herding dog - Page 4

Ulf, what future do you think the HGH holds in the U.S.?  Is anyone attempting to expand it's popularity?  Is it as Manfred stated in Germany, that the SV is out of touch and lacks the ability to judge a herding dog, in the same way you described AKC's inability?

<<Ulf, what future do you think the HGH holds in the U.S.? >>

The future is very limited due to the fact that one needs at least 200 sheep and the land supporting such number AND the ability of the flock owner to teach successfully, success being defined as leading folks to a title . That’s a tall order.
For now we have a second club in the US, it’s a member club of UScA. We will see if it is sustainable. We will see if new people will be introduced to the sport of herding, we will see if people can obtain their title. Our club wishes them the best of luck.

<<Is anyone attempting to expand it's popularity?>>

UScA is indifferent to it because most see UScA as a SchH organization. However, they are no longer against it as far as I can tell.

WDA would like to, for many years now. They have made the formation of an HGH club easy. Yet, no serious contenders. Many talked the talk, none walked the walk. I have seen no encouraging signs despite of WDA’s serious willingness to further herding.

<< Is it as Manfred stated in Germany, that the SV is out of touch and lacks the ability to judge a herding dog, in the same way you described AKC's inability?>>

I assume you mean Manfred Heyne? De mortuis nihil nisi bene. Keep in mind the assessment quoted by you was his assessment. I am unaware of anyone who shares it. I don’t share it. With Manferd Voigt, Hans Chifflard, Klaus Wuttge, and head judge Wilfried Scheld we have some very qualified judges who in part were or are successful competitors themselves. I know all of them, competed under all of them, here and/or in Germany. Klaus Jahnke is also a judge, he is a breeder of GSDs, a full time shepherd and a successful competitor (he won once the nationals, his employee Nancy won the last nationals with a dog of his breeding, he came in second). I never showed under him but competed against him. The two new aprentice judges Herbert Kind and Peter Brueckner were both winners of the national herding competition. I competed against both of them. It remains to be seen what their ability is to judge. But no one can doubt their qualification since they are both competitors and breeders of GSDs. That is most of the SV in real names when it comes to herding. I wouldn’t consider it out of touch or lacking ability.

In fact, the whole herding dog situation is better than ever. There are many shepherds/competitors/breeders who have and work and breed their own lines, the bloodlines are diverse and not as narrow as it used to be some decades ago. The small size of it all seems to mislead people into believeing herding is about to go extinct. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Thank you for your assessment of herding in Germany.  Good to know. The US, unfortunately, isn't in the same position. We've got AKC "C" course in a few places. It's tending, but it's not the same as HGH.

And hammer forging isn't the same as flintknapping either, but realistically both are more likely to be practically applied in today's world.  Large ranches with thousands of head of livestock don't have a use at all for tending dogs.  Comparing HGH to AKC is like comparing apples to oranges when you need a banana.

<< We've got AKC "C" course in a few places. It's tending, but it's not the same as HGH.>>

I hear that often. Please keep in mind that there have been a number of people who did C-Course in CT, MA, and CA and then competed in an HGH trial at White Clover Sheep Farm. Granted, it needed some lessons with me before the trial and it took some tuning. However, it more cases than not it was successful. Now there are two clubs where you guys can attempt competing if you want it badly enough.

Ulf, do you know the contact person in New Jersey?
Thanks!

<<Ulf, do you know the contact person in New Jersey?>>

I don’t have that info handy but the club is listed on the UScA website. I know some of the people who work their dog there are on this discussion board, I am sure they jump in passing on the contact info.

<<Comparing HGH to AKC is like comparing apples to oranges when you need a banana.>>

Yep, but some of us are very content having an apple or an orange or both. Best of luck getting your banana.

Quite the prick when ya wanna be, aren't ya?  Oh well, better you than the self proclaimed expert Molly to educate us.  You ought to at least give her a weekend or two of hands-on, if we have to endure that.

Daryl - isn't calling someone "self proclaimed expert" like the pot calling the kettle black?  LOL Daryl -    Titled any dogs lately  - in anything?

thought not. 

molly