Ladies, what you are saying here doesn't compute in my old brain. Of course, it depends on what you are looking for in "your" program. The gene pool is larger now than it was 30 years ago when I was IN to the breeding, showing, training etc. Also, with the connections to the world being much easier, you'll be able to branch out easier. I'd always thought I'd like to have a GOOD import and, believe me when I say this --- I'd ONLY get one that was suggested by our own David Landau. The man knows more than most about dogs outside the U.S. of A and he has a superb eye for same, plus he's honest too. The high prices charged for these imports is really mostly due to the fact they ARE imports and it takes a lot to get one over here. Also, I'm of German decent and know that Germany doesn't give up her best -- unless you're able to go through someone like David. I rest my case. Norma no L ----- Original Message ----- From: <VSabiaB@xxxxxxx> To: <inflight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:17 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: FW: Nationals In a message dated 11/19/2008 11:33:31 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, inflight@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: What we have is... breeders who are not being independent, free thinking individuals. Instead we have a majority of breeders following the edicts of a handful of handlers or cartels. Of course this is not "every" breeder out there, but those free thinking individuals are becoming few and far between. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This is true, the majority of breedings anymore have the same sire or are close related to that sire. Someday there is going to be nowhere to go in our breeding program :-( VickiVon Charisma German Shepherds_ (http://www.voncharismags.com/) My sunshine does not come from the skies, It comes from the love in my dogs eyes. ************************************************************* ============================================================================ 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/ ============================================================================