GSDCA National in Beaumont - Page 7

Was not the Judge of this show Helen Gleason?  Helen owns and shows German lines.  I see her every year at the German Siegershow.  I am sure she has a good eye in putting the best dog forth with all of her experience.  She also recently has a dog out of mixed lines that has his SchH titles and is a Champion.

I neither qualify this one way or another.  I just think that of all of the GSDCA judges possible, at Beaumont we had one of the most "German Type" favorable judges possible.  It is a shame that no German lines were entered.  They would have had an advantage under Helen.

JMHO

Perhaps Helen missed her chance?

Dog number 420 caught my eye immediately and presents a distinctly correct topline, carriage, and head--more in keeping with the German standard:

420 CH. PASTOR BURGOS, DN029691/04, 04/18/03. Breeder: Patricia Tate. By: Barrus Vom Haus Kirschental — Tate's Pepper II. Dog. Owner: Bill & Joanne Randall & John & Christine Gibbons.

 

 Ah--this dog was a "half breed": http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/570858.html

It took some sleuthing, but I FINALLY figured out where I knew the name Joanne Randall from! She is secretary of the GSDC of Canada!  DUH!!

Ohhh, a half-breed!   Like my Star of Hope, eh? How did he do?

Nice looking dog!

Sunsilver: How did he do?

He did not go Select under Helen--suffice it to say--LOL!

The problem with Burgos (aside from lacking breeding "credentials") is that his North American dam lines lines go back to dogs not known for health, longevity, or constitutional vigor.

 Dont know about firing a gun at the National, but Joss is an Am Bred, and when they fired the gun at his TC, it didnt bother him a bit. Generalizing is not fair to either Am Bred or German Bred. Just because a dog is am AM bred doesnt mean it cant work and is not correct or sound. I have seen plenty of spooky German bred dogs- its not fair to lump dogs bred on one side of the ocean all in the same category, IMHO. Thats just ignorant. Each dog is an individual.  Its kind of like racial profiling, lumping them all into the same category and painting them all with the same brush. Joss could go toe to toe and head to head with any German Dog. :( At 10 years of age, he can still get over an 8 foot fence! He just climbs... He would be an excellent search and recue dog- he can find a jujyfruit  on the other side of the world, and seek it out with his nose. If anyone needs assistance finding a jujyfruit, just let me know. He loves the reds, but will settle for a green ;)

Yes, Helen Gleason was a judge at the National and she should know a good dog when she sees one. And she has German dogs. But I think people have become conditioned not to enter their German type dogs at the National Specialty since it's difficult to get any kind of placement for a SL, never mind a WL. JMO.

Unless the AKC ever becomes more than a file cabinet that keeps lists of pedigrees and registrations there won't ever be a change in the Championships and such that are awarded in the USA.  I know that attempts have been made by some segments within the GSDCA to require an OFA/OVC/a stamp and/or some kind of training degree...for the Nationals but it was defeated. (Probably cause the board consisted of breeders whose "best" dogs couldn't meet that requirement). This goes beyond type and if a dog is from American or German lines... it's a question of basic structural soundness and ability to perform as a working dog.  Everyone has there preferences in their perfect dog.  I've seen totally unfit conformation dogs amoung both American and German lines... neither is perfect.  I DO think that the GSDCA should take some steps toward requiring basic soundness in hips and elbows at the very least to go Select or GV. After all these are supposed to represent the elite of the elite!!   And pushing a bit farther for at least a CD, CGC or such really isn't asking much, as almost every dog is capable if their owners did more than ship them off to a handler to run around a ring...

it isn't going to happen.  The folks at the top of the status pyramid who "run" the GSDCA are very wealthy and can keep it going for some years as it will continue to retract.  You will see national specialty shows that will become very small, but they will continue.  These foks are not going to be willing to institute any standrads that will make it tough for them to win and sell puppies and young dogs to others which can win, because winning is everything.  These folks care little about the actual GSD but only about their ASD derivative sub-breed and how well they can move from the side, even if it is not correct and requires a long lower thigh, steep croup, long back and pushed forward & stilted front with minimal posturnum.  Realistically the ASD functions as a separate breed and should be renamed officially at the AKC as the "American Shepherd Dog".