2008 NASS Impressions - Page 2

Just returned from the NASS.  The show was very well organized.  I am not here to bash ANY dog but I do want to comment on the great progeny that TeeJay had.  Many of the classes were won by Teejay progeny which was quite impressive.

I think both dogs are beautiful and the US should be proud of Teejay and ALL the great dogs that were shown!!!

Martha 

US-bred dogs have come a LONG way in the last ten years, better every year, no doubt about it.  Now I think we need to focus more attention on selecting for improved working ability and better training.

Unfortunately I did not get to see many of the working males in the protection phase this time (logistics "issues... Grrrr ) I did get to see Liedo's fine work, and Jerry Slaven's dog's super demonstration of "how its s'posed to be done!" with Russ Osborne.

I did get to watch most of the females work.  There are two stars in my catalog next to VA Desiena vom Roten Acker. Also stars for Jara vom Krafthaus, Nadja Zenteiche, Edina Noriswand, Solana Bad Waldle. I was personally delighted to note that Nicoll Ochsenfurt showed her stuff in C and went on to become the Siegerin she clearly deserves to be. What a MOVER!  I know there were more great performances, but people kept walking in front of me at the worst possible moments so I couldn't see the grips. (sucks to be short in a tall world LOL) It was a shame to watch another nice Roten Acker female with super grips, Briska vom Roten Acker, fail to out on the back half. That looked like something pretty easy to fix in training, just a bad day IMO.

The helper work was the best I have seen at a Sieger Show in years, very consistent for the most part. I was marveling at how Josh can drive dogs on the first half, every single one the exact same way (assuming they engaged of course) so every dog got a perfect opportunity to demonstrate what it brought to the field right in the judges. I'd love to have a picture of his face when the one female did some, uh, "rather intnese guarding" after the out. Glad Josh still has that pretty face.

It was great to meet and talk with all my friends from near and far during the course of the event. My own dog, Carol ("T") strained something jumpin into the rental car on Friday, pulled up limping that afternoon and had to be pulled from the Veteran's Class. He's okay now, but what a bummer to haul him all that way just to pull him. The whole trip kinda went that way for me, except for the nice ride home with a wonderful sports person, WT Metal dealer Roy Sorensen, a true prince who is always willing to help out a lady in distress.  (OK, Lady? Me?..  Maybe... sometimes... :-D )

SS

Not so fast. Compared to the NASS 2007 at the Purina Farms in St. Louis, the show was poorly organized.  Folks in charge were out of touch.  There was one small hard to read sign pointing to where the show site was.  The photo of the site on the official web site showed the wrong site.  When we got there after spending thirty minutes going in circles looking for the site, we were not pleased to find out that all the show catalogs had been sold out.  So everytime we would see a dog with great bitework or which had great conformation, we would have to find someone with a catalog and ask who is that (a royal pain in the butt).  Only about half the folks had catalogs. 

There was a very big turnout, and not providing enough catalogs is serious, because it harms the overall purpose of the event, to promote stud dogs, kennels, and specific dogs (if one cannot identify the dog, its sire and dam, and owner, and contact information, the whole purpose of the show is ruined).  I asked one person connected to the show officials to take a catalog to a 24 hour copy service and have a bunch printed up so they could sell a catalog to all those who wanted them and couldn't get one).  He thought that was a good idea, but nothing was done. 

So after the progeny groups on Sunday, we left since what good was it if we couldn't identify the dogs.  The PA system was a complete joke (underpowered, constantly crackling, super distorted--no one could understand much).  The show announcing was a joke (there was almost none).  There was no official table we could find. 

I give the organization and operation of the show the grade of F.  At a time when we need as many folks as possible to transfer from the GSDCA regular system to the WDA, this poor show planning certainly hurts that progression.  I heard one very big breeder and shower of American Shepherds say he was there because he was done with the American Shepherds after his last litter because of so many health and genetic problems.  Many folks are ready to bail from the American shepherds to german import blood.  Bad practice to disrupt that transition at their first WDA SV-type show. 

(continued):  Top GSD at the show by a long shot without question was the winner of the 12-18 mo. old young male class.  Better watch this superb GSD, you will be hearing a great deal about him in the future. Best progeny group without question was of Teejay.  Leido was the best in the showring during the progeny groups, then Teejay or Gorbi.  Overall, Gorbi was absolutely the most correct GSD all around I have ever seen anytime, anywhere. 

The biggest surprise for me was the 100% firecracker type correct bitework done by a bitch owned by a well known and popular American Shepherd handler, Kent Boyle of Kenalyn kennels.  She was in the top three.  The surprising rumor was that Kent has brought over two top German Trainers who are now doing superb Sch training at his kennel and that he has acquired some showline imports that behave like working line profung GSDs. Another big surprise was the terrific bitework by the correct bitch owned and personally trained by John Henkel.  Another big surprise was that Helen Gleason had a bitch there that she trained herself and the bitch's bitework was excellent in every way.  For those who don't know, Helen is scheduled to judge the GSDCA National Specialty Show in 2009.  Don't be surprised if there are a number of very nice Sch KK1 import blood GSDs shown at this event next year.  If they move good she will put them up.   

