refused campsite since I have a GSD - Page 4

Sunsilver, You should always have your camera out, treat it like gold :) Send as many photos as you can to htpresort@mynetrocks.com Lets make it our goal to END discrimanation torwards German shepherds :) As what Blitzen Says.. they'd love to see ranger in his service vest :)

They would also love to see pictures of German shepherds hanging out with children, inside hospitals and  holiday photo's.

Blitzen,  LOL I am giving 'em hell.. I cant help but to be an agressive ambitious woman :D

LMH, I tried to send a post earlier today saying that I agree with you 100%.  It really is all about money for these campgrounds

Wait...if it's all about money, why would the other person on the board who complained about this happening to him say the campsite was letting non-GSD RUN LOOSE in the campground?? This included some Rottweilers and pitbull type dogs!

 I tell ya, if I saw that in a campground, and had small children, I'd be out of there darn quick!

It is OUR fault. We have allowed a perception of our breed to develop and only want to do something when it affects us personally. There is legislation that needs to be addressed and situations (bad actors) that need to be confronted.

USA, AKC and others have commitees that fight this breed specific legislation, but you can't wait until it has the GSD name on it. You need to support the organizations that fight it. These same organizations have education or public relations commitees. How many of you get involved with these?

On a local level I get involved. My repro vet ussually gets intouch with me everytime there is some type of bill trying to be passed... I also have an Animal Control Officer friend that keeps me in the loop.. We have a huge number of people here is the Raleigh NC area that showup when there are problems....

I hate reading problems like Bitzens, but with private business people have the right to have rules/regs.. How many of you like it when you are eating somewhere and the person at the next table lights up, or even lights up a cigar??? this is the problem with regulations... We like some of them when they fit our lifestyle but dislike the regulations that don't fit our lifestyles..... Trust you, me I dislike anything that goes against our GSD, but as stated above while people are breeding shit there will continue to be problems within the breed.

Hi Blitzin--I see you responded to Sunsilver. Not always easy to see what truly motivates MOST people to do the right thing, but it is easy to see that many posters offered support to your cause when they sent charming photos of their dogs. They have such faith these people will wake up.  The act does them credit, and at the very least, they are doing something.

I'm not involved with any public relations committees, but personally have been on a one-woman crusade in my hometown for years now. All I can do is offer advice on my experience.  If you have town meetings, go to them.  Question and show a deep interest in dog legislation. It's not so easy for a town board to create and quietly slip in some new anti-dog law when they realize people are going to bring up the subject. If possible, bring some fellow dog lovers. AND...go on the ATTACK,...NEVER on the defense-------Attack other non-related dog issues.  They won't want you around and will find it easier to conduct their other questionable  business when they don't have to deal with you about dogs.  You'd be surprised how it works.

My contribution may not be AKC or USA affiliated, but try fighting your friends and neighbors sometime.  Believe me when I say it's no picnic.  I'm sure many want to help, but don't know what to do.  If suggestions are made, I assure you...they won't fall on deaf ears.

I am encouraged by the many GSD owners who have contacted this campground expressing their dismay with breed bans and sending photos of their beautiful dogs. Sometimes it does help them rethink their policy as happened at that KOA in the Adirondacks I spoke of before. The GSDCA and some of those members also got involved. Personally, I think what made them change their policy was being asked who on staff was going to decide which dogs were which breeds. That question seemed to get them scratching their heads and not long after that I received a PM saying they had changed their minds and our GSD was now welcome. Dennis is correct, they can do whatever they want legally, so all we can do is hope that more do not follow suit. We've camped with our GSD's for 13 years now and were only turned away 2 times because of our dogs.

We are so lucky here in PA to have the PA Federation of Dog Clubs to lobby against bad dog legislation. The lady who served that organization so well for so many years, Dotsie Keith, passed away a few months ago. somehere may have known her. I was wondering what she'd have had to say about the dog policy at this campground since her beloved breed, Dalamatians, is one that is no longer allowed there.

While I agree that GSD's overall could have better temperaments, it still comes down to enforcing the rules and there would be no problems at any campgrounds. Blitz is a not the friendliest dog in the world, but we never have one problem with him anywhere. He's quiet, rarely barks, we keep him on a lead right with us and never leave him outside unattended. Not rocket science. Any dog can bite and honestly I'd just as soon if strangers don't pet my dogs. My first GSD was a social butterfly but I still never allowed him to be fondeled by strangers, especially kids. One stratch with a paw while playing is enough to send some parents into a screaming fit. I'd just as soon if they played with their own dogs or stuffed ones LOL.

Have you asked if they make exceptions for dogs with TDI/CGC? I would be VERY interested in hearing what their response is. I go camping with my Rikkor daughter allllll the time, and she is hands down the best behaved dog everywhere we go.

We all suffer from the ignorance of others.

For the record, I am an all breed dog trainer, and the worst puncture wound I ever took was from a chocolate lab...