BRITISH SIEGER WORKING PARTY - PRESS RELEASE Re OFF LEAD GAITING - Page 1

BRITISH  SIEGER WORKING PARTY -  PRESS RELEASE

With effect from the 2012 British  Sieger it is intended that off-lead gaiting will be required in all Adult and Working Classes.   In order to facilitate the transition and to allow time for the introduction of this new requirement the British Sieger Working Party has amended the rule for this year only as follows:-

In 2011 the males & females in the Adult classes (standard and long coat) will have the option to either complete one lap on a loose lead with no outside calling OR complete one lap off lead.  This will take place during the individual stand examination.

The purpose of off-lead gaiting is to allow the judge to evaluate the natural movement of the GSD without the restrictions of the lead or influence of the handler.  The Judges will be briefed that poor heelwork or control must not be a factor in assessing the dog, and the movement itself will be the deciding factor.

JOHN CULLEN
Chairman
BRITISH SIEGER WORKING PARTY
Issued by Alyson Reilly
Press Officer
BRITISH SIEGER WORKING  PARTY

alysonr06@aol.com 

No 'good news, great decision', 'thanks for listening to us and taking our views into account' after all the fuss? 

I'll say it then. Well done BSC, for adjusting the timescale to allow entrants sufficient time to be fully prepared for the OLG next year, but also for gviing those who are already preparing to 'have a go' a chance to do so this year.

Why on earth should the open classes be subject to off lead gaiting at all, if you want to do off lead gaiting there are classes to cover it You are taking away peoples choice and i honestly thought that that was what all of this was about CHOICE. It is not about whether or not a dog can do off lead gaiting it is about taking away our choice , so i for one do not agree with it. Why do people want to fix things that are not BROKE>,

I agree Jim, however, I do think there should be a proper working test (BH?) introduced... perhaps starting (compulsory) January 2014, thereby giving one and all time to train and really get used to the whole idea; I think this should be a mandatory part of the Breed Survey.  It's tough because I agree about "choice" but I also think we have to move on to continue to improve.

Off lead gaiting proves no more than loose lead gaiting, on its own. 

Its Simples TRAIN YOUR DOGS !!!!!!!

I do train my dogs all of my dogs will sit,stay give a paw ly down come when called and believe it or not 2 can even do of lead gaiting but have not been trained to do so they will go round the ring by there self, the point is not about training our dogs it is about taking away the choice if i want to do olg then i can train my dog in SchH and enter it in the working class if i want to just show it then provided it has a breed survey then i can show it in the open class that is choice
jim h

Another mistake, removing choice, something crucial to exhibitors. When an adult dog gets loose outside into the public space around the ring and knocks into or over a toddler or a frail elderly person, precisely WHO will be responsible?

Those exhibitors who are old, disabled, unfit, will now not only have to arrange for a handler, but also for off lead gaiting “training” for their dogs and for whoever handled the dogs for their off lead gaiting to accompany then to the British Sieger 2012. Maybe NOT entering is the more obvious choice for them?

It is becoming clear that the whole idea of the Adult Classes (my idea) at the British Sieger Event, which was to offer all those that do NOT wish to follow the German SV System of exhibiting, with all or some of their GSD, will have a CHOICE is being very seriously undermined.

That choice should be:

1)  They could show at Kennel Club Shows

2)  They could show at the British Sieger Event (by adhering to the health requirements and the Breed Survey for the Adult Classes. The Breed Survey would develop carefully and VERY gently and slowly over MANY years ALWAYS BEARING IN MIND that the Health Requirements are fundamental and the need to recognise that these are available throughout the UK through Vets, and everybody can have these done. TRAINING ON THE OTHER HAND IS NOT AVAILABLE IN MOST PARTS OF THE UK and is NEVER likely to be and many people are physically incapable of doing much of SV type training . Germany has over 2,000 yes two thousand training clubs, with 3 or more is some towns, and with all training facilities, helpers, tremendous community spirit and help and over 100 years to develop, hone and polish their system.

