WDA newsletter - Page 2

Tuna, at this time I am a member of USA as a parent club, without a reginal club membership, I am amember of a DVG local club, but not a member of DVG parent. When I was searching for a club to train with I was already a member of USA parent and the closest club was DVG so I joined both club and parent and had two score books, did a BH at a DVG club wich takes some traveling (not many DVG clubs around) then found out didn`t need to add second score book, so I last trialed at USA club because there are more around and my perception at there events is that there is more support from other USA clubs and reginal directors. At this point I am hopeing to pursuay my local club in becoming USA or convice some into creating a second because (9 out of 10 dogs in this club are GSD) I am GSD first sport of schutzhund second.

I am a member of both. I like training, and don't care what organization a club is when there is a trial. I also want to koer my dogs. USA koers are recognized by USA for their internal registration program [yes, I know, not FCI recognized!] But nice pedigree with lots of info for 10 bucks per pup more than useless for info AKC 4 gen. In WDA, if you get a BH and/or AD under a WDA judge, you cannot do a koer. Must be SV. So why bother to do it? The WDA is a sometimes recognized stepchild of GSDCA. GSDCA is the AKC breed club. The same AKC breed club that has no breeding guidelines or requirements for AKC registration that allows people to breed Blues Livers Whites and now!!!!!!!!!!!!! PANDAS and give them the same legal status internationally as a dog from 2 V rated KKL1 dogs!! WDA is heavily highlines, and many many people are dual members and can give a flying fig about politics. Another organization, another club, another venue to collect ribbons and ratings/titles. The underlying damage to the Euro bred dog is subtle as by supporting the WDA system - the people who care about the breed as estabished in Germany/Europe are actually supporting the degeneration of the standard as supported by the AKC show people and the degeneration of the breed by the no breed specific [ie other than general AKC rules about age/DNA/numbers of litters] requirements for registration. This is not a critisicm of people choosing to show or trial under WDA, people use what is convenient and easy - that is human nature!!!! I am trying to explain why I believe all GSD supporters of the Euro "style" and breedworthiness requirements - whether working or high lines - should think long and hard about what is going to happen down the road to the breed if the GSDCA gains credence with the SV using the WDA as a token compliance as the politics of the two groups USCA - WDA splits the breed apart even further in this country. It is not about the people and the power and the politics - it is about what is good for the GSD!!! Just look again - long and hard at the Panda dog - and at all the "breeders" in the US specializing in "rare" colors - Blues, Livers and whites!!! Just a few things to think about!!!

Ok, i am looking to do the the right thing by the GSD in the United States and I know I get no guidence via AKC. I have a 2 yr old working line male that I did BH and is now ready for SCH1, he carries an AKC reg and a USA score book. I have now intention in putting him in a confromation ring or enen Koer "not looking to breed him" he appears to be a great working dog and that is all he wants to do, so that is what I do with him, nothing else. I recently purchased a high line female who is now 3 months old and thrilled with. I`m looking to do much more with her but, know the crap shoot isn`t over until she proves her self and I do right by her. So i`ll start her with the same a AKC reg and USA score book, with these 2 pieces of paper can we enter either USCA-WDA conformation or working trial? I am content to have all or even one org recognize the titles.

Fred, Your score book is not a problem in a WDA authorized trial/show. The key issue is showing under an SV certified judge. Particularly for your BH, AD, and at least one of your SchH titles. I found out the hard way that my BH and SchH1 under a WDA judge were not recognized by the SV for a Breed survey. Read the following text which is copied from the WDA web site http://www.gsdca-wda.org/govern.htm : “Since its inception in 1982, the GSDCA-WDA has accepted working titles obtained in trials sponsored by other schutzhund organizations such as the Verein fuer Deutsche Schaeferhunde (SV) in Germany, DVG and United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USCA). All scorebooks issued by these organizations are accepted by the GSDCA-WDA, as are earned titles awarded by any trial judge certified by the SV, DVG, or USCA. Although recognized by GSDCA-WDA, the SV does not recognize schutzhund titles or AD's awarded by DVG and USCA judges as valid prerequisites for Breed Surveys conducted under SV Kormeisters” : They manage to avoid the issue about titles awarded under a WDA judge. Kougar makes a valid argument about the USCA and WDA. What has either club done to gain recognition for their judges from the SV? In the meantime, stick with showing under an SV or SV/Foreign judge for your working titles and you can avoid the problem I ran into.

Here's the simple answer. Support the GSD in America by joining both. Both have pros and cons depending on what your interests are. This country is big and the events are sparse enough as it is. Both organizations use SV, SV/F judges.

****Tuna, Grum is only half correct. Bogdan was looking to CONTROL (like a dictatorship). The WDA could not let it happen. Maybe the same problem his WDA club is dealing with. Don't know, only heard. But, I do agree that the WDA needs to be more open and honest to the membership about issues such as this. ***** Elizabeth, Bogdan told you this? oh wait wait.. you said "dont know, only heard" so again, this is just hearsay...one of your "sources" ok, so most likely its just you causing trouble again. ya know, you really need that lawyer in your family with these slanderous words that you type about people... probably be a good idea to keep your lawyer/family member close by... why dont you email Bogdan and all these people that you feel high and mighty over and set them straight, where they can defend themselves.. most of the people you try ripping apart do not have time to be on line here, they have dogs to title and train. I agree with Dog1, we should support the GSD in America!!!

Another perspective on this discussion, as I was a USA member for 10 years before joining the WDA.. started with DVG, also, but I wanted the sport for my dog, not a dog for the sport... I want to support the betterment of the GSD, NOT just their working qualities but all the qualities that are measured by the standard... In those 10 years as a USA member, it was apparent the organization was about Schutzhund not about the GSD, and certainly not about a structurally correct GSD... I have always trialed and titled with the same type of dog, gotten good scores, pronounced, etc... geez, even a Gold Sports Medal, but all through my 10 years had the scrutiny of showing up at the club field with a 'nice looking dog.' As soon as people see a nice looking dog, they assume he /she cant' work... This is the USA mentality.. They finally, after pressure from the SV, quit having Rottweilers on the cover of the mag, and allowing Mals to win their championship, hence the AWDF was formed... BUT USA is about Schutzhund and WDA is about German Shepherds.. USA does a good job as an organization putting on Schutz. stuff.. All their seminars in the regions, etc.. are about working and competition, not about breed standards, show handling, conditioning, etc.. which there is a lot to - those of you that do it, know how rigorous it is... After titling 10 dogs in SchH, I decided to continue in the Sport with a GSD friendly organization... I am sorry Bogdan left the WDA training director position as his experience is hard to beat by anyone in this country. He probably did try to take control... someone needs to, as there is no program in place to build the organization... WDA has a way to go to be a perfect organization, but I do not feel that in supporting them I am also supporting NO BREEDING regulations... that was a leap, who said that!! Anyone who truly knows how to breed follows their own regulations and uses solid, healthy dogs.. and it's great if you can get out there and earn the degrees to prove what you have... If you are a conscientious breeder,you don't need someone standing over you to make sure you do things right.. USA titles by USA judges are only good in the US.. they are not internationally recognized, nor are their show rating, nor is their breed survey... Their efforts to separate from the SV have backfired and upset a lot of people in Germany... It's simple... if you just want to do Schutzhund and don't care about the breed standard for the GSD, then DVG is for you... If you are just into Schutzhund competition, USA is truly the best...If you want to be a member of a total breed organization that supports the TOTAL balanced GSD, then WDA needs and welcomes your membership...