The decline in show entries in the UK - Page 5

Decline in show entries:  no wonder it has become a serious business over the last few years.  There really are no top level kennels who do not make a living from the dogs (I do not mean to offend anyone just stating what I take the situation to be) (and before there any comments we have bred on average since coming into dogs 1.5 litters per year).  When we started, my husband Jackie and myself, we handled for everyone, good or bad dog, the look of it did not matter it was a sport - where has the sport gone?  More shows will not cure this or more CCs.  It will only provide more for the chosen few to win.  Handlers in our day did not get paid - sometimes if there was prize money attached (and yes this used to happen) the owner would say keep that, but neither of us did as the owners of the dogs we handled were in a position to return the favour of handling our dogs, so we all helped each other.  Nowadays no one helps anyone unless there is something in it for them.  No altruism at all.....Judges also have a lot of responsibility for the situation and this even includes the foreigners.  It seems the circle of the few have an absolute right to win and take top honours, whether they deserve to or not.  The rest of us just wait for the crumbs and on occasion a judge who does their own thing.  Added to all this is the rising costs.  In Ireland at the moment we had a schedule for a show with a Euros 60 entry fee - who can afford this on a regular basis. 

But the main point is the element of a sporting event has been lost; it is way, way too serious with the element of enjoyment being lost.  No-one has mentioned spectators, years ago the rings were covered with the general public out for a day and taking a stop to watch the dogs.  A lot of shows were held in public parks etc and the GSD people were able to mix with the general public and other breeds more readily. 

The fun has gone, the charges are exorbitant, handlers are hard to fine, a fair system of judging needs to be introduced and clubs need to encourage new people into the breed again otherwise it will get worse and worse and we will not need to make comment as there will be nothing to comment on. 

Jean,

   I agree with every thing you have written, i made similar reference on Sunday, when i spoke to the crowd at the GSDL Tony Howson memorial show, this show was a fabulous event, thanks i am sure , in no small measure to the participation of the Longcoat people, and the puppy walk, along side a Breed survey, schutzhund demonstration and agility.
  This event in my opinion was one of the most enjoyable shows i have attended, i was priviledged to judge the Females and it was a great honour to be able to say a few words about Tony to the assembled crowd, one of the points i made about Tony was that he had time for everyone, he tried as hard down the line, as he did up the front, and  in handling Champions , CC , and  RCC  winners for me  (as well as some also rans ) he never charged me a penny,  that is why Sunday was so enjoyable, because it was just like it used to be.

Kind Regards to both yourself and Jackie.

 Paul Rattigan.
  

Only just seen this thread tonight. I also entirely agree with Jean Duff.
 
And as Secretary of West Yks GSD Club,  the one Club who has consistently proposed Improvement schemes for Breed Council Agenda's,  as well as run superb Championship and Open Breed Shows and is now nearing its 60th Anniversary Year , I am certainly glad that the original proposals put forward by us for how Regional Representation would benefit the breed and the clubs was not as geographically insensitive as Davids list above. lol  

Forgive me if I am wrong but I seriously think that out of the 9 English Clubs mentioned to choose 5 from the Midlands (Crewe, Birmingham, Leicester, League, BAGSD) with 3 from the remaining 4 being to the West of the Country (Bolton, BGSDTC, Devon) leaving Essex to represent the south, the fact this list consisted of absolutely NOTHING to the NORTH OR EAST OF MANCHESTER (other than the one Scottish Club of course) is RIDICULOUS and a very REALISTIC REASON why some motions are doomed to fail before they even start .

David, although you may not have intentionally meant to do so but even you have to notice how all the clubs you have listed (other than Scotland of course) are within easy striking distance of your abode, be it either those in the Midlands or the West side of the Country. Thereby financially this is certainly unfair to those residing in the North, East or Scotland. Even people living in Wales are closer to most of the shows you have mentioned than anyone living in the North East of England or in Scotland.

For ANY MOTION to stand a chance of working, at the very least it must be realistic to everyone, with fair play to everyone by all being given equal consideration. What was the basis of your decision for the clubs you chose to nominate? Certainly it cannot have been Geographical, nor considering some of the clubs you chose could it have been numerically the highest entries, so what was it? Perhaps given the current circumstances it would be fairer if consideration was based on where the majority of exhibitors providing the majority of show entries reside, rather than where the clubs hold their shows.

Regards
Sue

 Sue: I sometimes like to provoke and stir, it usually gets a reaction and stimulates some discussion.

Dont I know It !!!!  lol

Agree with you Sue i thought it would be fairer to have 3 in scotland 2 in wales with 7 in england that way it would give us all a better chance of going to the champ shows if it was passed to have at least one ch show per month
jim h