Parrish, Bomber and Russ - Page 3

When I got my first GSD I was not a novice to training, trialing and showing dogs, but I knew little of the politics of the breed. So I though I was going to be able to train that dog for Sch and started to look for a local club or trainer. First question - who bred this dog and what is his pedigree? Bred by an AKC judge? 1/2 ASL,, 1/2 GSL? Your dog is not eligible to train here. We only want WL's and Czech dogs. THAT dog will never be anything but a pet.

None of them said - let's take a look at him and give him a try. 3 clubs/trainers turned me down flat.  One said if I gave him my dog to train for a few months he'd make him into a protection dog. None were the persons mentioned here, but some would recognize them if I said their names.  There was a clique that made "strangers" unwelcome. Had I started out with a WL or a Czech dog, which I almost did, it might have been a different story.

I have found that the clubs in the U.S. are much more snobbish then the ones in Europe...In Europe it's my experience that the one requisite is to WORK...Work your dog...If you don't show up and are interested in training...then you're not welcome...

I also have found that the clubs in the U.S. are much more into $$$...The clubs in Europe are more of a club...Not a Professional Country Club...
 

this is what i have found.  the way things work:
 #1   in new forming clubs & people who have not been around long, they will just screw up your dog.  they don't have the
knowledge or skilled helpers/decoys to train properly.  their intentions are good & they mean well, but they lack all
the vital things that make a club work.  in this situation, you have to go into it thinking you are going to help them, if
you actually have something to offer.  thinking you will get something in return is erroneous.

#2   in established clubs with mediocre experience & minimal success, you will find these folks are so busy working
their own dogs & overcoming their own problems that they really don't have the time to work properly with new
folks.  they tend to be focused on getting their dog to the nationals & making a name for themselves.  they have
good guests invited for seminars and there usually is some good information floating about, but don't plan on
getting equal time.  you can learn from these folks by watching---sometimes learn what you want & sometimes
what you don't want, but you will never have the opportunity to work your dog equally on their field.

#3   and finally for the folks who can do the most good.  these are the old timers.  these are the ones who have done
it all and won it all.  they have nothing left to prove.  they are still in it out of love for the dogs.  if they agree
to help a newbie its because they don't want to see you ruin a perfectly good dog.  if they tell you that your dog
is a piece of crap.....it is.  if they tell you your dog has great potential....it does, even if you don't see it.  these
folks don't have the time of day for group #2.  they realize #2 is all about ego.  they don't have much patience
with group #1 because they see them as a flash in the pan & not serious enough.  sometimes you will find these
folks in a club by themselves, sometimes scattered throughout others and sometimes just a small unorganised
group.  but, they are the ones you need to look for.  they are the ones who can help the most.

pjp

 

Met Parrish & his girlfriend at a dog show a few years ago. Seemed like a fine guy interested in the breed. Russ was handling his dog against my dog. They beat me. And I was okay with that, my dogs first show handled by someone he had never met. I was happy he did as well as he did.
The one thing I can say honestly about GSD people are how divided they are with working/show line.
Went to a club & never felt a part of them at all, even after I joined, thinking that would make a difference. I have show lines and they were primarily working line dog owners. I love my show line, they are all from Sch working lines but that doesn't matter.
I was so tired of hearing oh you have a "pretty dog" well yes as a matter of fact I do. I never said oh you have a not pretty dog. Everyone has their opinions!
Did it piss me off you bet it did but I moved on and found a club that fit more of what I was looking for.
So now I have my titled show line male and a beautiful little girl that we will be getting a title on when she is old enough.
Oh & we bred our show line male to a working line red sable female! WOW that was honestly the smartest thing we could have done. Had a few that had the show line looks but that working line drive! It was a great idea and I am shocked it doesn't happen more often.

I said elsewhere that in our club we help each other, even new Guys only last Sunday i was sitting inside the club house drinking a Beer when i saw a Lady having trouble with her show line getting it to retrieve a block over the jump. She was a new comer to the club been there around three weeks, and other than saying hello i have not spoken to her. Anyway i went outside and asked her if i could help her. She said thank you and the first thing i did was to drop the jump right down after a few goes the Dog caught on. i told her what to try and left her to carry on but told her do not let the dog get bored so nearly finish for the day. another five minutes and she took him off the field. that,s what it is all about helping each other. No Club is a one man Band? just be helpful and kind for we were all in the same boat at one time or the other.
Steve1