Qualifying for the Nationals - Page 1

Hello everyone.  I have not had time to visit this site for awhile now, as I have been too busy.  But I have somehow developed  pnemonia (sp?) and my Doc is telling me that if I go work dogs I will die, so I am sitting here in front of the computer.

  So I have a question.  What do you guys think about USA instituting stricter rules for showing at the Nationals?  Currently you need a score of 270 and to show at the regionals.  What do you think about having to qualify (score 270) AT the Regionals?  What about a qualifying score to show at the Regionals, maybe a 270 at a club trial?  

Another idea while I am at it.  What do you guys think about a requirement that the dog must be bred in the US to show at the Nationals?  I understand that other countries require that the dog be born in that country to be able to show at the the national level or qualify for the Worlds.  

 Scores are often a product of where the trial was, who judged and who the handler was and one trial condition is never going to be the same as another. In other words, a score of X in one place does not, for a variety of reasons does not necessarily equal the same X score somewhere else. It is something that likely cannot be made terribly consistent.

I think requiring higher and higher scores only causes inflation of the scores, just like a "A" in college no more really reflects an "A" as it did in the past (at least in so many instances). Secondly, when the number of participants is not high in the first place, why try to reduce further the number of people who want to compete? This is hard enough as it is for so many people because the playing field is NOT level. So many clubs do not have access to really strong helpers, some handlers are not highly skilled, judging is, at best, often inconsistent because people are human. If someone can go and compete at a national, great. If and when we begin to see so many people wanting to compete and there are TOO many, then perhaps one can institute some way to weed participants out.

For the same reason, why would one ever consider limiting the dogs to those bred here? Would you like all the countries to do this? No, i hope that is your answer. If someone has a dog, regardless of bloodlines or where it was born, and it is capable of competing at whatever level, then I say more power to them.

Take some drugs and feel better. Don't try to create more ways to make this sport so restricted people feel it is a larger group of people who benefit little to see that a few benefit.

I hope you feel better.

Agree with Hodie.  When our Nationals reaches 150 dogs again, then we should start raising the requirements for qualifying. 

Lisa

" I understand that other countries require that the dog be born in that country to be able to show at the the national level or qualify for the Worlds.  "

What countries require this? 

When the 270 was 1st instituted years back, it was based on the premise that in 5 years or so, that it would become a requirement for a 270 at  a Regional.

And you need to define a qualifying score.......  To some, that would be a 270.  To others, it would be a passing score for that level.

Thanks!

Actually, I do believe I had to have a 270 to qualify for the USA Nationals with Cheetah (Grumman Cheetah vom Nykontal, SchH3, FH, KK1) 'way back in 1990. 

SS

I have to say I partially agree with Zahnburg.

I would like to see a requirment of 270 or more at the Regional Level to go to the Nationals.  In the region I live in there is not even a Regional Trial held.  We all know that a 270 on your own field is a lot different than a 270 at the Nationals.  I have seen dogs miss blinds on  the search, not bark continuously on the hold and bark, out slower than a toothpick rolling uphill, and then need 3 commands after the long bite, still with an extremely slow out and get a mid 90's in protection because that is what the needed to qualify for the Nationals.

Many people complain about the Midnight Trials, using friendly Judges for Schutzhund Titles and so forth.  Then why all the backlash at wanting stricter qualifications for the Nationals.   That is supposed to be the best our country has to offer for a WUSV selection.  Why would you want to send a team that  barely gets a 270 on their own field.  What does that represent?

I personally would rather see the standards raised.  It is like everything else in this world.  If you really want to go you will rise to the standard set.  If that means we have a few years of a small turnout at Nationals then so be it.  It will pick up, it is just part of the cycle.

Shawn

I think the higher scores would keep the dogs out of nationals that do not belong and a club trial vs a major event like reginals/north american etc is a better judge of the dogs ability to belong at a national level. Club trials are generally judged much easier than the bigger major events and a 270 at a trial with one or two entries vs a National event with eighty of course are judged differently.  

As far as other countries requiring the dog be born there to be shown at a National or qualify for world... what country is this? Many dogs are born in Germany and are shown to Belgium or Denmark etc. not sure were that come from it is news to me.

Marlene

If we make a rule that will exclude a third to a half the dogs who would otherwise be entered, who will want to host the event, knowing it will have so few entries and even less interest/spectators than lately? It doesn't hurt our sport to allow less-competitive teams compete in National events in the US at this stage of the game.  The more interest and enthusiasm, the better IMO. 

JMO, SS

 Those who really have no business entering the Nationals with a Santa-given 270 score learn that the score alone does not  really "qualify" a team for national competition.   The trouble is that some of those folks actually believe the gift -score, and get huffy when Fluffy fails protection when playing in the Big Kids' playfield.   Lack of self-delusion usually keeps those who really should not be there from entering.  You see the same deluded folks all the time, though.  :-)