EXACTLY!! Angela
Angela Scott 🐾
adonispersian@xxxxxxx
________________________________
From: Tina Dubois<mailto:tad55051@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: 5/4/2015 2:24 PM
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: BROKEN HEARTED
Hi List!
Some of you may know me.....most others probably do not. My name is Tina
Dubois and I live in Minnesota. I have been showing in conformation for
about 1 year. I owner handle my own dogs.
I thought I'd share my newbie experience of getting involved in
conformation GSD showing.
First of all.....it was very difficult for me to find a dog that was show
quality to purchase. Breeders that I contacted....when I told them I was
new and wished to start showing GSD in conformation.....a couple things
happened....1) They said they didn't sell show quality dogs to new people.
End of story.....No suggestions......no more contact from them. 2) They
didn't respond to me at all....via email or Facebook 3) They insisted I get
into a contractual agreement with them that I had to hire a professional
handler to show the dog.
I have been told countless times that to be competitive I HAVE to hire a
handler.
Handlers for GSDs are so common it is expected. I will not hire a handler.
I have nothing against people who do.....but I want to be involved in every
aspect with my dogs. It should be my choice. This is a HUGE reason why
people are running away from conformation. People are just doing
obdience.....rally.....IPO....other working dog sports....because it is
acceptable to do these sports WITH your dog. Your younger people are not
doing conformation because it's almost impossible to get involved. The
breeders shut people out.
Now thank God I found a breeder who would sell me a dog and mentor me. If I
hadnt.....I also would have probably went to schutzhund.
I understand that selling to new people is taking a chance with the lines
people have worked so hard to produce. But do we have to just say no to new
people?
I try to stay out of most discussions because I'm new. I try to learn all I
can from everyone. I just thought I'd throw this out there because everyone
seems confused as why there are not a bunch of new people showing
conformation GSDs. In my experience.....this is a big part of the reason.
Tina
