[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: The Way We Were
- From: James Barnhart <jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: billgsd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:35:37 -0800
Bill, I think loose lead evaluation is a better way of finding the
dog that is the best mover relative to the other dogs in the ring.
The point that I'm having a hard time getting across is that I think
that the power that once thrust some of our great movers of the past
forward is gone. Lamar also said, "Be careful, the traits that have
made our breed great can be lost in one generation." No amount of
loose lead evaluation is going to bring it back. Our best GSDs, IMO,
can be close to the Standard in structure and type and be pretty good
movers and still lack this rare quality. I could be wrong. I have
gotten many emails from folks who tell me how great their dogs can move.
On Dec 19, 2007, at 11:10 AM, Bill Basu wrote:
> Jim,
> Thank you for the articulate and thoughtful question that you have
> posed.
>
> In my opinion, there are no absolutes with regard to an answers. Are
> dogs out being exhibited today that do exhibit the correct structure
> and gait as per the standard and are winning consistently,
> absolutely.Are there dogs out their that are "foolers" that do not
> have the correct structure and gait as per the standard and are
> winning consistently, absolutely.
>
> I think the biggest deteminant to finding those dogs that are
> correct from a gaiting standpoint vs those that are "foolers" is the
> way these dogs are gaited around the show ring.
>
> Give me a judge who truly puts a priority on "loose" lead gaiting as
> an integral part of their procedure in evaluating a dog and has the
> fortitude to demand it, no matter what we handlers do, and that
> judge will enable the ringside to see the difference between a dog
> that is structure properly and is gaiting properly vs one that is a
> "fooler". Now with that being said, this assumes that the judge is
> knowledeable and has high integrity.
>
> If you can imagine a critical mass of judges that put this priority
> on "loose" lead gaiting then you have a created a movement that will
> by the very virtue of adherence to this procedure lead to correct
> dogs also be dogs that are winning. It has a "rolling stone that
> will gather moss" effect. Winning dogs lead to dogs that are bred to
> and so on and so on.
>
> Without this critical mass of knowledgeable and high integrity
> judges who put a priority on "loose" lead gaiting, you now are
> subject to "handler skill", "Self promotion" and "bandwagon of
> winners" as Lamar foresaw and now the dog that meets the standard is
> no longer the priority.
>
> I was lucky that when i came up i was under the wing of "old timers"
> that made this a priority in the way they evaluated the dogs and as
> such i had the benefit of their teaching and experience. I am afraid
> that a lot of people in the last 15 yrs that have been introduced to
> the breed did not have this same advantage.
>
>
> Bill
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: James Barnhart <jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 8:59:20 AM
> Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] The Way We Were
>
> I wish I were more articulate and less inclined to hyperbole in my
> original post that started this thread (probably shouldn't have had
> that second eggnog). Yes, long striding GSDs still exist. I own
> one. I got my first GSD in 1962 and finished my first GSD in 1965. I
> have been to a lot a dog shows including many nationals. Maybe you
> have seen me with a video camera taping animals as they move. I don't
> claim to be an expert on gait but I have always been interested in the
> dynamics of movement. Ever since I attended an day seminar with LaMar
> Kuhns in 1982 I have tried to understand the complex nature of human
> behavior involved in the sport of dog showing that he called the
> "Bandwagon of Winners". I remember being shocked when he said, "the
> Standard is kaput!" I thought he was being cynical when he said, "The
> future of the Breed is in the hands of self-promoters." He could be
> wrong because after the last National I read post after post about our
> Breed being in good hands and how deep the quality is now. Going
> back to gait, I again refer to Mr. Kuhns who described a GSD who
> looked like it could "gait on eggs without breaking one and yet move
> with strength and power." Here's my humble take: I see GSDs with
> good structure; I see long striding GSDs who even have a period of
> suspension. I see GSDs that have smooth transmission. I see GSDs
> that can move at all speeds. Something has changed in terms of the
> engine that drives our dogs. I believe there is a complex series of
> events that goes on at a cellular level in the bones, muscles and
> ligaments and tendons of a dog when it is gaiting. Check out the
> video: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIFpKL0qRQ0) that created
> quite a discussion a while back on the List. To me that rear
> literally snaps with power. I just don't see it in our contemporary
> dogs. Maybe it's not necessary, maybe that trait was just a fad. I
> think its for the most part lost. I would like to be convinced that I
> am wrong. Jim Barnhart
>
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> ======================================================================
> POST is Copyrighted 2007. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx
> .
>
> VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> ======================================================================
>
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> ======================================================================
> POST is Copyrighted 2007. 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@xxxxxxxxxxx
> .
>
> VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> =
> ======================================================================
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2007. 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 - www.showgsd.org
============================================================================
Other related posts:
