All great ideas Sarah. I think our biggest hurdle is attracting new younger
members of current members such as family members. The majority of parents
I have spoken to tell me that their kinds are into too much stuff as it is.
The parents also tell me they themselves don't have the time or interest.
Expense is a big factor to many. The kids them selves tell me they don't
have the time. Those that have GSD's end up keeping them in the backyard
tied up! Few if any of the dogs are house dogs. Some are considered part of
the family. So, that is just one of the issues we in the dog world and the
sport of dogs face. The AKC has been concerned about this for years. The
other concern is that our membership among all All Breed and breed
specialty clubs are aging. The knowledge and experience of many will
quietly go off into the sunset if that knowledge and experience isn't
somehow used or documented for future generations that may become
interested in the Sport of Dogs.
John Lacher
On Sunday, September 13, 2015, <gsdworkingline@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Can you share your ideas that might help the club grow? Here are some
ideas that I think might help help GSD owners who are not members to want
to participate and join GSDCA:
1) When I talk to other people who are GSD owners but not GSDCA members
they all say that not being able to show their own dog themselves in an
amateur-owner restricted class is one of the biggest reasons they do not
participate in conformation....our breed is too professional handler driven.
2) There is a lack of diversity featured in the Review. There should be
more articles and photos of GSDs doing all kinds of things.
3) The GSDCA should include more diversity in marketing and reach out more
to performance, IPO working, and also non-show people?
4) The GSDCA should create a system to reward GSD owners who do not show
their dog. Maybe provide a list of activities that could participate in
with their dog with point totals and when they reach a new milestone a
Certificate is awarded. Give people a reason to want to join the club.
5) Create an award system where a dog can be rated in conformation against
the standard and not against other competitors. So, people who don't want
to show in the ring could have their animals conformation and movement
evaluated without competing in conformation ring. It could just be a
separate Evaluation Class. This might be good for older or disabled members
as well. Thus, their dog can still be evaluated with a "rating". Maybe
allow both gaiting from side or lunging (owner stands in middle and dog
gaits around them) so those that are not as agile could still showcase the
movement of dog.
6) Have a 3 member judging panel at Nationals where there is a AKC
Specialty type judge, a Performance judge, and an SV judge. Dogs would get
points from all; points combined; and highest total wins. That way type,
movement, and ability to structural ability to do a job will be equally
evaluated.
7) Have a separate conformation class for Working/Performance Dogs. They
would be shown in their own class and both type and athletic working
conformation and movement would be evaluated. The dog must hold a
performance title (AKC or IPO)to be eligible to compete in this class.
8) Change rules so that every specialty show must include performance
classes at the same show (can open up to other breeds).
9) Create a Total Dog award at each Specialty show where dogs that compete
in both conformation and a performance class would be eligible to compete
in the Total Dog class.
10) Change the rules to make the color white a disqualification. The color
has always existed in the breed and whites competing alongside colored
dogs. And, the argument that white dogs can't be good herding dogs is
rubbish. I've see whites herding and the sheep respect them!
11. Create an IPO "Instinct" type of certification. A lot of people do not
have time to title for IPO but want to have their dog tested for IPO
potential. Maybe we could create a test to see if the dog has the nerve
strength and potential for IPO. This would be similar to our TC or HIC. It
would involve the GSDCA working dog clubs to open up a program for dogs to
participate in to lead up to the Certification Test.
12) Create an award for dogs that compete successfully in both AKC and SV
conformation divisions to encourage crossover.
13) Create a health Database to keep track of health conditions with
specific bloodlines.
Ok....that's all I can think of right now. Does anyone have any thoughts
on these ideas or would you like to add some?
Thank you,
Sarah Minsk-Eduardo
Von Whitehall German Shepherds
<http://www.vonwhitehallgermanshepherds.com/>
"Preserving the classic
German Shepherd Dog"
Member of GSDCA and Signer of Breeders Code of Ethics
