[ SHOWGSD-L ] National Impressions --- Long
- From: "Kathaleen Strong" <inflight2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'freelist'" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2005 04:39:42 -0800
Okay, I am going to attempt to write this so that you "PC" people can read
it and not have a conniption. As I have done in previous years, I will give
MY impressions of the breed and show as evidenced by the animals shown at
this year's National.
If this year's exhibits are any example, we are in a very short period of
time going to be stepping back to an era when what the standard takes great
pains to describe pretty succinctly in terms of motion, type, and secondary
sex characteristics is completely lost for the favor of "what" that I can't
delve into for being considered confrontational. Now before you people
start in "What about this dog or that dog". I remember when Nationals had
the Majority of dogs like "this dog or that dog" instead of "this dog or
that dog" being the exceptional "few". Maybe this will be a good thing for
some people and the Parent club; because we won't have to bother with the
big grassy rings as most of the judging will be done from standing.
Futurity/Maturity Finals were exciting. When I walked into the building on
Wednesday morning (missed 6-9 puppy bitch) - and IMO my initial impression
of the Collective Group of 6-9 puppy dogs --- you know, the future of the
breed --- I didn't see a whole lot to be excited about. Straight shoulders,
very little promise of functional athletic motion. I thought the Novice Dog
class as an overall group of dogs was not bad, but I understand from one of
the handlers this group didn't excite the esteemed Mrs. Amidon. I guess I
have to more to learn. I actually enjoyed Mrs. Amidon's procedure. She
worked her exhibits, sorted them, worked them and then sorted them and
worked them again, then pointed in motion - except in one class. This is no
criticism, because sometimes you just go with your "gut", although, I would
like to know what all the "blowing" was about. Regardless, Mrs. Amidon
didn't miss many (if any at all), and even though some people may quibble
over individual order of the placements in the classes, the better ones were
in the front of the class. That's all we can really ask for. I was a
little surprised at the lack in the level of uniformity in type and motion
in the Winners group, because I really thought for the most part, the better
animals in the individual classes won. Personally, (AKA MY OPINION), I
preferred the RWD, but I wasn't in the middle of the ring, and to be honest,
sitting in the stands did give a significantly different view than the
ground floor level.
When I watched Mrs. Hokkanen in the ring, I have to admit I was a little
lost during her individual class evaluations, but when her Winner's class
came in, there was a certain level of consistency of her winners. I was a
quite surprised by that, but have to give credit where credit is due. The
clear standout in Winners bitch, IMO, was the Winners Bitch and Futurity
Victrix and Select, is really an outstanding young bitch I think we're all
going hear from for a while. Congratulations to her owners.
I don't even know where to start in Specials. Maybe I'll start here --- I
have never seen Mr. Downing judge dogs. Regardless what some may think
after the past contention on the list, I went into the arena on Saturday
with NO preconceived ideas of his abilities to judge the most important
assignment in the Breed. I actually liked his initial ring procedure.
Groups of 7 would come in, be individually evaluated, sorted, put in the
keeper group or in the dump pile. I like that kind of procedure. Early in
the day during bitches, when some animals that I thought were worthy of
further consideration started hitting the dump pile and some that I would
have considered less than worthy made it to the keep pile, I started to
wonder what was going on. But hey, again, I'm not in the middle of the
ring, seeing all the things in mouth, and coming or going, etc. So on the
day went. When we got down to the final 20, and then the real work began, I
have to say, I am disappointed that the procedure used earlier fell apart,
at least that's what it looked like from up in the stands. The groups of 20
were split into groups of 10. The first group of ten containing the top
placers in their individual groups (2nd time through), the second 10 half or
more also top placers in their individual groups plus a keeper or 2 from the
dump pile. This is where I have to say I was confused. Unless I missed it
and I didn't leave the building during any of the judging, the front half of
the second group never compared against the dogs for higher placement
against the dogs in the front half. The same happened in dogs.
Consistency is all that an exhibitor can ask for. Whether or not that
consistency is of a nature that turns your crank or not, that is all we can
ask for in a judge. I can not say that I noticed a strong level of
consistency in motion and/or type in the bitches or dogs chosen for the top
awards and selects. For the sake of not being too controversial, I'm not
going into it anymore than that. Congratulations to the Winners.
Overall, as breeders, I think we really need to be concerned with the
following: Dead Tails --- Saw more of them than I've seen in a long time
and unfortunately, it's becoming more apparent in different bloodlines.
Worse yet, some animals exhibiting these tendencies were rewarded with high
placements. Lack of Balance, and quality athletic motion --- When groups of
seven bitches came into specials, and I said to myself "weak group in
motion" and then looked at my catalog to see if there was any similarity in
bloodlines --- Oh yeah. 5 of 7 sired by the same dog, next weak group the
same. This is not being mean this is being an objective breeder. IMNSHO,
this year's judges did not do the breed any favor by allowing the racing and
pulling evidenced by the majority of animals exhibited. Temperament Test
--- Well last year had the hugging, maul the dog fiasco. this year no one
followed the prescribed test that futurity judges are required to sign.
But, I'm not concerned by that because the test they did was more like the
one I think is appropriate for the ring. I hope the Parent Club gets some
consistency so that futurity judges and National judges are required to do
the same test, or assign the appropriate 5 year no judging penalty that they
have threatened before.
That's all I can publicly say about the National. Get your tapes, watch
them on slow motion with a group of fellow breeders, preferably with someone
you consider a mentor (aka "menner"). LOL
Respectfully submitted,
Kathaleen Strong
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