[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Education
- From: "Pam Stoesser" <pkstoesser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <rightdogphoto@xxxxxxxxx>, "DaList" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 12:57:12 -0500
Ruth,
Perhaps you are not aware of all the efforts that goes on to educate judges
in the GSD breed.
Every National (and now also during the winter at the IKC show), there is a
GSDCA/AKC sponsored seminar about the GSD breed. It is held on Tuesday
before the National and each member is invited to attend in the advance
brochure. For the past several years, there have been 40 - 80 participants
at these seminars, not all judging applicants - often just people wishing to
improve their knowledge.
In addition, each new judge is given a DVD that the GSDCA Education
committee prepared from the 2006 Judges' Seminar in St. Louis. The focus of
the DVD is on the breed standard, the loose lead temperament test, and the
importance of working ability in our dogs. The DVD presenters are Dave
Rinke, Ed Barritt, and Helen Gleason. Portions of that seminar are also
available on www.gsdca.org for members.
Many members of the GSDCA have also given these DVDs to existing all breed
judges. Every member of last year's Board was given several copies for
distribution. Copies of this DVD were sent to every regional club. This
DVD is available from the GSDCA Office for any regional club for
educational purposes or for members who wish to improve their knowledge.
This information has been published in several BoardOGrams and in the Review
in the Board Minutes.
A new, interim booklet was prepared for judges attending this seminar,
focusing on the Standard and what the GSDs should look like when they see
them in the ring. When the new, Illustrated Standard is complete, that
version will be used.
If you have further questions about the efforts of the GSDCA to educate
judges, you might wish to contact Helen Gleason at helengleasonus@xxxxxxxxxx
I'm sure she'd be happy to answer any questions about GSD education for you.
Pam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ruth Scheubler" <rightdogphoto@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "DaList" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:56 AM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Education
> It is very easy to say that education is best done at a local level and
> that the National is a dog show.
>
> True, it is the locals that make contact with people. It is the local club
> that offers the programs that entice the public. But it is not the local
> club that has the resources to provide educational materials.
>
> We complain about ignorant judges. But it is not the local club who
> educates judges.
> Have you seen some of the judging that goes on? Just try to explain to
> people interested in joining the dog show ranks why every dog that won at
> a show looks like a different breed. Just try to explain why the last
> place one day is the first place the next. Try to explain why their dog is
> not looked at when the other dog in the ring, who spooked so badly the
> judge could not get close, wins big. That newbie often goes to the German
> Style ring where at least the judge has to critique the dogs and the
> newbie feels they have an idea of how to improve. Local effort got the
> person there, but they got disillusioned by uneducated judges not educated
> by the parent club.
>
> So the newbie goes to the parent club website, downloads the illustrated
> standard and gets totally confused as nothing he saw in the ring in all
> the shows he went to looks even vaguely like those pictured in the
> booklet.
>
> So, instead of showing in the breed ring, the person finds some other
> venue that makes sense to him.
>
> That hurts the sport. It hurts the parent club. The local club can still
> retain the person if there are events of interest offered, but the
> conformation show has lost him.
>
> Education of both newcomers to the breed and JUDGES should be organized
> and created by the parent club. I am sure that many of you have seen what
> new judges to other breeds get from various parent clubs. Compare that to
> what potential GSD judges get. Of course we all complain about the job
> they do, but do we provide them with the tools? Better yet, do we provide
> them with the tools in a positive manner that says we actually want them
> to succeed?
>
> It is within the capability of a parent club to provide the kind of
> educational tools that will assist those interested in understanding this
> breed. It is not something that the regional club can do. The regional
> club can then take those materials and utilize them to reinforce the
> education.
>
> But then maybe we are better off without education - that way everyone,
> with any kind of dog registered as a GSD can win somewhere. And if people
> do not want to believe MY dog is the perfect one, well, why have them
> involved at all? And it is much easier to get 14 dogs together for a major
> than 30. Heck, in many breeds you can take a litter of pups out there and
> finish them by just showing the entire litter. We could shoot for that. Or
> we could actually educate newcomers with proper materials so they
> understand what a GSD is. We could provide good materials for those judges
> who do want to do a good job (and I believe they are out there) so when
> someone watches a larger show the winners do at least look like the same
> breed.
>
> So yes, education is something each and everyone of us needs to be
> involved with - but it takes the GSDCA to make it consistent and possible.
>
> (and I still believe that the National should be a fabulous educational
> event with competitions highlighting the qualities of the breed)
>
> Ruth
>
>
>
>
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POST is Copyrighted 2007. 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 - www.showgsd.org
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