[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: National Impressions --- Long
- From: Susan Madlung <stormygsd@xxxxxxx>
- To: inflight2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 07:06:01 -0800
thanks for your perspectives, Kath.. I just wanted to let you know that even
if others don't "pay attention" I do, and when I watch a dog I generally
keep your comments in mind..
obviously I wasn't there, but I do trust Kathaleen's assessments - I also
appreciate her ability to not step on too many toes while telling it like it
is.. PC or not (generally not <VBG>) She has always been upfront and
forthright - no pussy footing around - you always know where you stand with
Kathaleen - I like that characteristic.
thanks again, for sharing.
Sue Madlung - Shadowacre Reg'd German Shepherds
http://www.shadowacre.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathaleen Strong" <inflight2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'freelist'" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 4:39 AM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] National Impressions --- Long
> Okay, I am going to attempt to write this so that you "PC" people can read
> it and not have a conniption. As I have done in previous years, I will
give
> MY impressions of the breed and show as evidenced by the animals shown at
> this year's National.
>
>
> If this year's exhibits are any example, we are in a very short period of
> time going to be stepping back to an era when what the standard takes
great
> pains to describe pretty succinctly in terms of motion, type, and
secondary
> sex characteristics is completely lost for the favor of "what" that I
can't
> delve into for being considered confrontational. Now before you people
> start in "What about this dog or that dog". I remember when Nationals had
> the Majority of dogs like "this dog or that dog" instead of "this dog or
> that dog" being the exceptional "few". Maybe this will be a good thing
for
> some people and the Parent club; because we won't have to bother with the
> big grassy rings as most of the judging will be done from standing.
>
>
>
> Futurity/Maturity Finals were exciting. When I walked into the building
on
> Wednesday morning (missed 6-9 puppy bitch) - and IMO my initial impression
> of the Collective Group of 6-9 puppy dogs --- you know, the future of the
> breed --- I didn't see a whole lot to be excited about. Straight
shoulders,
> very little promise of functional athletic motion. I thought the Novice
Dog
> class as an overall group of dogs was not bad, but I understand from one
of
> the handlers this group didn't excite the esteemed Mrs. Amidon. I guess I
> have to more to learn. I actually enjoyed Mrs. Amidon's procedure. She
> worked her exhibits, sorted them, worked them and then sorted them and
> worked them again, then pointed in motion - except in one class. This is
no
> criticism, because sometimes you just go with your "gut", although, I
would
> like to know what all the "blowing" was about. Regardless, Mrs. Amidon
> didn't miss many (if any at all), and even though some people may quibble
> over individual order of the placements in the classes, the better ones
were
> in the front of the class. That's all we can really ask for. I was a
> little surprised at the lack in the level of uniformity in type and motion
> in the Winners group, because I really thought for the most part, the
better
> animals in the individual classes won. Personally, (AKA MY OPINION), I
> preferred the RWD, but I wasn't in the middle of the ring, and to be
honest,
> sitting in the stands did give a significantly different view than the
> ground floor level.
>
>
>
> When I watched Mrs. Hokkanen in the ring, I have to admit I was a little
> lost during her individual class evaluations, but when her Winner's class
> came in, there was a certain level of consistency of her winners. I was a
> quite surprised by that, but have to give credit where credit is due. The
> clear standout in Winners bitch, IMO, was the Winners Bitch and Futurity
> Victrix and Select, is really an outstanding young bitch I think we're all
> going hear from for a while. Congratulations to her owners.
>
>
>
> I don't even know where to start in Specials. Maybe I'll start here --- I
> have never seen Mr. Downing judge dogs. Regardless what some may think
> after the past contention on the list, I went into the arena on Saturday
> with NO preconceived ideas of his abilities to judge the most important
> assignment in the Breed. I actually liked his initial ring procedure.
> Groups of 7 would come in, be individually evaluated, sorted, put in the
> keeper group or in the dump pile. I like that kind of procedure. Early
in
> the day during bitches, when some animals that I thought were worthy of
> further consideration started hitting the dump pile and some that I would
> have considered less than worthy made it to the keep pile, I started to
> wonder what was going on. But hey, again, I'm not in the middle of the
> ring, seeing all the things in mouth, and coming or going, etc. So on the
> day went. When we got down to the final 20, and then the real work began,
I
> have to say, I am disappointed that the procedure used earlier fell apart,
> at least that's what it looked like from up in the stands. The groups of
20
> were split into groups of 10. The first group of ten containing the top
> placers in their individual groups (2nd time through), the second 10 half
or
> more also top placers in their individual groups plus a keeper or 2 from
the
> dump pile. This is where I have to say I was confused. Unless I missed
it
> and I didn't leave the building during any of the judging, the front half
of
> the second group never compared against the dogs for higher placement
> against the dogs in the front half. The same happened in dogs.
>
>
>
> Consistency is all that an exhibitor can ask for. Whether or not that
> consistency is of a nature that turns your crank or not, that is all we
can
> ask for in a judge. I can not say that I noticed a strong level of
> consistency in motion and/or type in the bitches or dogs chosen for the
top
> awards and selects. For the sake of not being too controversial, I'm not
> going into it anymore than that. Congratulations to the Winners.
>
>
>
> Overall, as breeders, I think we really need to be concerned with the
> following: Dead Tails --- Saw more of them than I've seen in a long time
> and unfortunately, it's becoming more apparent in different bloodlines.
> Worse yet, some animals exhibiting these tendencies were rewarded with
high
> placements. Lack of Balance, and quality athletic motion --- When groups
of
> seven bitches came into specials, and I said to myself "weak group in
> motion" and then looked at my catalog to see if there was any similarity
in
> bloodlines --- Oh yeah. 5 of 7 sired by the same dog, next weak group the
> same. This is not being mean this is being an objective breeder. IMNSHO,
> this year's judges did not do the breed any favor by allowing the racing
and
> pulling evidenced by the majority of animals exhibited. Temperament Test
> --- Well last year had the hugging, maul the dog fiasco. this year no one
> followed the prescribed test that futurity judges are required to sign.
> But, I'm not concerned by that because the test they did was more like the
> one I think is appropriate for the ring. I hope the Parent Club gets some
> consistency so that futurity judges and National judges are required to do
> the same test, or assign the appropriate 5 year no judging penalty that
they
> have threatened before.
>
>
>
> That's all I can publicly say about the National. Get your tapes, watch
> them on slow motion with a group of fellow breeders, preferably with
someone
> you consider a mentor (aka "menner"). LOL
>
>
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
>
>
> Kathaleen Strong
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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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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