[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: GSD Popularity Speed & entries
- From: "Carolyn Martello" <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <terraf@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2014 23:01:14 -0700
Great post Terra. MUCH of what you posted is a big part of the problem.
When some inquire about a show puppy...we warn them of the expense and
miles it takes if they are inexperienced...not to mention the training it
takes to get a dog to show itself out at the end of the leash.
We have always done it ourselves...but now you are competing with 'Cartels'
that own one dog and double one dog. When it just becomes an expensive
AND losing 'hardship'...people quit. THAT is why entries are going down!!
Many of us will have to be creative in how to afford to get a dog shown.
OR place ALL show pups in other show homes.
Carolyn marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.marhaven.com
-----Original Message-----
From: On Behalf Of Terra Fairburn
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 8:33 Subject: GSD Popularity and Speed
I agree with much that has been posted lately about our GSD's regarding
their popularity and conformation showing. First my experience in the last
few years has been that many families
are interested in purchasing GSD's for a fair price that includes healthy
and great tempered
dogs.
Most of the families have no intention of "showing dogs". As I have aged, I
have no interest
in suggesting, encouraging, or expecting them to show their dogs. The
reason for this is
that I cannot in good conscience encourage people to enter into something
that is very expensive,
at best, not always the best social experience for new people (without a
strong and ethical mentor), and most often heart breaking. If they want to
show, that is fine, but I see how many people
"use" unsuspecting souls for their own gains. You need to enter this sport
with your eyes WIDE OPEN.
My suggestion is;
1. put the burden of breeding good show dogs on the breeders.
We need to accept that responsibility for all the great that comes from it
and all the
heart-ach that seems to seep into the best well laid program or plan. Good
dogs need to
be sold to everyone with an honest contract for issues that sometimes
cannot be controlled. Consumers should not have to wait for years for a
replacement or never be reimbursed for
a purchase that was a "lemon".
2. Judges need to control their ring. Quit saying that you want to slow the
GSD down and yet you reward the speeding ones. If you want the new comers
and young people to come to the sport, then make it so they can compete
whether it is by handling their own animal or being able to see what a good
dog should move like. This weekend I had the pleasure of allowing a new
handler handle my animal at an all breed. She is not new to the dog world
at all. She has grown up in the dog show world handling Belgium Shepherds
and other breeds. She has done well in those breeds. She is athletic,
knows the rules and has a great hand with dogs.
Her siblings are also in dogs and questioned why does our breed run like
they are racing and so on. I had no explanation. Not many of that young
group will be attracted to our breed. They would be a great resource for
our breed, my community and dog club. We need the youth to help train,
exercise, and show our dogs.
3. Next comes expense. Big difference in charges from GSD to other herding
breeds. Very enlightening for sure. So it is still the same three things
that continue to crop up for the
reason for our breed numbers declining; racing around the ring, handler
issues from not enough
in certain areas and the cost that is being charged, and lastly the way new
comers are treated
when they are first trying to understand the game. Big named people say,
well you can't compete
at the National without a "known" handler. I say ok, then the National does
not get my entry.
That contributes to this declining numbers. If we want to attract new
people to handle, they
need a fair shot at the big venues.
The handling fee's for showing are becoming a hardship for many as you are
seeing 3, 4, 5 and 6 people owning a show animal these days. Specialty
clubs are begging for entries and larger kennels are bringing their whole
kennels to support the venues. Look at show win postings and see who was
there. Look at the numbers and shake your head because OMG it is sad. Or
tell yourself you are going to try and help the situation. We are tying new
ideas this year.
In the end we really have no one to blame but ourselves, IMO.
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