For GODS SAKE when will these SV purists and utterly SELFISH people “SMELL THE COFFEE” and realise our British Sieger Event and our Regional Events are for EVERY GSD OWNER IN THE UK.

Study the British Sieger Committee - How many Show GSD? Those that Show, how many show in Germany? How many represent  the vast majority of British GSD exhibitors who do NOT train their dogs to even do part of the German SV System and don't even want to?

The name of OUR Event is a great big clue = BRITISH SIEGER

The regional events as well as the Sieger do not cater for those who are elderly or unfit or who cannot afford a handler due to gaiting whether on or off lead. I've said before that this style of showing will not appeal to the exhibitor who wishes to handle their own dog, but cannot race flat out around a ring, or who do not want/cannot afford the services of a handler.

The problem as I see it is that the UK want to adopt an SV style of showing, but without many of the major components. Some (referred to as SV purists) wish to develop the shows and incorporate more of the German components than others.  I must confess I thought that was the original plan, and that progress would be made towards a full SV style show at some point in the future, implemented in stages.

The only real solution I can see is to implement a completely dual system whereby separate 'english' style classes are also held at these events, under UK judges, the basic requirement being a breed survey, thereby meeting all health requirements.  (Maybe just the adult classes). Those exhibitors would not be eligible for the Sieger Show, but would be eligible for the new title of British Champion, which could be held at the Sieger event in a separate ring. That would offer real choice to all.

Any dog could enter either english or German style classes, so a person showing in the 'English' style classes could if they wished to progress to German style classes. Conversely, a person who has shown under the German style could switch to english style classes. BUT no dog could enter both, it would have to be an 'either or' situation, probably for a defined season.

That is rather 'off the cuff' thinking and I don't know if it would be workable, although I don't see why it couldn't be developed.

Having over 35 years of breeding and exhibiting GSD very successfully and attaining Championship status and awarded CC's in various countries including approx. 30 times in India, also in Australia, the Philippines Sieger Show, had to cancel a Championship Show this coming November in Israel through health reasons, and known to judge without fear or favour. I have also had many dogs trained in Germany up to  Schutzhund 3 level and Korung by several of the best trainers in Germany, and also shown Germany, including the German Sieger Show, the Dutch Sieger Show and the Belgian Sieger Show quite successfully. Not forgetting my considerable knowledge of Rules, Regulations, Constitutions and systems etc. I feel somewhat well qualified to comment on our British Sieger Event. Unlike others (Abbey N) for example, who doesn't know much about anything GSD and doesn't even appear to understand that our present British Sieger offers both the FULL SV System and a FULL British System (similar to GSD breed Club KC Championship Shows) but with some very important additions. Namely proper identification, proper health REQUIREMENTS, (unlike those in the KC discredited Breeders Scheme, which should carry a health warning) A Gun Test and culminating in a GSD Breed Survey for the Adult Classes. So anyone can now see that this is far superior than the KC GSD Championship Shows AND the additions are what our GSD Breed have requested from the KC over many many years.

Now we are MASTERS of our own destiny, it looks like we are going to OVERPLAY our own authority to the detriment of the VAST majority of Germanic exhibitors.

If the British Sieger Committee cannot control their urges to bring in additional requirements to the ADULT CLASSES, can I respectfully suggest that they LEAVE THE EXISTING ADULT CLASSES ALONE, and introduce ADULT PLUS (+) Classes - 1 for males & 1 for Females.
Then they can do and add what the hell they like to these ADULT PLUS(+) Classes. They can tinker away at their hearts content with the ENTRY REQUIREMENTS for these Adult Plus(+) Classes as often as they like. Very few will enter anyway that's for sure. But at least they can then leave the very important Adult Classes alone.

This WILL maintain CHOICE and it will even increase CHOICE for British GSD exhibitors- without any frustration or disappointment to anyone.

OR IS THAT JUST TOO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND?