working dog fans, watch and weep - Page 4

Actually, more dog sport clubs are needed, and they should be more 'member/user' friendly.

I know if I had the ability to get a club going, I could recruit a great deal of participants. I am asked so many times where to go for training or some activities for dog and owner.

   It's a shame, the club that is clise by me is one that the few people I sent there were totally put off by the attitudes of some of the 'know it all' members.

    No one wants to go to a place where someone ridicules your dog or others dogs, behind the backs. Also, you have one trainer, with 10 dogs, so your lucky if you get a 10 minute sidebar for your dog.

    Most people that come looking for German Shepherds and Dobermans (I used to breed Dobermans) havn't a clue about sch, IPO or any other sport. 

They have no idea about the difference of showlines and working lines, let alone any trials or competitions.

I do know that if there were more clubs and they weren't run with one track minds, lots of people would get involved.

   Wouldn't it be nice to be able to go out a couple times a week and work your dogs with people that weren't about bloodlines or breed and were more interested in having a good time and sharing the things they know, and actually have some fun with their dogs.

     Share the wisdom...

   If more 'everyday people' knew what was expected of the breed, more would demand it when getting a dog of particular breed.

I agree with Prayer that having gsds working in le and ppl is what helps the breed as working breed. The difference is that I believe those dogs come about from a robust titling program. No titling program and you won't produce the true working dogs anymore. I.e. the path the Doberman and the Rottweiler are on

 

Kitkat, that's all well and good. I agree that club members shouldn't talk behind one's back and make fun of someone's lawn ornament, but let me play devil's advocate.

I don't know if you are a member of a club, but if you are, you know that tire kickers come every weekend. Some never come back. Others stay for a few weeks. Some for a few months. It is obviously rare for browsers to stick, to become members. If you have someone new every weekend that rarely ever stick, how likely is it for every member to just open their arms? I'm not saying they have to be rude, but I don't give someone much attention until they show me that they are dedicated.

As to the dog genetic issue, I'll try to put it nicely. It is damn hard to train and trial your own working line to title. Some people have goals. When a club member buys a puppy and dreams of putting a 3 on it, do you think the thought of coddling a newbie with an insufficient dog is on their to-do list? This may sound rude, but I wouldn't waste my time training such a dog. Why would I waste my time trying to help you train this dog.

I think it is great that a person without any knowledge wants to do something with their dog. Each club has a contact person. Each club should pick a person that likes mentoring people new to the sport. That is the person that should guide them on their visit and make them feel welcome, answer their questions, and decide if they should be invited back.

It is a club. All clubs are different. Some are club level, and some are highly competitive. If someone is a normal person and dedicated, they'll be fine.

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As to this thread, I agree with Thomas. You're looking at a show temp test in Serbia. I see some garbage breeding and training. There are still nice dobes out there. Agree with Hans. If that is your breed, do something. Keep the breed alive.

I don't see this as "cautionary" for the GSD...we're already just as bad or worse!  Look at our shows!  The last show I attended was judged by an SV judge I was told was fair to working line dogs and respected good temperament.  During the breed survey one of the dogs never engaged on the long bite.  There were some whispers between owner and judge and miraculously that dog walked away with a KKL and "pronounced".  WTF?

Yep,  we will be with officials who are allowed to break the rules.  This should trigger a complaint to the org in charge.  Judges have to be held accountable or it all falls down.

 

 

OK VKGSD: If it happened as you say then that is a pretty serious allegation.

Where and when was this breed survey? Who was the Koermeister/Judge?.  Were any other members of this board present at this particular event who could/would vouch for your claim?  Did those of you present declare your outrage or disappointment?

Richard,

I can tell you empirically that registering your outrage with the judge will get you nowhere.

I and several others did that years ago with a SV judge at a Regional Championship.

The questionable decision by the judge took the Regional Championship away from a dog who clearly deserved it and ended up flunking them which was uncalled for.

No amount of discussion or complaining changed anything.  Ruling stood.

I train and compete in half a dozen different venues with my dogs and would rather just take my money elsewhere.  I don't have time to register complaints and tell other people how to train and show their dogs or tell SV judges how to rate dogs, I am busy enough actually competing with my dogs.  If they are not embarassed to be exhibiting and breeding such dogs, then nothing I can say matters anyway. The breeders and judges must find such performances acceptable so I'll just move on to another venue that is more in line with what I feel is acceptable from a working breed. I will simply not enter under said judge or said club's event if I wish to make a statement and enter my dogs elsehwere, easy fix.  On any given weekend I usually have to choose between 3 or more shows or competitions to enter so it's of no consequence to me.  I would be embarassed to not only present such a dog but then accept such a rating for nonperformance but...whatever.  My intent is not to bash specific people or dogs but just use it as an actual example of things that happen in the GSD breed.  It was a reaction to an earlier comment about our breed being headed in the same direction as we see in the Dobe video and my reaction is that we aren't headed there, we're sadly ALREADY there.  If anyone wants the details, feel free to PM me but it's not really the point of this thread and doesn't need to be derailed.  FWIW I was also bit by a dog at the same show while minding my own business (a dog that was entered and shown).  I didn't make a stink about that because the owner appeared genuinely sorry (if not clueless about their dog) and the last thing I want is PETA/AR crazy type people showing up at dog events claiming all GSDs are vicious.
 

Granted the ruling of the judge is final.  But if enough people complained formally with the club and organization hosting the events that judge would likely not be permitted to judge again.  Also, if enough complaints got to the SV, they would likely restrict that judges assignments.

They throw that pronounced crap around like there is no tomorrow.  Every dog at the last trial I watched was given pronounced.  ONE of the dogs was average the rest were BOTTOM of the barrel.