Colorado Show, Trial, AD and Körung -SV Judge Arth - Page 2

Jennifer, If, in fact, there was an error in the catalogue, this is the first time I have heard of it. As you know, you never brought this to my attention and I still have no idea to what you are referring. As well, I called and emailed USA to ask if I was required to send you a catalog when you so rudely demanded it and threatened. Their answer, both in writing and verbally, was that there is no such requirement to supply a catalog to anyone other than the club, the judge and the United Schutzhund Clubs of America. Asking politely Jennifer would have gotten you a copy of the catalog. Demanding and being rude gets no where with most people. Unfortunately, I have a new business that takes 16hour days and I do not always get around to doing everything I would like to do. I may supply a catalog next time, and charge a fee for it as I am allowed to do. Or, if the show is small, just make sure ALL participants get THEIR show cards from the show secretary and let it go at that. That is all the proof any honest person needs. Of course, I completely understand any one being excited about showing and a rating. What is sad is that people are not honest about what the ratings, especially the VP ratings for the puppy classes, mean. They mean little, especially in a show where few other pups, if any, are shown. By the way, the Director means whom? There were no other complaints made to USA except my complaint that two participants who failed breed surveys failed to leave the necessary papers so that these failures could be sent in and documented. Finally, I had to let USA take it over and deal with it as I could get no response from either individual. Again, since you and others will not be attending future events here, for lack of following rules, not wanting to submit stool samples to be sure dogs are not carrying parasites, not picking up after dogs, smoking when it is prohibited etc., I think this is a dead issue.

Jennifer, If, in fact, there was an error in the catalogue, this is the first time I have heard of it. As you know, you never brought this to my attention and I still have no idea to what you are referring. As well, I called and emailed USA to ask if I was required to send you a catalog when you so rudely demanded it and threatened. Their answer, both in writing and verbally, was that there is no such requirement to supply a catalog to anyone other than the club, the judge and the United Schutzhund Clubs of America. Asking politely Jennifer would have gotten you a copy of the catalog. Demanding and being rude gets no where with most people. Unfortunately, I have a new business that takes 16hour days and I do not always get around to doing everything I would like to do. I may supply a catalog next time, and charge a fee for it as I am allowed to do. Or, if the show is small, just make sure ALL participants get THEIR show cards from the show secretary and let it go at that. That is all the proof any honest person needs. Of course, I completely understand any one being excited about showing and a rating. What is sad is that people are not honest about what the ratings, especially the VP ratings for the puppy classes, mean. They mean little, especially in a show where few other pups, if any, are shown. By the way, the Director means whom? There were no other complaints made to USA except my complaint that two participants who failed breed surveys failed to leave the necessary papers so that these failures could be sent in and documented. Finally, I had to let USA take it over and deal with it as I could get no response from either individual. Again, since you and others will not be attending future events here, for lack of following rules, not wanting to submit stool samples to be sure dogs are not carrying parasites, not picking up after dogs, smoking when it is prohibited etc., I think this is a dead issue.

Just a note...I would go, but it costs me $39/per office visit per dog, plus $29/per fecal test per dog, times 5 dogs....$340. Not going to pay that kind of cash for a few BH's and a SchH3! I'll wait for another regional show or local show with an SV judge. I'm not in any rush. Plus, digging through 5 dog's worth of shi* is not what I consider fun and enjoyment. I know my dogs are healthy. Anyone who does not know when their dogs are unhealthy would probably not be in the trials anyway, because if they do not pay to keep their dog vaccinated/healthy, etc, they probably are also too cheap to enter. Just my thoughts on the matter....

hodie, whats the point of having a trial theirs not going to be any awards given out?!? whats the fun in that? I remember when i got my First BH with Jake that i was very proud of my self that i passed and i came home very happy because not only i passed but i got my first award trophie, including another for the most improvement. I dont see the fun of being judged and then getting your scorebook return with a new title and then going home.... yes you passed but wheres the proof that you passed? by scorebook?!? that isnt really good enough. I can understand fully about the costs of the judge, the trophies and etc..... The sad reality to this is that this sport is NOT cheap... it's expensive.. if ya cant pay it then ya should not partcipate in it.

Brittany, I do not see a post here I made, but I will answer your question about awards. THE PROOF of show rating is indeed a conformation card signed by the judge, the official paperwork submitted to the sponsoring organization or for trials, the scorebooks signed by trial secretary and judge and the paperwork signed by trial secretary and Judge and sent in to the organization. Awards mean little to nothing and, though they are nice to have to give out for people who value them, they are very expensive for small club. We do give something for BHs. Even this little thing costs $15. We also try hard to have a nice bag of goodies, kongs, treats, etc. to give to participants. This year will be no different and we also got a commitment from a major dog food company to give every participant a small bag of food. So we do what we can to make it fun and we do what we can to make it affordable, including I allow people to stay on my property, use my water, electricty, facilities etc. Most people I know do not participate in these events for the "trophy". In our case, people come up with lots of excuses about why they will not participate. Some will not trial because tracking on natural turf is harder than tracking in freshly plowed agricultural dirt where every footstep can be seen. Some will not participate because they do not want to travel. Some will not participate because they do not like me, or they do not like the helper. Some just do not come for other reasons, perhaps because the money to attend is out of range for a given event. Some do not come because they say they can not afford a $12 fecal flotation or prove that their dog has been recently treated for parasites (which I routinely do several times a year with 20 dogs) and is properly vaccinated. By the way, an office visit is not charged for a simple fecal flotation test. Some say they won't attend for other reasons when, in fact, they never attended and do little to nothing with their dogs to title them anyway. The fun is and should be just the fact that you have accomplished something that is hard to do. And no, this is not a cheap sport to participate in by any stretch of the imagination.

