Dog from german lines with AKC Championship - Page 1

I'd like to show my dog in AKC conformation but he's from german import lines. He's so beautiful I would like to show him so the judges can at least see him (at least if he continues to grow into a beautiful dog).

Can anyone name some german/european dogs who've been successful in obtaining an AKC Championship? Any tips for me?

Do you mean current dogs or any european dogs?

Neumann's Jim: www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/18244.html#
I think that's right?

I'd imagine that there aren't very many.

Jim was beautiful, wasn't he!

I think so! He's actually far back in my working line dog's pedigree...I was quite surprised to see an AKC title in there!

Check out Helen Gleason's website- I like that she does a ton of stuff with her dogs and they are beautiful on top of it.
helengleason.tripod.com/index.html

I have looked around for this before and was not able to find a lot but I wish more people would do it.  I'm planning on entering my working line girl in UKC conformation this fall/winter and we have done very well at IABCA shows under AKC judges.  I have thought about entering her at an AKC show but too much glitz, glamour and professional handlers for me.  LOL they'd probably think I was entered as a "ringer" or just to help someone else get a major, but who knows mabye some day I get a wild hare up my back side and just feel crazy enough try it. 

I say take some conformation classes or work under/mentor with someone who has experince and go for it.  I'd love to see it happen more

I will say one thing, you probably aren't going to change any minds of judges or most exhibitors as far as "showing them what a nice GSD looks like" because they already know what a nice GSD looks like (to them anyway). I agree to choose a good mentor, attend some conformation/handling classes (find someone that is experienced with GSDs if at all possible) and attend shows often just to get the feel of how the GSDs are presented and the ring etiquette.. Talk to some people about different judges and their preferences. Some judges aren't as fanatical or set in a specific way. Specialities, without a picture of your dog, just an idea of type, are probably out TBH. The criteria for those dogs is so specific. So all-breeds are your best best and more moderate dogs actually do better in all-breeds. Biggest thing, don't be dissappointed if things don't go your way. The GSD ring is DAMN hard and with an atypical dog it is going to be harder. Just keep at it!

dAWg, let us know how you do! UKC is a good medium ground to ease your way in. I suggest anyone unfamiliar with the AKC either entirely or with a specific breed, start there. It's not as uptight as AKC but it's not like you go into a backyard and show your dogs in a mud pit. LOL


Gwalt

Thank you everyone for your imput. He's only 4.5 months old right now so I'm going to wait a while to see how he grows before I decide for sure. I used to show a GSD in junior showmanship several years ago so I am going to take some classes to "brush up" on my ring skills.

Oh a JR handler, very awesome. Did you age out? The other thing I forgot to mention is try to find some puppy matches and sanctioned B matches. A lot of times the judge in question is a real judge and will give you critiques on your dog in a nicer manner. That would also get him used to a show environment.

 

Gwalt

Yes...I aged out of JR Showmanship about 10 years ago. I did quite well with my own dog who wasn't really "structurally correct". I recently had to put her down so I now have my new pup. I won't be too disappointed if we don't do well in conformation b/c I got him mostly for competition in obedience and agility. The conformation would just be "icing on the cake."

The only German import I can think of within recent memory which did well in AKC was Jim Vom Fiemereck - you can look him up in the database. His owner was President of the GSDCA however - perhaps that helped.