[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Not belonging
- From: Donna <onaluzlead@xxxxxxx>
- To: midwall@xxxxxxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2013 12:50:02 -0500 (EST)
HI and thank you for sharing your response...finally someone came forward
without the snarkyness others seem to constantly
exhibit. I sure do hope you stay...and that our club, helps, protects and
learns to be as versatile as our dogs are...as
usual we can learn something from them. In today's day and age...with all the
other stresses and problems our world faces,
surely belonging to a club that we all belong to for the same basic reason
"betterment of the breed" ... can make us learn and
teach with respect to one another newer, maybe better, different ways to be
successful in a fun way and be inclusive without
insulting...
I also remember looking at my mothers reviews and creating Jr Handling Clubs
and instead of playing school or dolls, we played
dog show...those seem to be such pure memories...that now as an adult reality
has set in and I read FB, lists, and watch the
news to know things aren't pure, but only WE can ALL make the differences...
Just my opinion...
Respectfully
Donna
Donna M. Calabrese
Aramist Enterprises
onaluzlead@xxxxxxx
new website to come...
-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle Wallis <midwall@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Show GSD <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, Feb 1, 2013 11:11 am
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Not belonging
Why are people leaving the club and or not joining....
I remember as a young child looking at my mom's Reviews with wonderment and
joy... all those gorgeous dogs and such amazing handlers. I remember being a
junior handler and being so thankful Sharlonna, Leslie, Bob Grady, and the
great
Bob Penny would give my handling tips and tell me great stories of great dogs.
I
left showing dogs for many years and only got involved again a couple of years
ago.
Somethings changed, some faces came and went... but here are a few things that
have made me pause in the last couple of years...
1) The snotty ringside comments about others' dogs... you don't have to like
them all... but you aren't the one taking them home. How disheartening is it
for
someone new or returning to the breed or has been in the breed for years to
hear
their dog or others' being ripped to pieces? Everyone is entitled to their
opinions... sharing them is not a necessity if it can't be done with some
grace.
My sister was visiting from Norway - her first dog show in America... and all
she heard was mean, nasty comments. She was shocked!
2) The GSDCA has this wonderful thing called the Parade of Greats. I did my
homework and saw that Therapy Dogs were allowed to participate. I happened to
have a certified therapy dog with Delta -a complex rating at that... and with
great joy I poised my pen over the application for the National.... and therapy
dogs weren't there.... I sent out an e-mail and was told they had been omitted
-
too many people were doing it and it was making things take too long... not a
bashful sort, I pointed out that it was in the policies and procedures manual
and it stated they could go. I further pointed out that in this busy day and
age
- most of us can't afford or have the time to train a SAR dog and I don't need
a
service dog... but I can benefit my community and the breed by using my GSD as
an ambassador for our great breed and I did that. My old man was greeted with
smiles and hugs every single place we visited. He showed many people how truly
gentle and sweet and sensitive our breed i
s and how versatile they are. After some back and forth it was decided he
could
participate. He was the only therapy dog there... if you want more people in
the
breed, you have to be open to different ways of participating with our dogs and
acknowledge that each job our dogs do has inherent value.
3) Honesty.... many people are not upfront. They are not honest about health
issues, they are not honest about their expectations, they are not honest in
their dealings with other breeders, handlers, buyers, exhibitors, etc. When you
ask some people about their stud dogs - you do not get a strait answer. You
have
to ask 20 questions, cross examine and then investigate. Some are very upfront
-
and yes I know you can (and I have) chosen to deal with those that are upfront.
In a breed facing many health issues, honesty is especially paramount.
The bottom line is, if the GSDCA is to survive it does need new members, and
fresh ideas. They need to retain their older members, who have a ton of
experience and knowledge in the breed. I respect the many members of the board
and others who help to put on the National, organize shows, events, and
educational seminars and work their fingers to the bone. It is a thankless job,
and many people don't realize how many things have to happen to make those
events go smoothly.
At the same time, it would be nice if new people were truly welcomed with open
arms, mentored, encouraged, and shown how great this breed is and how wonderful
the vast majority of the people are... if this took place I don't think you'd
see people leaving and I do think you'd see more people joining. For now I
choose to be a member, but I can appreciate the frustration many people have
with exhibiting and participating. I do it because I have a great love for this
breed and I truly enjoy hobbling around the ring or watching my dog in the ring
with a handler. And there are many, many great people I get to see at every
show. People who love the dogs as much as I do.
I hope the GSDCA does get better and becomes more accessible and shows are more
welcoming to exhibitors, new and experienced.
Michelle D. Wallis
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POST is Copyrighted 2012. 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.
Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its
administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in
any post.
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@xxxxxxxxxxx
VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org
SUBSCRIPTION:http://showgsd.org/mail.html
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
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