[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: I agree with Eko-lan; Fred's take on the temperament test...
- From: "Steve Grainger" <hckryhillgsd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Barbara Galasso" <uwish@xxxxxxxxxx>, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 08:33:38 -0600
to me the TT should be done in a common sense manner...if you were to
approach a person on the street with a GSD...you would ask if you could pet
the dog...you would grab the lead..you wouldn't put your face in the dogs
face...you wouldn't "waller" the dog..hugging it's neck..you wouldn't make
weird noises..in other words you would not portray yourself as being a
"hostile" stranger..instead of a friendly stranger..the object of the TT
should be to weed out dogs who act abnormally under as normal circumstances
as we can simulate. Grant you being away from an owner with a handler is
not "normal" and it is normal for a dog to be looking for his owner...but
they should not be doubled.Anyone one who has done any dog training should
know..that dogs learn by repetition..by the time a dog reaches the level of
a Special..he should understand that this is part of the 'routine"..so when
you have dog that seems to never become comfortable with what is expected
of him..even having done it several times...you have to certainly wonder
about soundness..Usually if you watch the dog closely..you can see signs of
stress...while he is just standing in the ring..lots of yawning...tail
looks somewhat tucked I am certain if you could lift the dogs tail..instead
of falling nicely into a sabre.it would be stiff..and when dropped would
tend to curve "tail" tucked inward..and of course the eyes tell so much. I
get tired of hearing excuses about temperament...when I hear statements
such as.."this judge bent over and reached for the dog..and you shouldn't
do that,this is why he spooked or tried to bite." that is nuts..just think
if it were a kid..C.Grainger
> [Original Message]
> From: Barbara Galasso <uwish@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: 2/4/2005 7:24:03 AM
> Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] I agree with Eko-lan; Fred's take on the
temperament test...
>
> Temperament - The breed has a distinct personality marked by direct
> and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence, and a
> certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and
> indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly
> standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet
> overtures without itself making them. It is poised, but when the
> occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in its
> capacity as a companion, watchdog, blind leader, herding dog, or
> guardian, whichever the circumstances may demand. The dog must not be
> timid, shrinking behind its master or handler; it should not be nervous,
> looking about or upward with anxious expression or showing nervous
> reactions, such as tucking of tail, to strange sounds or sights. Lack of
> confidence under any surroundings is not typical of good character.
> This is a paragraph from our German Shephed Dog Club of America's
> web-site about temperament. I agree with Fred (Eko-Lan) what he said
> about judging temperament. I believe when a judge who like Fred has
> been in the breed for so many years having bred one outstanding animal
> after another, he's going to know poor temperament when he sees it.
> Anyone of our judges having bred, owned, and raised German Shepherds for
> a number of years knows what constitutes good temperament. It's in the
> eyes and the body language of the animal. I believe when a judge
> stalks, provokes, stamps his feet and tries to startle the dog, that he
> is being confrontational to that animal, taking a dogs head in your
> hands and staring at it in the eyes (even the most novice person knows,
> you're not suppose to stare a dog in the eyes....that's
> confrontational), and the dog would and SHOULD behave differently.
> After all we're not playing around here with a "Goldie". Any judge who
> knows his stuff as so many of them do, (that's why we voted them to do
> our shows), is worth his weight in gold when he knows just by looking at
> a dog and examining him if his temperament is sound. I don't think he
> has to make a spectacle of the dog or himself. The audience can see the
> dogs reaction. I've seen a judge who questions a dogs temperament go
> back to it a second time to let the audience know why he is not
> considering that dog for a placement......but it's all done in good
> taste and the audience gets the message without making a big spectacle
> about it bringing embarrassment to the owners. On occasion I have seen
> an otherwise sound animal acting "antsy" in the ring and not paying
> attention to the examination and looking around for it's owner and is
> otherwise distracted and some people will say he has bad temperament.
> We expect out animals never to have a bad day. We expect so much more
> from them than ourselves. Are we perfect everyday......cranky, grouchy,
> irritible, angry, moody, sad, etc. Can our dog not have a bad day once
> in awhile.....just flown 2,000 miles, crates falling off conveyor belts,
> won't eat, won't go to the bathroom, strangers wanting to give him bear
> hugs, bitches in season, males thinking their getting bred, etc., then
> throw him in the ring and now ask them to behave 100%.....it's called
> "stress". Some do settle in fine and others are still trying to figure
> it all out. There is nothing "normal" about a National. It's
> confusion, confusion, confusion. And don't think that dog doesn't feel
> our anixety at the end of the lead. See how anyone of us, even people
> with an even disposition, don't get stressed sometimes and you're not
> always yourself. Just think what would happen if we as people had a so
> called "standard", how many of us would fail that test? So I agree, the
> temperament test should be re-evaluated....IMO. Barbara
> Galasso p.s. I know that many of our dogs
> work under tremendous stress doing search and rescue, tracking,
> obedience trials, etc. and they are certainly a credit to the breed.
> But remember these animals are worked with for hours upon hours. This
> has become a way of life for them.... many of them since they've been
> puppies. Unless our show dogs are given all this attention and work, we
> can't just expect to throw them in the ring without some state of
> confusion. And there, perhaps, lies the answer. Work with our dogs
> more. No athelete would ever compete without training......so it must
> be with our showdogs. Then if his temperament is still off, then you
> know this is not one you should consider for your breeding program.
>
>
>
>
>
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POST is Copyrighted 2005. 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://www.showgsd.org
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