USA Sieger Show 2007 - Results... - Page 10

Actually Shelley - I noticed right away that Alex paced almost the entire time. He paced, he "loped" - he did just about everything BUT gait. Not because Alex can't look good in the ring - of course he can - but because the handler obviously didn't care too much about making the dog (the dog he was being paid to show at his best) - I was so PISSED that this dog, being a working-line dog and only there because he was going for Universal Seiger again - was not being shown well! As I said, he paced and paced - his head was down, his ears back, he flopped around the ring - the handler didn't stop him from pacing, he didn't stack him at appropriate times - when he did stack him it wasn't a good stack. I was fuming - sure the judge would give him a G along with the rest of the working-line dogs (most of whom WERE gaiting and being handled correctly) - and therefore taking him right out of the US running. I was just about ready to run in there, take the leash, "I know this dog can trot, make him trot!!!!!" It was a surprise to me when Alex received a V - not because Alex shouldn't receive a V - - but because he was shown so terribly - to the point where he really didn't look good at all. I was really mad at the handler - glad Alex got a V DESPITE the terrible handling. Grrr. molly

To many Germans showed their second class quality dogs on this show. They only expect a better price to sell them to this country. Think it will not help to import most of them to improve the breed in this country .

I stand corrected. Guess I wasn't watching close enough or long enough, paying more attention to the front dogs, new contacts bad for distance. Alex had fallen apart when I looked towards the end, out of shape and overweight, but so had half the class by halfway through. The last time I checked him out the judge was looking straight at him and the handler hadn't bothered to stack him, apparently having given up on a decent placing. I didn't look again, sure his place was long since decided. I wish they had had someone better handle him too. He did stack himself a few times, natural for a dog with good structure till they're dead tired, but his handler definitely let him down. I didn't notice anyone calling him, gaiting or standing. Wondered who was falling down on the job with the water bowl when they stopped on the backstretch. He was pretty much "on his own," his black coat soaking up heat and moisture. I was certain he would only get a low SG or G under those circumstances. Nice, (and rare) the judge bothered to look past the poor presentation at the dog itself and gave him the last V. I have not always been so fortunate with my working dogs in Sieger Shows, even when my dogs were very competently handled. (by V-A BSZS handlers) My Pallo got hammered a few times despite being shown in excellent condition, ring-trained as well as any show dog and expertly handled. (Sometimes you eat the bear...) You understand, I try not to be too negative on the boards MOST of the time, and intentionally try to encourage working dog people to enter their better-structured dogs in Sieger shows (comfort in numbers? ;) I apologize for being a little too positive in this case. Hope it hasn't damaged my credibility completely. It was also disappointing to see the good-looking gray dog, Arjako Roten Bergen, untrained for show, showing poorly in the stand for exam. He looked to be in better condition than Alex, a little younger and carrying less weight, but after the stand for exam I didn't really watch him in the class. Again, my apologies for overstating Alex's performance because I am partial to the dog, (read: biased, rose-colored glasses, my pathetic excuse) when the actual presentation/ring performance sucked. I assume he was in better condition, better shown for the Universal Sieger decision? SS

I'd be interested to learn how many dogs entered by German owners made round trips, unsold, and how fast the prices dropped on the ones that finished 'way back after the show in the face of paying the excess baggage to take them home. SS

I also wish I had $10.00 for every time I looked at a young dog on the end of an American owner's leash and overheard the words: "He/she is going to Germany for his/her titles with _____ on Monday/Tuesday." I could have paid for the trip... How can expect the respect of the world when we can't even train our own dogs? How can a born-again breeder (my term for people recently having shelled out a &*$#-load of money for German dogs with little or no history of involvement in the sport) accurately assess the working abilities/temperament of what they breed when they can't be bothered with learning the other half of the sport? (too busy with producing/selling puppies) I know I cringe visibly every time I witness one of these same people's shock and amazement when their "baby," that they spent so much money to buy/train/enter/advertise/transport to the show... fails the protection work, themselves clueless as to why, not yet seasoned enough to have a decent list of plausible excuses on hand in their show-speak repertoire for such occasions. (I have a handy-reference list, conveniently numbered, in order of believe-ability, for all three phases of Schutzhund, if anybody needs one. Ha ha ha I have a large-type version, laminated, taped to the bottom of the equipment box on my dog trailer for special occasions. How's THAT for stirring the pot. SS

Shelley, I would love for you to start a seperate post with the numbered list!

It was with great pleasure for me to see an American dog make such a super placement: V19 Arco von der Wilmothhaus. A super placement for this young male. So happy for his breeders, owners and trainers. What a bright light this dog has become!!! Congratulations to Kathy and her husband. Hard work and perserverence certainly have paid off for the Wilmoth's.

Next time I have a few hours I will post my list of excuses for failing tracking. I just hope the server doesn't time out. SS

Another good question is - why do you guys pay for handlers when many of you are physical enough to do it yourself? Not to mention any names, but some of the "pro" handlers I saw at NASS and on videos are not very good, but they are in demand. Why? Some are so out of shape they are huffing and puffing and making your dogs look bad. Some stand in the ring looking as if they wished they were somewhere else and yet you pay them? Sorry I don't get that at all. I understand that some even pay for "teams" to come from Germany just to show your dogs? I just read a post where a breeder said she needed to forfeit her entry fee and pull her dog at a show because she didn't have a handler. As far as I know this is a younger person and very fit. I'm not talking people who just can't to it physically or mentally, but what about you gals and guys who keep yourselves buff and run your dogs miles every day?

Blitzen- A man who represents himself in court has a fool for a clinet. Same philosphy. No matter how beautiful he may be, your dog looks like crap when even half of his attention is focused behind him in the ring... on you. That's one reason for the off leash heeling. It shows the judge a lot more. The better they heel, focused on you, the worse they look. No way to help them. SS