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by k9gsd78 on 10 July 2012 - 22:07
The things that make a "real GSD" cannot be found in trial scores or even, ultimately, on a schutzhund field. Many people forget that schutzhund was originally designed as a breed test... not as a sport or competition. Not to say that it isn't a great thing to participate in with your dog, as long as you see it for what it is and don't judge the total dog based on his "performance".
"That word 'SPORT' always means competition for the highest, that is true, but this competition reaches its high-water mark in 'Exhibitions', which, just because they demand no real capabilities lead people only too easily astray." - Max von Stephanitz
Those that are wanting "real GSDs" need to remember that v. Stephanitz defined the characteristics of the shepherd as : "joy in work, devotion to duty and to master, mistrust and sharpness against strange and irregular things, docility & obedience, teachableness & quickness to understand, and in addition, immunity to weather, uncommonly acute senses with gifts for retrieving and seeking, assisted by his special gait by which he leaves nothing unnoticed and unsought."
Sometimes, I wonder if there is too much training involved in the sport of schutzhund, to the point that it detracts from the dog's true abilities. Is a dog retrieving because he really has a "gift for retrieving" or because his trainer used a force retrieve method to pass the retrieve at a trial? Is a dog really seeking during a blind search or just going through the patterns he was taught?
Just thinking out loud..
by OGBS on 10 July 2012 - 22:07
I'll take it the wrong way for you and please don't be offended.
The discussion in this thread is about Tom van't Leefdaalhof and what his offspring have produced over time. Others have expounded on that with what they like and don't like about him and then also about other stud dogs.
Your post is about whether Shutzhund/IPO has any merit.
Two different discussions and yours should probably be a different thread entirely.
by k9gsd78 on 10 July 2012 - 23:07
The discussion had turned to whether a particular stud was producing "real GSDs" and dogs that are "twice the dog" of other studs. How can we discuss that without knowing what those terms mean? In order to find out what a "real GSD" should be and how to measure whether a dog is "twice the dog" of another dog you need to have a standard to measure against. Where better to find that standard than quotes from Max von Stephanitz himself?
You need to keep perspective to have a quality discussion. Sure, we can throw terms out there and make ourselves feel good about our dogs, but unless everyone understands what each other is talking about, it is only vain talk and really does nothing to enhance knowledge or better the breed.
by Gustav on 11 July 2012 - 00:07
by Gusmanda on 11 July 2012 - 01:07
http://www.wusv-2011.com/en/results
by Gustav on 11 July 2012 - 02:07
by smith on 11 July 2012 - 03:07
by Chaz Reinhold on 11 July 2012 - 03:07
by smith on 11 July 2012 - 03:07
Chaz you are cool as a fan bro
by k9gsd78 on 11 July 2012 - 05:07
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