't the topic. 

Sad though that even people within an hour of national level helpers claim to have no one to work with and that it’s too hard to title in this country. It’s not that hard, just need to make a few more sacrifices if you claim to love the breed as much as you do.

 

Just because you have a national helper within an hour, doesn't mean you get to work with those helpers. Most of the time these helpers are booked so far out, you rarely get a chance to get in. 

And yes, it is that hard. It's not easy getting into a club, if you don't have a helper, it's basically impossible. Good helpers are rare, National Helpers rarely have the time to train with "local level" or "newbs". 

Let's be realistic for a second and that's just for Protection and doesn't include tracking. 

 

"Realistic" is, that the majority of people living in the US don´t care.
In case people were interested, there would be clubs, there would be helpers, and there would be trials.

In Germany we have to pay a lot of money for gas, we earn less, only a few clubs do have "National level" helpers, some have none...but we HAVE TO trial, and we do it.

Our country is small, we do have LESS room for clubs, we do have LESS fields for tracking - we PAY the rent for the training field, and we PAY the farmer for the use of the tracking fields...

US citizens do have the choice ( AKC ), so they don´t need to go through all this work and spend all of this money.
The result? They don´t do it, they will make their money without major expenses ( breeding ).

I ADMIRE every US citizen willing to go through all the SV requirements out of "free will". This will shows me the ultimate will to WORK with this outstanding breed, and to BREED according to the initial breed standard.

At least 90% of the people in German clubs still are "volunteers", it´s not our fault people outside of Germany only are interested in "professional kennels" and "professional helpers" = interested in famous names -

this only shows me that people outside of my country are only interested in "selling names", not in quality -
not our fault, but speaks volumes ( the more famous the name, the better the pups will sell ).

👍👍👍

Susie...there is no choice, other than AKC...and let me tell you, THEY SUCK...
I have told them, and provided PROOF of a breeder forging paperwork, using unregistered dogs, bought off craigslist for 100 bucks to use as a stud, (i did now find this same dog, with a mysterious set of AKC papers to go with him) to be told, WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO ABOUT IT!!!!!!
Why on earth would they care about breeding ethics, as long as the $$$ is sent in.
I also know of AKC providing AKC full registration to a German Shepherd female from the Continental Kennel Club....
I told them they could shove their papers, they obviously have no regard for a breeders work here.
I also was very happy when I found a club, close to my house. Paying the fee wasn t the problem, even sitting on the grass for 3 hours waiting for your 5 minute 'session' could have been tolerated, but not one consensus on what was correct training, was z bit much.
I take great pride in my dogs. It has nothing to do with money, titles, etc., but honestly, no amount of money could compensate me for the fantastic feeling of knowing i produce dogs that are healthy and are greatly appreciated for 'WHATEVER' job they are doing.
I have a waiting list...I would love to be out having fun with just a few others that enjoy their dogs, the way I do mine.
I do have a very small group of friends that we share info with, that actually do care where the breed is headed.
I came here years ago, to learn, and I have. I know I still have a big mouth, but my ears also absorb what goes in.
I have pups almost 2 weeks old now, one of them is heading to the NYS Police k9 program as soon as we determine which one that will be.
If there is room for two..two it will be.

You can´t have done too many faults in your breeding program, I followed your dogs

It´not about people like you, it´s about the majority of people trying to make money out of a myth, but not willing to do the work to get "real" working dogs, be it in sport or in daily life work.

As long as "breeders" in your country don´t start to train and title by themselves, nothing will change.
They will buy titled dogs out of my country forever, cause they are not able to distinguish between a breedworthy dog and a pet.

The majority of people/breeders doesn´t care, and because of that there are no clubs.

@Baerenfangs Erbe - I am currious, what "value" does a NATIOANAL level helper hold in training??? 

  

NYSP has a police program for puppies? When did that start? I have placed at least 5 dogs with them over the years and they were at least 18 months when they started the program/academy in Albany. I'm just curious as when they started the puppy program.

Btw, I'm not trying to be smartass about NYSP, but I have 5 month old puppy right now I am raising for PSD and I could send him to the program. Unfortunately, I'm not skilled enough to determine if a pup is a police candidate until they are about 10 months to a year. But if there is puppy program........

Susie…it’s way too easy to make a sale and a living on first time buyers or one time customers. The majority of the GSDs I work at club are someone buying one for the first time, learning about IPO, trying it with their dog, 99/100 times struggling with their first dog and then learning and buying a proper second dog from people that work and title their dogs.

You are absolutely right…until they HAVE to…the majority won’t do it. The American SL lobby is quite strong within GSDCA and any kind of titling requirement is the last thing they want to see. Over the last decade or so I’ve seen more and more working dog breeders figure out that they can have sales without titling either and their dogs are going to 90% pet homes who won’t know their dogs probably lack working ability. Sure…strong nerves are important. But the sad thing is that as long as the puppies produced are stable and “non-problem” dogs, the breeder doesn’t care and people consider them good working dogs. When the majority of dogs aren’t worked…basic pet stuff becomes the standard.

People constantly complaining that high level competitors and police departments are still importing dogs from Europe…there’s a reason for it…bitches and dogs are titled and proven. They’re shown in front of thousands of people when they go to regionals and nationals…people know these dogs when they’re picking puppies or making breeding decisions. In the United States...easier to save the $5000-$10000 to title a dog and still sell the puppies for $2000+.

Helper or no helper…the problem is usually the handlers don’t know how to train/finish a dog. Too many people depending on others to do the work rather than figure out how to do it themselves. Easier to blame the “lack of good training” instead of taking a look in the mirror and realizing their own lack of ability. You don’t need a helper for obedience or tracking. Get out there and get it done instead of thinking up excuses.