North American Sieger Show 2011 Male Protection videos - Page 2

"Ivan....who is a very nice dog, is actually a strong dog in temperament & normally performs much better than he demonstrated this past weekend.  This past weekend he looked slower and drab in his performance. I have no explanation...."

Robin, was he there for practice on Thursday?  If so, how did he do then?

We didn't travel together with Ivan's family this year....we left about 5-6 hours prior.
The weather was bad getting there...WE didn't arrive until after 3:30 am Thursday.
I think Ivan's family didn't arrive until 11:00am (?). They had to wait for rooms at the hotel, then shower and come to the practice field.
Yes.... Ivan's owners went straight to the field from the hotel (when it was practice time) and did a fast 5min practice before they went back to the hotel to finally rest.....they were pretty exhausted by then....as were we all.

Both our dogs had a 5 min practice.......Tony was "wired" then and slow to out ...we should have pulled him.....(our mistake).  *He actually is a darn hard dog*.

As for Ivan.....*normally* he is quicker, and bites faster (he has solid, sound character).....this time, he looked slower and drab.

Keith, to answer your question, I was fully planning on showing both my show and working line males at Sieger Shows (when old enough, one is going for SchH titles starting next month, the other is not old enough for a BH) but now that this test has become so watered down it's just not even worth it.  That's what bugs me the most, not these particular dogs or how other people prioritize training, but that this test no longer makes it possible to even show off a dog that DOES have really nice work.  I've found other venues that do that and that is where I have been training and titling my dogs in both conformation and working events (tracking, obedience, protection).  There are only so many hours in the day and only so much money I can spend on owning and training from 7 weeks my own dogs that I do not breed or sell.  It's like saying why don't we do Rally Novice?  Because for me that's just a waste of time and money.  It doesn't showcase my dogs the way I believe the breed should be showcased.  And it's not because I'm scared my dogs would shut down at a show.  I've been to and been IN Sieger Shows.  I show my dogs in multiple venues all year long and that's *just* the conformation, not including multiple venues that both include their own tracking, obedience, and protection as well as agility, flyball, lure coursing, and dock diving as I have money for more entry fees.  My dogs travel with me constantly, the only routine they really know is chaos, lol.

Also this BS between the WDA and USCA has forced a lot of people to make choices that unfortunately restrict opportunities for showing and titling.  Of course this doesn't matter for large kennels with bottomless pockets and plenty of co-owners to register the dog for this or that but when you're just one person putting blood, sweat, and tears into your pets the sky's not the limit.

Thanks, Robin.  This is exactly the point I am trying to make.  We're exposing these dogs to a huge amount of stress for several days before they ever walk onto the field and the pundits are judging their performance against what they see from their own well-rested dogs on their own field with a familiar helper.  I don't see that as a fair comparison but I certainly welcome them to compete rather than sit on their asses talking smack.

My takes on the videos that NorthSieger2011 posted.  Thank you NorthSieger!

Quizno was pretty good, more intense bitework, only thing I didn't like was when he would take his eyes off the agitator to look at his handler. 

Ottmar's performance pretty bad :(

Tony was like, "can't I just fight him? is this other obedience protocol really necessary?" lol, I give him some kudos Huerta, at least he has good courage and drive.

Milan also wanted to "play some more", he took some dirty bites to vent his frustration, the agitator was like "what do I do with this dog?"  lol 

What's up with Alta's scootin around during the hold and bark? 

Cal brought some good drive with him, but he also had a funny hold and bark.

Looked like Larus had a pretty intense stare, he had a good performance

Hocken doesn't really like bitework does he?  or maybe just not the stick?

Boy, I expected better drive from Bullinger kennel, Juneau looked like he was trying but was pretty insecure, or maybe it was only because he fell over backwards?

Rocco was good

Yupp was decent too, love his dark color

Xenox not so hot

Mark good

Waiko good, whose his handler?

Ufoh not so hot either, what'd he do at the end? choke on a piece of sleeve?

The rest of the dogs were pretty vanilla in performance, they did the job but without any real intensity. 

Keith, FWIW other than CGC tests I have never titled/certified a dog in anything on a "home" field because none of the clubs I belong to actually host trials in anything.  I had to drive two states over for a frickin BH.  You want to test a dog in chaos try doing high level obedience trial with terrier racing going on in the next ring over, lol.  The UKC Premier is *my* premier annual event, 4 days straight of multiple events.  At the last one my dog finished a title and earned another title in a totally different sport start to finish and we had a pretty light entry load this time.

NorthSieger, THANKS for sharing the videos!  Do you have one of Griff or am I blind?

My previous post was along the "talkin smack" lines.  I'm one of those who can't afford anything period (I'm a full time college student).  But, I am critical of my dogs too when there is something that needs improved upon. 
Most of the dogs in the videos did their job correctly, but none of them were my heroes this year.  

Thanks for your input, VKGSDs; I would like to think that we're all working toward a common goal and encourage input on how we get there.

Euro.....Vanilla in performance is a very good way to describe Ivan's exhibition.
He did the job on that day (and he will always do the job)......but in no way, the way he is capable of doing the job.
Very vanilla....we expect more "flavor" from him, we know the dog.