Linda...we need to hear from you more often!....FB CherlynGSD@xxxxxxx wrote: Hi all, I am not one that writes to the list frequently, however I do read many of the posts as well as I use my delete key. Many of the answers you are looking for have already been posted to the list in various threads or at least they may be starting points. I am not pointing fingers at anyone, I am only putting together comments I have read here. Honesty ..... First and foremost, be honest to yourself. To the stud dog owner ... Did you accept the fee knowing that this was a good breeding to help obtain the goals of the breeder or did you keep your knowledge to yourself? To the breeder .... As you sold your litter did you tell each buyer why you aren't keeping this one ..... or did you keep your knowledge to yourself? To the handlers ..... are you showing that dog because you truly believe that it is a very good representative of the breed or did you keep your knowledge to yourself? Judges ... Was that dog / bitch you put up today as near to the standard as possible or did you keep your knowledge to yourself? Critiques ... Another area that had been discussed. They can be very useful if they state something. These dogs that are being critiqued are the winners you put up and since there is no dog that is perfect, tell me how this dog deviated from the standard, in your opinion. If you were to write " could use more ..... " and I see similar comments on other dogs of the same line or very close to that line, then that tells me something. Nice male or lovely bitch tells me nothing about the dog but could tell me about the judge. Education .... The GSDCA is the "Parent" club to all the regional clubs. The responsibility of education starts there. Reach out to the regional clubs, help them to keep and expand their memberships, educate them. You have resources across the nation, use them! Set up programs and seminars that will educate people on the breed and / or the health issues, and go to the regional clubs. Don't just offer these at the National, be assertive. A topic you could use has been on this list for a long time, "We are here in the breed, where will we be 10 years from now and how do we get there?" Honesty and education are keys to the future. Just because something has been done the same way for many years doesn't mean that it is right or the best way, it may be have been the best at it's time but then over time it becomes habit and habits are hard to break. Maybe it is time to not only evaluate our dogs but evaluate ourselves, our goals and motives within the breed and how we plan to get there. This is my opinion of what I have been reading here. Linda Chernak ~ CherLyn Shepherds ============================================================================ 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 ============================================================================ ============================================================================ 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 ============================================================================