We have tried various versions of Owner Handler Futurities or Futurity Classes,
as well as Owner handler National classes. They have not been utilized. So,
unfortunately it doesn't appear that it would work.
I wish we could get some type of owner handler competition to work within our
breed. I see the owner handler series and groups at all breeds every weekend
and it is highly successful. Just doesn't appear to be a large scale interest
within GSD's..
I say we keep trying with offering classes and options, but we certainly can't
take away the Futurity system or offer it up to only owner handlers when
historically there hasn't been interest or support.
Jeff Pyle
Windfall
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 2, 2017, at 9:20 AM, Sarah Minsk-Eduardo <gsdworkingline@xxxxxxxxx>===========================================================================POST
wrote:
I am a newbie so please take my perspective for what its worth. How about
eliminating the free ticket to Nationals with the Futurity and just have it
be what it was originally attending for…to showcase bloodlines and connect
with GSD lovers. I would also like to see the Futurities all Owner Handled. I
think more people would participate in the GSD show world, in general, if the
whole professional handler thing was lessened. I can’t think of one other
breed that so depends exclusively on professional handlers as does our breed.
I would venture that our breed has the least owner handled dogs of any breed
out there. I know people want to poo-poo this but it actually matters to a
lot of people and effects their decision to participate. I have brought it up
before and the old guard says “if you don’t like it than leave”. I just feel
like the GSD show crowd should, at least, TRY to make an effort to attract
new people and that is not the way.
If the Futurities were all Owner Handled it would return to the idea of
breeders showcasing their own bloodlines. We could change the gait around the
ring rule to just a gait out and back and 1 time across so that most people
could do it. I think a correct moving GSD is easy to spot and they don’t need
to do laps to showcase their good movement. Plus, it would be great to see
the dogs with their owners, less stressed, and just having fun. They don’t
have to be on a long, tight leash to showcase correct movement. Maybe offer a
TC test at the same time so people could, at least, get that out of the way.
I believe that "fun and comrade” do not seem to exist for most people in this
breed in terms of showing conformation. Maybe the Futurities could be a start
to bring back the fun in showing! I picture people bringing items for a pot
luck or cookout; sitting together eating and talking about dogs; and laughing
hysterically as they try to show their own dogs. But, at the end of the
day…people would feel good that they enjoyed their dogs; had excellent
company with new and old friends; and felt like they were part of a greater
community. I don’t know..just a thought.
Sarah
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