[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Eukenuba
- From: Peggy <pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: GrnRam415@xxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2006 09:20:28 -0500
Laura's right about the public perception of the breed. Most of the
judges on this list are only GSD judges...the others are probably on the
Judges email list...
and the other day, a judge who is obviously preparing to apply for
Shepherds came on and, in a sort of oblique way, showed that she has the
same perception...here is part of what she had to say: :
"I would like to "listen" to a discussion of the topline of the German
Shepherd.
...then she talked about Frank Dusek, which is what precipitated my
question yesterday.........and then she went on: "after 9/11, I
noticed that the dogs policing O'Hare airport were also of the more
level backline. I stopped 3 different teams and asked the human the
origin of the dog, and why. All 3 were imports "because the American
German Shepherd cannot survive the cement floors".
I have a sweeps coming up, so it is time for me to attempt to resolve
the issue bouncing in my head. Bottom line is the STANDARD. The STANDARD
reads: Topline The withers are higher than and sloping into the level
back. The back is straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach
and relatively short.
OK. So what does "level" mean? Spira says "Level back - One in which the
height at the withers is identical to that over the loins" Yes, loin,
not croup.
"Talk" to me please German Shepherd people. It seems to me that per the
STANDARD, Frank was correct, but what I see in the ring is soooooooo
different."
Someone asked this person to do a sweeps, so she is talking to Shepherd
folks...but she doesn't understand the topline, the rear, etc.....this is
something we have to do to educate the public. Just last week we had the
discussion right here on this list, too, amongst ourselves............
The public and many judges think the breed is crippled and that at
best, doesn't conform to the Standard. There has to be something we can do
about it....................
Peggy
GrnRam415@xxxxxxx wrote:
>Bob,
>I can answer this. I work with many, many GSD's in my obedience classes.
>The GSD is a popular Breed, no argument about that. Why? Because people are
>looking for a dog with presence, a dog who will protect their family and
>property and be good with the kids. A dog who is intelligent and doesn't
>eat/chew
>everything in sight. The GSD CAN and DOES do this.
>
>However, the general public does not like or trust the overly angulated
>American line show dogs. And, the general public wants the classic blk/tan.
>It
>reminds them of the dog they had as a kid. They also want the 120 lb GSD they
>remember, right! It looked that big when the people were kids, LOL! They
>don't want sables or dark dogs, period.
>
>The dogs Jimmy shows that are successful at Eukanuba or even Westminster fit
>the ideal the general public wants. Jimmy shows mostly AB shows, does he not?
> Geneva is the exception. When I watched her I was impressed. No paddling
>front feet, nice easy gait on a loose lead, strong back and clean
>coming/going.
> Jimmy presented her beautifully. And that is what the general public sees
>and wants. Not the racing, spooky, tiny bitches and even dogs one sees in the
>specialty rings these days.
>
>When I get inquiries on my puppies, most do not want American lines. They
>want German lines. People equate American lines with health problems. A lack
>of education? Most definately. But we don't do much about that, do we? At
>shows, people are snubbed by breeders, too busy to answer questions. Most
>show
>dogs are worked in isolation. They aren't really taken out in public to get
>to
>know people and be seen by the general public. So how can we expect people to
>want to see our dogs as opposed to the German lines that advertise heavily
>and have their dogs doing everything?
>
>You can't get people interested in showing dogs unless the GSD folks are
>welcoming, educate people and give them a reason to buy a show dog. Don't see
>much of that and neither does the general public. The looks I see when some
>poor
>soul tries to show a German dog in an AKC show is just pathetic. Nobody
>talks to them or explains why. They just give them nasty looks or ignore
>them.
>It doesn't stop there but that is a whole different subject. The moral is, if
>we want people to show, we have to give them a reason to spend good money.
>Otherwise, a nice family pet and protector is good enough for 99.9 percent of
>the
>GSD owners. JMHO
>
>
============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2006. 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 - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues
============================================================================
Other related posts: