It starts and ends with the level of knowledge of the standard by our Judges and the absolute REQUIREMENT to judge dogs(especially at the National) on LOOSE lead at a MODERATE Speed. Not the "fake loose lead" where the dog is revvep up at a high speed and then once momentum is gained the handler does a cursury slack of the lead for a second or two and claims loose lead. Judges who accept the "fake" loose lead are either not committed to the loose lead(which i personally think is a shame) or are willing to let handlers "fool" them for the sake of exciting performance of the dog moving at the high speed and the crowd applause that goes with. Have dogs go at a moderate speed with a dead loose lead and some dogs may look a whole lot different. Bill ________________________________ From: Cinosam GSD <cinosamgsd@xxxxxxxxx> To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; skozub@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:53:30 AM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Nationals Sandra - I think you hit the nail on the head. The long strided dogs are just not winning anymore. Even as they float around the ring they just don't look "right" compared to the quick steppers that make up the majority of dogs. As it pertains to bitches, part of the reason that we have so many quick steppers might be size. With the big effort to downsize I think it's harder to get the floating sidegait. Of course I loved the Grand Victrix, I'm sure she wasn't large (hard to see from far away), and I don't recall that she was a quick stepper so what do I know. Is it true the that some of the critiques had 23 inch bitches marked as large? Anyone? Cindy www.cinosamgsd.com --- On Wed, 11/19/08, Sandra Kozub <skozub@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: Sandra Kozub <skozub@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Nationals To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 10:55 AM At 07:28 AM 11/19/2008 -0800, you wrote: >Hi Zane, >I have to disagree with you on the movement part. The movement has gone >straight downhill along with the correct type and sexual characteristics. >In reality, it's almost hard to finish a good moving dog anymore as they >look too different and the judges eyes are becoming trained to accept the >lack of correct outreaching sidegait. Sidegait is a part of correct >Shepherd type. >Joan Thanks Joan IMO I think that this is a really big problem. In talking to some people (even judges) many really like that incorrect, fast, flashy movement. I have also heard many people critize the proper ground covering, elastic & easy moving gait as not being "exciting" enough. Again, IMO, when I get to see this correct movement as described in our standard, I get goosebumps!! Sandy Sandra Kozub KcK Kennels http://iweb.tntech.edu/rkozub/kennel.htm ===========================================================================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/ =========================================================================== ===========================================================================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/ =========================================================================== ============================================================================ 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/ ============================================================================