French Ring & GSD - Page 2

Are there any US GSD breeders producing dogs that can compete in French Ring?

Is there anyone working a GSD in French Ring, regardless of bloodline or background?

I'm curious as to the comment that dogs with weak grips can "often" get by in Ring.  I've seen Ring training before and it ain't for sissies.  Uglydog, can you shed some light on your comment?

My guess..very few US breeders.   GSDs dominate SCHh, Mal & Dutchies dominate Ring.

Im lazy and I recall reading a efw interviews with trainers, but I pulled this off of Leerburg..(theres alot more out there, sorry Im short on time.)

"Those involved in Schutzund or the Belgium Ring Sports focus training on Grip work while the French and Dutch (who do not emphasize GRIP)  just focus on nerve and drive."

French Ring

• 
  The French Training Suit allows the agitator to work in comfort with good mobility. It has sufficient padding and is loose fitting, allowing the dog to bite the lower legs, thighs, crotch area, back, chest, arms, and armpit area. The French Training Suit is good for everyday use and inexperienced agitators.
   
• 
  The French Semi-Competition Suit has less padding than the French Training Suit. It is very mobile, light, and loose fitting, and the dog can bite the same locations it can bite on the French Training Suit. Because it is less well padded, however, only experienced agitators should wear the French Semi-Competition Suit.
   
• 
  

  The French Competition Suit is the thinnest and lightest of all bite suits and allows the agitator the greatest mobility. The Competition Suit generally is worn only in French Ring Competitions and should be worn only by the most experienced agitators.

   

2 More links..good reading on FR.. Read Bart Bellon, he won Belgian Ring a few times, at bottom on FR & differences-discusses Grip

http://www.finographics.com/schutzhund/interviews/bartbellon.html

OR..

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/LA/Redenbach%20.htm

It is hard to fault a dog with a shallow bite when the decoy is trying to evade the dog.  Just getting a bite when there is a stick between the decoy and the dog as well as a decoy moving away from the dog instead of feeding the sleeve say the dog will go through a stick to bite.  A regrip is usually trained but only when it is safe to do.  In a trial, that is often not given to the dog.  If the dog tries and looses the grip altogether, then points are taken from the dog.  Minimum points if the dog rebites right away but if the decoy can actually gets a meter or so from the dog, even more points are taken.  The decoy in French ring is not a helper and is taking points from the dog whenever they can, at least at the higher levels.  I am not sure it is something that can even be compared to feeding an am arm or leg to a dog. 

Robin

www.klatolklin.com

If I was looking for a GSD to compete in ringsport, I would start by contacting Pia:

http://www.vomrheinland.com/

Beaucerons don't really "excel" at french ring. they are a french breed so they are worked in the sport. I would say there are probably more GSD's doing french ring (and are probably better) than Beaucerons. I have seen a few good ones but are not anything compared to a good GSD or Mal. Beaucerons are faster and more agile for their size as compared to a GSD.

It really boils down to a physical aspect. For the most part (I said most part) GSD's just cannot physically do what a malinios can. I am sorry if I offend some but they just can't. You need either a decent size dog or a very agile smaller one (you really need both size and agility) to do the maximum jumps in FR. An 80 lb GSD cannot do what an 80lb Mal can do. That's just the way it is. FR decoys, esp. the ones in France, are VERY fast and VERY agile. They can really make dogs look silly.

So it really is about speed and agility. GSD's don't have what Mals have in these areas. Combine that with SCH being the "breed standard" and you cannot get Koer or rated without a Sch title and you have GSD's doing SCh and not Ring. In France there are alot of GSD's doing ring. Some make it to the selectifs (regionals) and a few make it to the finals and cup. They just can't beat a Malinios. It's just the way things are. 

My little dog will be doing ring. I don't know how far we will go, because I have bigger plans than just one sport. She is a little bitty thing. I haven't measured height but I would be surprised if she was more than 22" and weighs 48 lbs at 11 months. I don't see her getting a whole lot bigger. She is extremely fast and very agile. A beautiful jumper. Her being so small though, I think she will have problems with the Max jumps.

There was a GSD on the USA Ring 1 World Team this year.

What is the " USA Ring 1 World Team"? I have never heard of it.

It was the Coupe Intercontinentale. The dog was on the US team for Ring 1.