2008 NASS Impressions - Page 6

zdog, you don't get my points and obviously cannot comprehend the multiplicity of business functions which are related to an SV type GSD show.  I never said the whole purpose of a non-exhibitor attending a show was to get a catalog, far from it, but it is an important key in the multiple functions of a show.  It is as KCzaja described so well above. 

Most folks were too busy watching the ring and talking with their friends and didn't want to be bothered with questions of which handler number is which dog.  I still do not see the catalog available on the NASS website for download.  Only a list of entries by number with no contact addresses or phone numbers.  One important function of such a show is to promote the breed, help promote the superstars and top studs, and inform attendees of who to contact for stud services from studs that have great progeny, and leads on kennels where folks can buy puppies that seem to be from dogs that interest them. 

Now that I understand how the WDA leadership thinks, plans, acts, and makes excuses, I will not expect anything different in the future.  Yes, I get it now.  I understand the program and will adjust accordingly.  These are not savvy business folks running this organization that know how to give spectators and exhibitors what they want which if managed properly can provide substantial income for the organization.

I have to add that viewing results online or in the parent club's publication is not the same.  At every dog show, of every breed, there are dogs out there that don't get a fair shake.  There are dogs over the years I have like immensely that only go mid field, sometimes derservingly so, sometimes not. 

A perfect example is a young Hoss daughter (and I only knew she was a hoss daughter by checking my catalog ) I saw in St. Louis. I was very impressed by her type, power, and spirited character and was disappointed to not see her up front when the judging was done.  You can't learn that by pulling up online results. I've seen dogs who are total sppoks who should have been excused after gunfire but are not. Can't learn that online either.

Now, as someone suggested,  you could write down numbers and take notes and do your homework later. But go with me here. Let's say you are interested in using X stud dog.  You see a puppy in a ring shaking in its boots and you peek in your catalog and see, uh oh, puppy is out of X dog. So what do you do? You flip through your catalog and take note of all other progeny of X dog so you can watch them closely. You may also want to take note of the dam, perhaps she is of a line you know doesn't have greatest nerve. You see where I'm going here? 

I wasn't at this event so therefore will not speculate as to its organization, I'm sure an event of this magnitude is a huge undertaking that most clubs learn about as they go. I just wanted to illustrate why some people would be very frustrated about the catalog issue.  When you are there for research and networking purposes it may as well be growing out of your hand.

A couple suggestions -

Perhaps the organizing body could print up some more catalogs and offer them for sale (shipping extra of course) on the show website.  While this does not alleviate the frustration of those who did not have the catalog available to them at the show, it will enable them (and others) to at least get a hold of a real copy of the catalog.  I know that for my national event, the catalog is something that I keep not only as a keepsake of the event but also as an item I refer back to in the years following the event. 

For future years, perhaps have the catalog available for purchase on the event website prior to the event?  Widely advertise this when promoting the show.  Allow individuals to purchase the catalogs and either pay to have the shipped or allow them to be picked up at the event at no additional charge.  Also post that there will be a limited number of additional catalogs available for sale at the show site so the only way to guarantee a catalog is to pre-purchase one online. 

My breed's nationals does this.  The club allows for purchase via paypal or via check/money order.  The person handling catalog sales keeps a master of list of everyone who purchased a catalog prior to the show and will cross off their name when they pick up their catalog at the event.  The people who purchased the catalog and are not attending the event have their catalogs shipped after the event is over (because our event is an AKC event, the catalogs cannot be released prior to the event's first day, hence no sending out prior to the start of the event).

At this point, in my opinion, all that can be done is looking forward as to how to prevent such an issue in the future.  It happened this year and there is nothing that can take it back at this time.  There seems to have been some great ideas passed around on this thread.  I hope that the individuals in charge of the show next year take note of it or perhaps someone can pass on this info to them.  As someone who just got done helping run my nationals, I know that such advice is usually greatly appreciated so long as it is passed on with politeness and good intentions :-)

I have to laugh at the "notes scribbled on paper- names researched later" thing. I lost my original catalogue on Friday. Got to the venue late for protection, no catalogue, so just noted bib numbers and notes on an old envelope I had on me. Very interesting to watch and takes notes "blind" to names/bloodlines/kennels later...

SS

One thing not discussed here so far is that there were a large number of very high quality progeny from all the stud dogs.  As far as I was concerned, the quality of all the progeny groups was excellent.  I don't think I have ever seen such deep quality before in any show.  Roach backs and rump-rollup was still an issue in about 1/2 to 5/8 of the dogs in varying degrees, but the proportion of this is decreasing from prior years, so folks must be catching on.  It was not an issue for Teejay or Gorbi and most of their progeny.  I think that it is clear now that Americans in general have a very good eye for breeding and/or selecting puppies.  There was one Teejay daughter there which was hard as nails in the bitework and did everything correctly and was absolutely georgeous moving.  She was trained by John Henkel himself.  There was no fear, hesitancy or any softness in this bitch and there were many remarks about her among observers. So it was clear to me that Teejay has and can produce some GSDs like this if he is bred properly. 

Still no video????  Hmmmmmmmmm

Scott

I hope some videos are posted online. It would be fun to watch while I sit here in the house sick as hell watching the snow and hail fall outside with my pathetic cups of green tea and lemon.