Wow - it just never stops does it??? Using the forum to further personal vendettas!!!! 1. Worming - health certificates etc....I don't find this unreasonable at all. I trained at a club where every dog picked up hooks and/or whips...in fact, the ground was so saturated because the owner had dogs in and out that as he had personal problems, several dogs DIED from untreated worm load. Anyone who thinks a property owner is out of line by asking for a clean bill of health on visiting dogs does not exhibit concern for their own dogs IMHO - rather they should be appreciative that the property owner is so concienentious. 2. Catalogs - optional optional optional. Although I have only attended a few shows, sometimes they are included with the entry, sometimes NOT. 3. Smoking- ??? Smoking is NOT socially acceptable in today's society except in bars. Most Americans do not smoke. Go to Europe - smoking is much more socially there than in the states. After traveling 450 miles to one show, 600 miles to another, and 300 to the third, the option of a closer club putting on a show is something that people should appreciate and support rather than throw mud on someone who is trying to do things right!

Okay, just to respond here, the fecal test that my vet offers IS, in fact, more expensive, and they DO require an office visit as part and parcel, per dog. I guess they figure they should actually INSPECT each dog that the feces supposedly came from? I worm my dogs mutiple times per year, with different types of wormers, even though I have never, ever had a dog with worms, knock on wood. My dogs are not sick looking, skinny, or anything else that could possibly be construed as unhealthy. They are all current on all vaccinations and I am very careful about the places I take them, even though they are vaccinated. I completely understand that Sharyn wants to have all dogs attending tested, and have proof of that testing before a dog enters her property. All I did was state that I am not willing to do so and pay the amount I would have to pay, to go to a club event hundreds of miles away, when our club locally can do the same thing if I wait a few months more. So before you go off the deep end, understand where others are coming from. I have nothing personal against Sharyn, just don't need the extra expense for the same trial at a later date. ;) Also, to digress, if this is such a concern, why do they not require it for the National Shows? Perhaps they will begin to require it as well? Again, just my thoughts.

Most vets will run fecals without an office visit...heck, the Univ of PA Vet School would do them when I worked there for 4 years!!!! I have also worked at a few vet clinics throughout my life, and know alot of vets, and have never heard of any vet refusing to run a simple fecal sample upon request. Most, if not all, National Events are held on neutral grounds......parks, sports complexes or stadiums etc. I believe that all states actually have, even if never enforced, a requirement of health certificates for animals traveling through. I know taking horses accross state lines requires several tests which have to be renewed every six months.

Krieghauser, I respect your decision not to attend because you do not want to spend the money for a fecal test. If someone can prove they regularly use a broad spectrum de-wormer, I waive the requirement, though I am not always convinced that is wise either. I also believe you that you think your dogs are parasite free. They probably are. However, not all dogs are, not all people regularly de-worm, many dogs run loose on property, at dog parks, and the case in point about a boarding dog this last month is proof enough that concientious owners can and do miss infections. If I would not have insisted on the sample, the dog would still be full of whip worms. Such an infection is easy to pick up and can be tough to cure. Introducing a parasite to the facility, when a simple test may prevent it by finding and treating it ahead of time, makes perfect sense to someone who has spent a lot of money, effort and care trying to build a facility where people can be comfortable their dog will be well cared for. Though I am absolutely rigorous about immediately cleaning up feces, and though the interior of the facility is disinfected daily, exterior exercise areas can not be so easily cleaned. As far as national events having similar requirements, I am going to the SS in April and I AM required to provide proof of vaccination. I, for one, will keep my dogs away from places frequented by all the dogs if at all possible and for that reason, will not stay at the host motel where all the dogs will relieve themselves on a sod pad set in the parking garage. How healthful is that do you think? I believe that it is prudent to require that dogs be parasite free in national events as well. But I do not set requirements for these events. However, on my own property, I do. And did I mention that ALL participants and spectators and officials will also be required to sign a waiver? I have been advised by my insurance carrier that I must also do that and I will. There are many things we choose to do or not to do in life. But it only takes once for someone to go home from an event with a sick dog. In my case, an ill dog on my property could make many dogs sick and it is something I diligently try to prevent. Friends, and clients and club members alike follow these simple rules.

I have a dog that is with Sharyn right now for training. I appreciate the fact she takes the care and time to require health certs from other dogs coming onto her property. At least I know my dog is safe from parasites he could get from other dogs. Kudos, Sharyn!!