AKC approves Working Dogg Sport - Page 1

Sorry, not sure what happened. Anyway, I just read a press release from AKC approving a Working Dog Sport for several breeds including GSD's. Does anyone know what this is about?

The working Dog Sport is basically Schutzhund. As I recall it was proposed a year or two ago by the WDA and voted down within the AKC but a few trials were held to demonstrate the program. This should be a positive step within the US to recognize working trials and the need for dogs to have working abilities. I see this bringing us closer to the SV style system. The AKC should be commended for taking this step as it met with opposition from many that knew little about it.

While I agree that the AKC limited approval for Working Dog Sport events is a positive development for the sport of Schutzhund, there may be an unintended downside to consider. That is, if the AKC/GSDCA are now involved in the sport of Schutzhund, then there is no longer a unique mandate for the GSDCA-WDA to continue to exist. Those interested purely in the "sport" as an end in-and-of itself stand to gain. Those who view the sport as a means to an end (breeding according to the international GSD standard) stand to lose. The WDA, per its current bylaws, is purely a "sport" organization, not a "breed" organization as many might believe. The WDA bylaws define its organizational principles strictly around the working dog sport. In fact, there is nothing in the current WDA bylaws that authorizes or permits breed events of any kind. If the GSDCA subsumes the "sport", what is to become of German-style conformation shows and breed surveys under WDA auspices? Gayle Kirkwood

If you guys want to know more about the AKC approved the working dog sport can go to http://germanshepherdlitters.com/ I would of copied and paste it here but the letter was just too big to put it all into one post.

how will this affect the current selection for the world team? if im not mistaken hte FCi recognizes the AKC and not USA. meaning should the AKC or WDS decide to put to world team together , wouldnt they trum USA?

My speculation is that if the WDS gets international recognition, then the GSDCA (only observed Breed Parent Club for the GSD in the USA) will disband its current WDA arm. GSDCA will cut USCA out of selection for world teams completely, and that'll be that. GSDCA is the American Breed Parent Club recognized by the AKC, AKC is the registry recognized by the FCI...USCA is just a small group in comparison and will get pushed aside. That's just why I *think* is one of the realistic possibilities that might come to fruition.

USA puts on over 200 working trials a year . GSDCA has so far put on ONE per year, and will be allowed FIVE per year. And the entry criteria is complex - at this point - GSDCAs National Event Trial has been by invitation only. All along, I have felt that this program, and the "basXXXd stepchild" attitude of the GSDCA towards WDA was a political move to placate the SV and keep the FCI approval with AKC. The officials of the SV are really not stupid people - I am thinking they have to look at these numbers...the GSD has hovered at 3rd to 4th place in AKC registrations!!!! Look at the income for AKC that FCI approval generates!!!! Apx average - 49,000 individual registrations [plus pedigees for puppies, show entries etc] generates every year for last 3 or 4 years!!! At one time the litter registration statistics were available - and I seem to remember those numbers averaged only 2.5 pups per litter being registered individually -[litter registration $25 + 2 per pup plus the 30 for the 2 avg plus pedigrees on maybe half - GSD = LOTS of $$$$$ for AKC !!] The Euro lines are not populating the GSDCA events!!! Even with USA/SV litter registrations down, these events - both show and trial - are filled with exports and dual registered dogs. Those dogs are coming from Germany and Europe - killing off the WDA or the USA or denying the USA the right to field a team is poor business too....then where is the US market for exports????? I think USA will continue - the working people are too strongly entrenched a minority WDA??? smaller with GSDCA affiliation? but with many many ties on personal levels of breeders in Germany who are active in SV - just more politics and more of the same as always... What is the membership of GSDCA???? Most pet owners don't join the organization, it is run by the AKC show factor - How many in USA? WDA - lots dual of course!! Why don't we ALL join GSDCA and take it over ??????? It is not impossible - but oh - then we would have to unite and stand together - show and working people, WDA and USA.

"Why don't we ALL join GSDCA and take it over ???????" ****************************************************** Probably not a bad Idea! IMO, the WDA will have outlived its purpose as a private corporation--once the WDS program has been extended beyond the initial 2-3 year test period and when the GSDCA will eventually be able to conduct WDS events more than 5 times a year. With the GSDCA's being the United States' only official GSD breed club and the AKC the only GSD breed registry affiliated with the FCI, there may eventually no longer be a need for EITHER the WDA and USCA to supply members to a shared World Team. Instead, The United States, through the GSDCA, will be able to field an uncontested World Team. Furthermore, if the WDS program "flies", the GSDCA, WDA, and USCA will eventually have little choice but to merge and share their performance judges. Initially, when Gernot Riedel (and some of his peers) started the schutzhund movement in Northern California, Gernot envisioned schutzhund as a GSDCA performance sport program. At the time, unhappily, the AKC would not permit any parent club to have a sports program involving protection and man work. Hence, USCA came into its existence--followed by the eventual creation of the WDA as a separate CORPORATE ENTITY--which would permit the GSDCA to field its OWN World Team for WUSV competition. Last, but not least, the GSDCA will be forced to revise its breed standard to be conformity with the international breed standard. Louise

shall we all buy stock in the bioengineering company working on flying pigs???????? ;) ;) ;) Lee