Lines still changing - Page 2

Blitzen Do you think most are unfriendly are just under stress during a show?

I suppose that's possible, DR. However, some of the rudest where there without dogs LOL. One at an AKC show told me she was an OB trainer. When I told her I had an import, she told me she did not accept imports as she hated their temperaments. An import person spend the best part of an hour standing next to me at NASS loudly critiquing every dog in the protection ring for their substandard bitework performances and their "poor" conformation. Just a few examples for you, you know the drill.

Blitzen, I was commenting on this statement from the first post ~ Rangers said "I wonder if enough show people are concerned enough about working abilities that they will make improvements vs working lines pay more attention to conformation without losing the nerves and drives." Sooo puleeze hence my first post. But ya, I know it's everywhere..

I have noticed the lack of friendly people but I just assumed they were stressed stayed out of their way. I ususally would tell someone nice dog etc and they sometimes would warm up.

Yeah, that works better than just trying to talk about dogs in general LOL.

Blitzen, you commented about how someone was standing next to you at a NASS show and loudly critiquing bitwework and confirmation of dogs. This kind of rude behavior occurs more than it should. In my experience these so called ring side experts don't even know what correct confirmation or movement is (they don't have a clue). The biggest talkers know the least. Less than 20% of the folks attending or showing at NASS even have a clue what correct construction, proportions or movement is. They wouldn't know what "bad coming at you" or "running close behind" or what cow hocks are or what or rumprollup is either. They really don't know what correct and normal GSD temperament is either, the kind liberally given by Mutz, Marko, Eros or Enzo. They just don't get it and they never will since there is no centralized instructional institution for such in this country. In Germany at least you have the elders of the local clubs and some breed wardens that actually get it and are willing to instruct the young uns.

..well, from what I gather AKC show people think high drives are simply bad temperaments and blame the breeder who breeds these "crazy" working dogs. Kinda like the Pit Bull demise in a way. As in my mind.. I disagree with this theory.. and always will. Some people just don't get it. Some people are just down right prejudice. Some people don't care. Some people shouldn't own certain breeds of dog period... and of course it's not the dogs fault. Just my opinion of course.

I worked at a place with a AKC breeder/trainer who had a bitch from then infamous "Dallas" and this bitch was about the same age and was about to get her Chamption rating etc... I had a Seiger bitch from VA and V parents and she was superior in every way to his. He had only been around AKC GSD's and he fell in love with my girl. Basically her reconized a quality GSD no matter what line it was from.

Hi Preston, I don't usually have a problem with GSD movment and structure, so I knew enough to just ignore the negative critiques of dogs I could see were good quality. Most I liked placed high in their respective classes, so I felt vindicated and not quite as stupid as I first was made to think I was LOL. The bitework was new to me and I still don't understand how most dogs get the same general rating form the judge. At that NASS, pronounced seemed to apply to any dog that didn't leave the ring and that hit and bit the sleeve with any level of intensity. My untrained eye saw dogs with full grips that outed on the first command and did not go back for additional nibbles on the sleeve receive the same rating as the dog that took a whimpy grip on the sleeve, failed to out on the first command and then went back for more bites while looking to his handler for approval (or disapproval). I felt as if I came away from that show with little more knowledge about bitework than I knew before I went there. Next time I go to a bigger show I'll try to arrange to spend some time with the people I have met who are knowledgable rather than those who only think their own dogs are worthwhile. Live and learn.............