Show lines that can't work - Page 1

I'm not trying to start a fight, but could you define what you mean by work?

you know this debate gets older each time its brought up. They have a standard at major show in which a dog must past the bitework to enter the show.. no matter how weak or ineffective you may think it is. It is still in place. I personally feel show people do more than the working people to keep intact the true shepherd. Before i get a 1000 responses keep this in mind. Show at least have some form of bitework before the show. Why isnt there some sort of conformation before the trials. simply put working people don't care if the dog is correct or can even walk or breed(dysplastic dogs making the WUSV teams) all they care for is 100 points in all phases. A dysplastic dog can't be in the show ring for very long because of the kkl requirements. Sch doesn't require those for events which is fine but at the nationals and international events those should be the bare necessities for the breed but of course all we will ever hear is that show dogs don't work and we need to fix the show side of the breed. what about simply fixing the breed as a whole. one name one breed.

HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd" 

I think it is interesting that this type of debate is not limited to GSD's or not limited to just dogs. While I have very limited experience in the show/working arena with my beloved German Shepherd, I d have quite a few years under my belt in the showing of American Quarter Horses. 

It is no different with the horses. There is a tremendous difference between the "Halter" classes and the "working" classes; for example: the western pleasure working cow horse, reining, barrels, calf-roping, etc. There has always been the "ribbing" between the halter people and the working horse people-the old "my horse is better than yours" and "my horse fits the original standard for the breed". 

I think the it was sad what some of the quarter horse people did in the name of competition and how cruel they could be with their horses to win a class, to sell a horse, to earn a title. It was horrific at times. 

Eventually, the AQHA registry began to realize that there was a big problem and started promoting the AQH has the versatile horse; in other words, there were different types for different people and their particular passion. I am not sure the problem was solved but there was some improvement. 

I think I have noticed a greater change since the economy has changed. No horse sells for the crazy prices they once brought. At a recent registered sale, the consignment fee was $75. There were weanlings with known bloodlines and good conformation that brought less then $75. It was sad, but in some ways it was a wake up call to all the greed that once drove the breeders to mass produce based on papers and titles.

Just my thoughts....

We no longer actively breed and/or show horses; we simply enjoy them and trail ride whenever possible. It is much more fun. Now maybe I will have time to show our dogs!!