GROUP JUDGE CRITIQUE-ZAMP VOM THERMODOS-CRUFTS - Page 3

It means that the group judge is publicly backpedalling at a rate of knots, and that quality will always out.

I too would have been cacking my pants if i was Lisa. She was given the task of handling probably the most fussed over and petted dog at Crufts that day, probably was tired herself. It does smack of nepotism, and who knows, maybe if one of our so called "pro handlers" was on the end of the lead, things may have been different.

What matters is that people were given the chance to see this great dog, who maybe didnt perform on the day, but who gives a monkeys? I doubt Lisa does, Crufts is a very small fish in Zamps pond!  Shepherds dont have a stunning record in the Group at Crufts, and the judge obviously didnt have the courage of his convictions, so pussied out by blaming the handler. Lisa, good on ya, i would have been a wreck, couldnt have done it! Hope you had a fantastic day, and you know you have the best dog in the world at your side now. Lucky you.

WATCHER

I did not post my original message to blame Zamps young handler , I only wanted everyone to see what the Judge had said, and how ridiculous her critique sounded. (to me anyway) And NO- a dog shouldnt win because of who he is, he should win because of what he is. The Judge could clearly see (by what she said) that he was an excellent dog, and to me was using the handling as an excuse. Its an easy cop-out. It happens all the time.  AND if  a MONKEY had handled Zamp at the Seiger, I am sure he still would have won----because of what he is and what he has achieved. Yes in the UK it is how a dog performs on the day  and that is why not always the best dog wins, as he might be having an off day. 

So really the whole thing is ridiculous and the UK show scene needs to change and take into account  progeny, working ability etc AND NOT JUST IN GSD.  When I look at other top winners from other breeds I  often wonder if they could ever do the job they origionally did. Just because a dog of any breed is a top winner, because on the day it showed itself well, or it was handled well, doesnt mean its so much better than the rest(not in my mind anyway) but then I think the showscenne in the UK is out of its mind anyway.

How can a judge ever rate the performance of a handler over the merit of the dog?

The whole point of dog showing is THE DOG!

My personal view is that the result was pre ordained and that the judge was simply looking for a way to excuse her rediculously unfair  line up.

Zamp is a world champion and quite definately the best around today, he has proved that beyond a shaddow of a doubt, the judge has shown herself in the press  and on TV to the dog fraternity around the world as an idiot of the first order.

She has done irepairable damage to the reputation of Crufts, British dog showing and her country and slighted every GSD shown that day.

She has also insulted the breed and her critisim of Zamp's young handler was beyond the pail, it smacks of jingoistic cronisim something the Kennel club should  censor but sadly will not.

How dare she!

If she has the audacity to judge again her classes should be boycotted by every right minded GSD owner period.

Rant over as you were.

C.