[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: follow your dream --my experience
- From: Donna <onaluzlead@xxxxxxx>
- To: showgsd@xxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 12:50:04 -0500 (EST)
Wow Kay, I thoroghly enjoyed your story as many others I have read...makes it
all feel more
personal and putting the people, thier stories with today's times and
stories...makes it even better for us~there is
so much knowledge on this list and positives....let's try to keep that the main
focus for a while~
It makes me smile to know I am amoungst such greatness~! Perfect for all of the
season's holidays~
Anymore???...can we keep the good threads going...???
And....Sara...if your reading this, if your in my area and want to come and
spend some time here with me
at my home and kennel...to learn about dogs, different bloodlines and watch
some awesome videos of shows
and educational things that the AKC and GSDCA has put out and/or maybe get your
hands dirty with some of the
dogs here ...call me...you need to surround yourself with upbeat, positive,
knowledgable people that started at the ground up...
and worked and built something for themselves...time to let go of the negatives
and make this a new beginning if you want to succeed in our
GSD world. I have many friends that are just that and are willing to help
teach...you need to want to learn though
with a clear head...open mind but please leave any negatives at the curb.
IF your not in my area, and from Sheree's post you were at the Philly show...so
I am assuming you are...but if your not,
find someone else willing, I know many people that do that and have done
that...~
Donna
Donna M. Calabrese
Aramist Enterprises
onaluzlead@xxxxxxx
new website to come...
-----Original Message-----
From: Kay Springer <showgsd@xxxxxxx>
To: ninemaplefarm <ninemaplefarm@xxxxxx>; showgsd-l <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wed, Dec 7, 2011 11:28 pm
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] follow your dream --my experience
Hi Sara - I am just catching up on the emails of the last few days. I
m sorry that you have received so many negative responses.
I have been involved in GSDs since 1979 when I purchased my first GSD
rom a friend who was a police officer and his K9 has sired a litter
f puppies. Pepper was a long coat ( I didn't even know about long
oats at that stage) and pretty large for a bitch. She ended up
aving Parvo and nearly died but my vet at the time pulled her
hrough. Since she was my first BIG dog (I had had 3 beagles
reviously) I enrolled her in obedience training which quickly hooked
e. Pepper was everything you didn't want in a GSD.....she was spooky/
harp...either wanted to run from you or bite you, she had bad hips
nd some skin issues but I loved her and she made me fall in love
ith the breed even through she was not the best representative. I
m telling you this because she was very square with no angulation but
till had bad hips. I later learned that rear angulaltion has nothing
o due with their hips. I showed her in obedience, got a CDX on her
nd half way to a UD until she had issues jumping so I retired her. My
et said I could jump her and she would tell me when she couldn't do
t anymore which she did. Although dysplastic she was by far my best
umper of all the 10 dogs I have shown in obedience/conformation. So
ooks can be deceiving. While training her, I became interested in
onformation and wanted a dog that could do both ---- although the
ajority of the GSD exhibitors/breeders told me I couldn't show a dog
n both venues at the same time. I am half German and just stubborn
nough to want to prove them wrong! LOL
I met a breeder that mainly was involved in obedience but was starting
o breed into conformation lines. I liked the female she was going to
reed and I loved the stud dog who was a Champion. Both dogs had
olid OFA pedigrees & great temperament...see I learned from my first
xperience buying a puppy. I got the pick of the litter and that dog
as the foundation bitch for my line. She was a breed champion with a
D. She had her CDX before her breed championship and I got her UD
fter she finished her championship. I put most of her minor points
n and one major myself and then turned her over to a local
rofessional GSD handler as I knew she could finish her faster which
he did. After that I had a few litters, kept a few, breed and co-
reed several champions. All of my personal dogs also have obedience/
erding titles along with their AKC Championship I joined a local GSD
lub before I purchased my foundation bitch and became involved in the
lub as board member, newsletter editor, show secretary, futurity
ecretary and president over the next 20 years or so. During the
ime I was always at shows, both all breeds and specialties and
earning about the breed from very experienced breeders and
rofessional handlers. Most clubs need workers so take advantage of
hat as it is a great place to learn.
I admit that there are some dogs that look crippled, but probably are
ot. I do not like a dog that is extreme in the rear or toe draggers
ut there are so many out there that are not. I don't know where you
ive and maybe things are different in your area but I show mainly in
he western US and the majority of the GSD shown are not crippled
ooking or have bad temperament. Yes, there are some, but not the
ajority. Also, I think you need to look on how these dogs that are
ot sound are raised. I firmly believe that dogs need socialization
t an early age and you can take a very sound puppy and never expose
t to "life" and you will have a spook. So just maybe the dogs you
een with bad temperament are not born that way but have not been
roperly socialized....so it is not a breed problem but a "people/
wner" problem.
