newNo more individual VA ranked GSD's- only Group - Page 1

Oops

Not new at this point.  This has been discussed like 3 or 4 times here already.

Not new at this point.  This has been discussed like 3 or 4 times here already.

I wonder how this was received in Germany? About the same as awarding only selects at the GSDCA National, no BOB, BOS or winners.

Nope, don't think its the same as withholding all BOBs etc.

Apparently a lot of the Germans are happy with the measure,
which if taken in its full context is part of an attempt by 'the
new broom' to get the Breed back on track healthwise, by
helping stop people rushing to use the top dog(s) at stud
to the detriment of other good studs lower in the gradings.

Unrest, where any, seems to lie not with the decision but with
the manner in which it got decided.

Where is Susie when we need on-the-spot input ?

Why not the same as awarding only selects? I don't think of the current decision as withholding anything. I think of it as a way to not designate one dog more superior than another when they are grouped in the same class according to quality and progeny. It will certainly put more responsibility on breeders to do their homework before making a breeding rather than depending on the Va ratings. If there were no BOB or BOS at AKC shows where selects are awarded, all selects would end up with the same designation and, again,the  breeder would need to use something more than BOB wins to to justify a specfic breeding.

Blitzen, sorry, maybe my misunderstanding of the US system of
judging shows - are you saying BOB / BOS   ONLY come from the
'Select' group of entrants, you can't win a Show by coming from the
'lower classes' at all ?  [Very different from UK, if so.]

No, any dog is eligible for BOB or BOS. My point is, IMO,  no Sieger/Siegeren is like no BOB, BOS or winners, more like awarding only selects and ranking them by catalog number. No specific male or female is designated as the best of the best of their sex.  No Va dog is rated better than another, just like selects at AKC shows.

While this wont directly have an impact on me anytime in the near future this reminds me of what has happened in the world of you sports, schools, etc.  Take little league for example.  My sons team went undefeated, won the league tournament and got the same exact $2 medal that the team that was 0-16 got.  Why?  We we didnt want the last place team to feel bad.  This way the worlds thinking has gone and now it appears to have made it's way into the dog world.  If a dog, breeder and handler have produced the superior dog then they should be recognized as such.  I see it as rewarding mediocrity because now a dog that is non deserving is going to be looked at as equal when that is not the case.  Again this is just my perception and likely will never have any impact on me so feel free to blast away.  I just hate seeing two things be it little league, dogs, grades (some schools are going to pass/fail only so kids making C's dont feel bad from the kids making A's) that are not equal being made out to be equal.

I would not have thought any dog graded 'Excellent Select'
can be easily classified as non-deserving and mediocre.

Not unless there is something VERY noticeably wrong with
the judging.