There are always ways to improve even a super event after the fact. Printing more catalogs and posting more directions signs (I got lost too) to/from the field are good suggestions for the "next time" list. Here are a few more I'd like to see at every major event, all of which have been seen/done before:

• Put some wireless P.A. speakers closer to/directed towards the parking areas so we can hear important announcments away from the ring itself
• Put a hose somewhere on the host hotel grounds instead of directing us to a "pay" dog bathing place several miles away
• Arrange for some "hot" dishes other than hot dogs and hamburgers (served cold more often than not)greasy bratwurst, etc. to be offered at the show grounds ("comfort foods" like mac & cheese would be nice, easy on a nervous tummy) The custom-made breakfast burritos and tri-tips sandwiches in San Jose and the BBQ in CT were big hits.
• Locate all the vendors as close to the ring as possible to encourage browsing and impulse spending. Maybe even announce hourly sales items, specials, to drive business to P.O.S's. (points of sales)
• Results boards at the protection field, updated after every dogs' performance, big enough to be visible from a distance and including notation of dogs pulled prior to performance time.
• Include a place to write finish order in the margins of the catalogs, a line or two of space for protection notes/ various impressions for each entry .beneath each entry
• Have a "Handler Available" board at the admin tent for last minute scheduling, with cell phone contact numbers or a designated contact person.
• More info available at the hotel(s) in lobby(s), at check-in desk, or hospitality room in some location central to the lobby. (Schedules, changes, maps, general info) especially helpful when you run out of catalogs...
• More tables/personnel and less confusion at check-in... A sign designating which line one should be standing in would be helpful... the alphabetical order thing didn't work very well without signage. (Copy paper, scotch tape and felt pens are pretty easy to come by, even at the last minute  :-)

The doggy biscuits at the hotel check-in desk were a nice touch. I had to laugh when a non-dog guest in the bar mentioned "the cookies in the lobby are not very good" after trying one. ROTFLMAO.

SS

Well, I was not there to see all those impressive dog outhere, but I like to heara comment about the SG1 female in the 18-24 months. I heard she was impressive. Thansk for reply

Shelley, wouldn't it be great if you managed the next NASS? Your suggestions are excellent and could make such a show legendary and a great help for developing the WDA, especially for disgruntled regular GSDCA American Shepherd show folks who want to make the transition.  They need to buy bitches, puppies and young dogs, and this is a great advertising venue.  Why can't there be folks who have the itelligence and insight of shelley who will take charge?  Seems to me last year Dr. David Landau did a very fine job.  Shelley's original ideas would improve substantially on that. 

As far as the helpers.  The shorter guys were good. Very tough on the dogs in general and any German judge would approve.  But they were consistent and fair  One of those two got bit in the hand through an error on his part.  Looked like it hurt quite a bit.  I hope he's okay. 

I cannot be so positive about the work of the the tall, very large helper who did the longs.  With one dog in particular he went easy and stopped resistance at the long hit, helping the dog.  I won't name the dog here.  With some other dogs he was inconsistent and would stop and take a quick step backwards right before the hit, thus confusing the dogs who would then think they perhaps might not be supposed to bite, this caused some to make a poor bite with the end of their mouth.  A friend of mine who has been a well known AKC GSD specialty judge for American Shepherds for many years said, "looks like a set up to me".  Maybe it was fatique or temporary lapses, but it did look suspicious.    

Sad when folks drive long distances, have trouble finding the show, can't even get a program, can't identify the dogs, can't hear the judges evaluations.  This shows that those putting on the show have little or no respect for the show attendees and could care less about promoting the WDA.  A pity.

Don't point that shot gun at ME! LOL  I'm always happy to help, (No one has ever asked me... Hmmm, wonder why? ;-) great with after-the-fact suggestions, but the responsibility for organizing an event of that magnitude and importance is definitely meant for people with a lot more brains, organizational skills and memory capacity than I will ever have.

This shows that those putting on the show have little or no respect for the show attendees and could care less about promoting the WDA.  A pity.

NOT TRUE AT ALL! No show or trial is ever perfect despite the very best intentions of all the people who have worked their rear-ends off for months to make it as close to perfect as they possibly can. We must remember, these things are organized and hosted with 100% volunteer labor. The biggest events I have ever organized were regional championship trials, only 2 days and 20-24 competitors, 1 judge. As much work as those were, they were a mere drop in the barrel next to a Sieger show. the logistics alone would give me nightmares.

SS

The most impressive GSD at the show was the SG1, 18-24 male, Jaeger von Haus Munsinger Dunn (#328).  Unbelievably deep black saddle with very pronounced redish/braun, excellent male type. Near perfect dog.  You will hear about this awesome GSD in the future.

Why is it that there are never enough catalogs at NASS shows? Don't they always run out long before the show is over? It happened in Pittsburgh and someone told me it happened at the Purina Farms show too. That is a missed opportunity for a club to make some easy money and they could offer to mark and sell any leftovers for an additional fee. If the catalog from the Pittsburgh show is any indication, the quality was exceptional and the ads well worth reading. I think a lot of people would pay a few dollars more to order one that is marked if they can't attend the show.