Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Well I find this whole topic interesting.and I will use examples, and I am not bragging.just trying to make a couple of points about the all breed shows, I am not campaigning for them either, I prefer our specialties for so many reasons, but.as a business, we don't have the choice of going to a show or not at all.we figure out where we have the best advantage.and go and show. Sometimes we are so wrong.and sometimes dead on right.like anyone. We have just finished a few weekends of all breeds with both specialty judges and all breed judges. Our outcome was good, not for any reason except homework. Thinking of what we think the judge should/would like and pending on whom else shows up. We wanted to go to specialties that were in VA this past weekend, but economics brought us up to Boston. Where we had specialty size rings on 2 out of 4 days, majors.and many spectator judges observing. We had won the breed on one of the days with our Sel Ch.that we along with the owner chose to show cause she was still in great shape from the National and we wanted to see how she would fair.in such a different venue for her.we normally only showed her in specialties. Well she won 3 out of 5 Breeds, wasn't shown one day, PMS big time.She went into the groups and it was interesting for so many all breed people/handlers/judges to come over to discuss her type and style. They have been very conditioned to the "traditional" look.but they all noticed her really good motion. They noticed the suspension and the amount of ground that was covered. She was in these group rings with dogs that were #1, 2 & 3.along with other top advertised all breed herding group dogs.really nice animals in every way. We were just thrilled people noticed her.and the difference.that there are differences.whether some people feel that we should have one dog, because we have one standard. Well, thank God we live in America, I for one like a few different types for various reasons.I have heard what a magnificent sight the Seiger show in Germany is cause they all look alike.and I can't wait to one day go.but all be the same in what aspect. being blk/red traditional yes, but when you get down to structure even the pictures show such different dogs.(this is all my opinion, DC). Back to the topic, I think as GSD people, It is our responsibility to educate these people, judges and other breed handlers.Being we have been staying for the groups at these shows.we have had discussions with some of the all breed judges, one in fact asked us how she did as a judge. On a day where we did nothing, we had to be very cautious, however, we asked her questions in turn, so that she thought more about what she did.her outcomes were fine but how she got there was most of the problem. She was fault judging and missing some really nice dogs, a lot of procedure problems...(I am not saying she missed only our dogs, there were lots of nice ones, it was tough competition) Another example.our Bred by dog from the National.in the past few weeks he has won 4 X out of the 5X shown.almost finished.however, at one show I had a stewart yell out as the judge was about to judge him."That dog has been altered".I became unglued and had to remember where I was.all because of his ear, which was an obvious injury (a bitch ripped it off).she argued with me.and was loud, the dog went to the end of the line. I thought about reporting her behavior, but in the big picture it isn't really worth it.I asked a friend to discuss her behavior and comments.the 3rd day she was silent as she stewarded and even said congrats when he won.and he had won all days except that 1st one, when she yelled.another stewart this weekend questioned another breeder, why someone would show a dog like that.she simply replied .look at his quality verses other dogs in that ring right now.he is superior.throw him away because of an injury??? Look at this and look at that. It made that stewart, who is a provisional judge watch another day.and in fact stop me, look at him, his head.the ear.and said she kept staring at that and she is glad she said something because then she watched the total dog, and really liked him.too bad I can't remember her name <vbg> Maybe some people should try to go to their local all breed clubs shows, get involved, try to get the clubs to put in knowledgeable judges for our breed, fight for a bigger ring, and be there to introduce themselves to the spectators.find out who is watching and if they are watching cause they want to judge, introduce themselves and tell them if they want to discuss our breed they would love to.sometimes it takes a bigger person to start the ball rolling in a positive direction. The worst scenario, which is a total different topic.is the all breed judge that HATES our breed, has disgust on his/her face, doesn't watch it.does it just to get done cause he has too and infact acts afraid of it..that makes me madder than political judging, poor judging, unknowable judging..why bother? Those are the arrogant judges we need to get out of there. Anyway, this is long enough, happy Holidays everyone.by the way, we have 2 majors this weekend again at 2 local all breeds with all breed judges.if this keeps happening, people, you need to get involved cause the majors will only be at the allbreeds unless it's a Fut/Mat weekend.and isn't that a hard enough weekend to try to be competitive.??? (food for thought) Going out to do dogs. Donna Donna M. Calabrese & Leslie L. Dancosse Aramist Kennels aka The Girlz website at www.girlzofaramist.com Home of Am & Can GVX Ch. Ivana, OFA ROM, Can Sel Titanic, OFA,D'Espirit D'Escalier ROM ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================