Complaining about sports and dogs today - Page 2

Don Corleone,
the problem is that 99% of people doing SchH do not know any better or do not  care about anything else but SchH. SchH is the most popular sport of this type thus its  influence on the  GSD breed is tremendous. You, I and 59 other people here on PDB  who agree with you and me can not outweigh  thousands of oblivious or care - less people involved in SchH. If the rules of SchH would be as they USED to be then the breed  would be better  and better off too. That is  since thousands up on thousands of members would be forced to do the right thing. THAT is what we are complaining about. Capish,  Don Corleone?
 Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

The Don nailed it   "...I have final say on how my dog is worked. It's up to the handler to dictate what is done with the dog. .."

EXACTLY!  1,000% true!  (no not a typo......)  My dogs, I say what will, or will not, be done with them.  I expose them to other work, other distractions, other noise, other anything I choose.  I decide.


Welcome back..... 

All true as long as you are in a club with a training director with enough self-worth not to feel threatened if you go off and try all this other stuff. 

Not always the case!

Happily, I've left several clubs behind where the TD flipped out if people tried to do anything other than "their way".  I'm in a good club now where we don't do the TD thing. Works great.

Interesting topic.

I think these owners of dogs who complain that they dont have "real dogs" or non-performing dogs; should be put through A-Z tests to test what they know and whether what they know is within their ability to transmit to their dog!!

Once a "real-dog" gets to know (and thats very quickly) that these owners dont know what the dog knows...the dog controls the act...you know; the tail wagging the dog sindrome!!

Hans, I get your point, but 99% is a bit high. Maybe I'm wrong. I've asked you a few questions before and I think I've kinda touched on this, but why do you think that most of your dogs that you are producing do not end up in the sport venues?

I must agree the training director sets the mind set for the club. The first club I belonged to our training director was a wonderful person but good lord you never wanted to suggest a change because she took it as a personnel attack on her character.

The next the training director was sure that he had all the answers and there was no reason to even ask about a different approach. He knew it all.

You own the dog not the club. A good training director will atleast hear you out. 

i was a little reluctant to click on this thread.  figured it would just be another one of those threads that magnify the difference in everyones' opinions on what should and shouldn't be.  actually, i see some merit here.......some thought.  good topic, DC.
there is dog training and there is schh training and to be more specific - training for points.  if one is focusing on points, that will limit them on thinking "outside the box."  i couldn't agree more that training specifically for schh competition drastically reduces our abillity to see the real dog within; prevents the dog from excercising his true working ability and ability to think and work thru a problem.  schh is "routine" and routine is mostly about obedience -  the ability to learn the routine and perform it with the least amount of errors.
some of the other dog sports are "mixing things up."  less routine.  psa and mondio do some pretty cool stuff.  i hate to say this, but i think it may have something to do with being less breed specific.
i would like to hear peoples' thoughts on what sort of training and testing they would like to see added to dog sports.  things like testing on different surfaces, footbridges/swinging bridges, building searches in place of blind searches, different types of tracking besides a weeny-hunt.  stuff like that.  what would people like for the dogs to be able to do?
pjp

Just a thought based upon my experiences over the past two years! Especially me and for the most part NEWBIES who want to enter into the dog sport  enviorment! wether it be basic obediecne or schtz or points! I would like to see a program implimented that furnishes and requires new handlers to  become educated enough so that those newbies whom we need so badly are not discouraged  and end up quitting the sport! I know that many go to  franchised  dog obedience training but when they desire to enter  a usca club or wda club or any other organized  dog club they need carefull and considerate guidance !Not just guidance from an arm who thinks it is a trainer. But an organized program  concieved at the club and national level that guides the newcomer into dog sport and  keeps them there for ever!JAT