Why are GSD shows dying on their feet? - Page 1

Why are our shows dying?

Is it because the Exhibitor is disenchanted? and if so ,why?or is it because there appears to be no new Exhibitors coming through? and if not ,why not?   Are we becoming indifferent to our hobby? I'm sure you have all given these, and indeed many others serious thought, i would be interested in your views.

one thing, it has became too political.  it is no longer about the dogs. you look at a show entry list, see owners, and you pretty much know who will be in the ribbons. and this is with american and german dogs.

and 2, new comers to the breed become disenchanted.  there's are soo very few older breeders willing to mentor. health issue's are kept quiet. New breeder/competitors are basically getting into this blind.  plus, alot of people see puppies adv. for $2500-$5000 and think they are going to get rich quick.  it doesn't happen!

Hi Paulie, Cost... cost has something to do with it.

Some people feel that it's not their dogs that are judged at some shows.  How often and for how many years has that been said?  I no longer show... no Club in my area for training or anything else, few shows within reasonable distance, too expensive and I hate the way some exhibitors behave, screaming, blowing trumpets, running round like loons and their dogs ignore them... can't they see that their dogs have switched off?  Handlers that are too expensive - some are unreliable!

The list goes on...

I rarely show, combination of things - main ones being lack of ring training facilities and I dont like the excessive double handling.

I my mind a well trained dog will do well without people screaming/shouting/blowing horns or waving whips etc.  Yes the GSD is the only breed that Gaits out - a good thing - but things have gone too far.   I also dont have an ensemble to ship to the shows so there is a caller on each corner.

I am also more and more disenchanted with the excessive hock angulation and wobble that is around.  I have less angulated dogs who are sound what ever they do and except the oldie who is allowed to - dont sink when standing.  My dogs are also not locked up in kennels/crates all day and are not bored enough to find shows entertaining, and after a few trips round the ring, listening to all the noise etc get pretty much fed up!

I'm with you on that Uber Land,

I stopped going to the AKC conformation shows, it's all about the handler and not the dog.

Famous handlers equal famous dogs, I'd rather spend my money on training and obedience.

I think my dog Theo is a fine specimen of the breed, and I get plenty of compliments,

but hey, the girl that is showing him doesn't have that special name at the end of hers,

what's that begin with.........something like MMMMMMM...............................

Anyway, I think he's the cat's meow!  You go Theo!

mirasmom, Sounds like it's world wide then?  Beautiful bunny on the other thread... I've just looked.

Thanks!   Bunnies RULE!

Too costly, too political, and judges that dont adhere to the standard (or, the standard has too wide an interpretation) or judges have suddenly gone blind..  :::::::shrug::::::

As far as AKC shows, watching judges focus only on sidegait is a major turn off, to me, and that is IF they ever look below the leash.... I have seen to  many *leash up" shows. Thats not fun, at all....

As far as AKC shows go, IMO AKC has sold the dog world up the river by approving over 3 times as many shows over the last 30 years. After they approved more shows and allowed show giving clubs to host more than one show per year, they needed to approve more judges and we all know where that took the sport. At one time a club was not permitted to host more than one point show per year and, in order to receive AKC approval for that show, they needed to hold at least one A match annually. Also no 2 shows were ever held at the same location or in the same county. The rule was no 2 shows within a 200 mile radius on the same day. Too many shows equal fewer entries at each show and, coupled with the current state of the economy, it's easy to understand why individual shows don't get as many entries as they once did. I suspect there are not a whole lot fewer dogs being campaigned, the entries are just spread out over more shows.

I don't know that there are too many shows. It is true that the judges don't seem to know the GSD standard in many cases. Or the standard gives too much latitude, perhaps. But those are education issues. There's no good reason for only a handful of judges knowing a good GSD when they see one. 

I think exhibitors like cluster shows and multiple shows on a circuit. It is possible to show and finish a dog in a month or less, if judges like you and your dog (yep, it's political) and if you have a professional handler. I do know some GSD people who have gotten out of showing because they don't have the time or money anymore, or they say it isn't fun like it used to be. It is difficult to get mentored in GSDs. No one has the time anymore. Don't know if other breeds are like that too.