I think that Novice is a wasted class. The only time I use it to help load a major with a young inexperienced dog. Ann Home of Sel Ex # 6 Ch Maxwell, Sel Ex Ch Gilley and #1 Dam Muggles - owner/breeder of 69 champions and 19 ROMs --- On Mon, 12/8/08, SHOWGSD@xxxxxxx <SHOWGSD@xxxxxxx> wrote: From: SHOWGSD@xxxxxxx <SHOWGSD@xxxxxxx> Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Amateur Owner Class' To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Monday, December 8, 2008, 10:33 PM If this is the class that is taking the place of the Novice class I do not like it. With the larger breed dogs it means that after 12-18 you have to go into Am. Bred or Open and in many instances a dog or bitch is not really mature enough for those classes at 18 months. It also limits the number of dogs/bitches that a handler can show as one class is now eliminated. I am notagainst the idea of an amateur owner showing a dog, but think if that is what AKC and the fancy wanted it should just be an added class and not eliminate Novice. Maybe the solution would be to allow the Novice class at Specialties and/or National shows. JMHO Kay Springer www.showboatgsd.com Homeof Multi BISS & Multi Group Winning Ch. Rohan's Reward TC, CGC, HT, CD, RA ************** Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in oneplace. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&nci ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2008. 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://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. 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://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================