I encourage you to get involved with a GSD club and find a good
entor of two. And yes you will probably find club members that are
ot so nice to you, but that is life in all venues....not just in
ogs. I had two very good ones which really helped me. And yes you
ave to have a very thick skin even if you have the best of dogs as
omeone will find something wrong. Believe me from the time I started
n this breed I have had lots of nasty things said about my
ogs.....even the very, very, good ones that were rated in the top 10
SD in breed rankings.
My current dog is an Int'l Ch. & AKC Ch. He has a TC,CGC,HT,RE & CDX.
he only reason he does not have a UD is that I just finally got tired
f doing obedience as I have been doing it for 30 years!!!! He was
ated the #5 & #6 GSD in the US in breed rankings for 2009. He won
he breed at Eukanuba in 2008 and was BOS in 2008 to a bitch that
immy and Sheree Moses showed. He was never raised with children but
or many years sat on the bench at our local bench show and had kids
f all ages hanging on him, stroking his ears and having their picture
aken with him. To date he is producing very beautiful and sound
uppies. I am telling you all this as I pretty much started out like
ou did. If you love the breed like you say you do, just find the
ight people to mentor you and learn and learn and learn who the
reeders are that have the style of dog you like.
Kay Springer
ww.showboatgsd.com
On Dec 7, 2011, at 6:50 PM, Sara Minsk wrote:
> Well, this has certainly been quite educational for me. I can't say
whether it has been good or bad. But, judging by the posts and
private e-mails (with the exception of a few), it would appear that
the breed has zero problems and everyone outside of the GSD world
(and myself) are nuts.
I can see with my own eyes how loose the hind legs are and how the
dogs can't walk normal. So, you can all tell me that I am nuts and
they would make the ideal herding dog but I don't buy it. I have to
agree with everyone that has approached me about this GSD condition.
It's not ok. If this is what wins in the AKC and is the only thing
than I am not interested. I can't do it. My first GSD as a kid (an
unregistered white) didn't look like this and he was athletic,
sound, and healthy. As I start to show my GSD puppy, I was hoping
that this look wasn't required but every year that goes by I see it
more and more. I just don't know why.
I wanted to express my frustration over hearing all the negativity
from outside the GSD world (which I agree with) and the fact that I
have had experienced breeders tell me that they can't get majors on
their dog as it's too political. So, if they can't do it how will I
ever be able to do it? Will I have to be in the breed for 50 years
before I can finish my own dog?
Maybe all breeds are like this. I don't know. I don't care as I only
care about my breed.
So, sorry I bothered everyone trying to understand why this is all
happening in the breed and how it will effect me showing my dog. I
truly find it upsetting. But, I guess it doesn't concern the
majority of people.
Likewise, I suppose over the last 3 years I must have also been
blind witnessing the poor temperaments in the ring.
I don't know. I want to have thick skin but at the end of the day..I
just don't need the stress. I don't. Why does it have to be this way?
Maybe the GSDCA isn't the right fit for me (which stinks as I am a
new member and just joined a local GSDCA club). I am still shocked
at bring called "smug" and hearing "this breeder sells her good dogs
but wouldn't to you". Blah-blah. I don't like being called a liar
either. Why is it important what other people think about the breed?
Maybe because where there is smoke there is fire. I had to sit
through a whole freaking show with people coming up to me (who had
met me at UKC) and ask me why the breed is ruined and so deformed..
I DON'T KNOW. Everytime I am out walking my dog or attending a
performance class, I get asked the same questions. I DON'T KNOW.
This is my first exposure to other GSDCA members outside of the
woman I met at a show from the club I joined and the club members I
met at the meeting to vote me in. I can't say I am not
disappointed. I just wanted answers and I have no secret agenda.
I apologize again for bothering everyone on the list with my
concerns as a new person entering the breed and show ring. To the
few people who sent positive e-mails to me, I thank you. To the
rest, your negativity is just too much. Truly.
I wish everyone much success in their breeding programs.....
Take Care,
Sara
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is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original
uthor and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind
re permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the
howgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
dministrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any
ost.
ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY
MANNER
F ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL
ARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A
IOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED.
For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org
SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html
ATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
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POST is Copyrighted 2011. 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.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in
any post.
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 - http://showgsd.org
SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
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