Broken Hearted! So many valid comments: Aging, expenses, handlers, and
so-on…..”the times they are a change-n” But it’s not time to sit back and
remember the good-ol-days, it’s time to smell the roses. It’s time to
bring the best of all the breeds of dogs back to where it needs to be, in
the #1 spot in *all* arena’s; Conformation, and Performance. When the
spectator goes to the All Breed show…let them see many beautiful German
Shepherd dogs, MANY! In two weeks Bob Slay is judging near me at an AB in
Lynden with an entry of 3. Disgraceful! A good judge and no entry. Just
maybe, there is a solution. We need to change our………
*STYLE OF EXHIBITING GERMAN SHEPHERD DOGS*
A specialty judge should be able to identify the best dog standing,
walking, and gaiting. A specialty judge does not need to identify the best
dog always gaiting full out at top speed! (Or shouldn’t)
A specialty judge does not need to compete one full gaiting dog against
another. A specialty judge needs to evaluate the dog only upon the Standard
and his/her performance in the ring.
*WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE EXHIBIT OUR/ DOGS!*
This will be met with huge dissention from the professional handlers. They
are essential today and may not be in the future. They do an extraordinary
job and are worth what they are paid, but are only available to the very
few. We must expand now to the many. I RECOMMEND:
Dogs are WALKED and/briskly walked when exhibited in the ring. This
allows *owners
*to exhibit their own dogs without the need of professional handlers. A
brisk walk by the handler will display the conformation and movement of the
dog. This brisk walking will be the major part of the exhibiting, with
perhaps only one lap of fast of gaiting, *or not. *We need to make this
breed exhibited by owners/winners! WE MUST CHANGE THE STYLE OF EXHIBITING
OUR DOGS…………………..
Helen Franklin
*“The World’s most wonderful Treasure Hunt*
*is Judging German Shepherd Dogs” **HFF*
