[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Omission from Jan 2013 Board mtg minutes?
- From: Jen Proud <proudk9@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "valleydogs2000@xxxxxxxxx" <valleydogs2000@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2013 20:01:31 -0500
Well hasn't precedent already been made with the push by owners of imported
Swiss White Shepherds (or Berger Blanc Suisse, whichever one prefers!)
registering them with AKC as GSDs?
Every white coated (GSD) registered with the AKC is a GSD, is it not? I
remember about 10 years ago, someone made the statement, if one wants their
breed to be called something different by AKC and if one believes in "breed
separation", why are all those supporters still registering with AKC as GSDs,
something separatists believe their dogs are not? Why are the imports
registered with AKC as GSDs? Wouldn't it seem logical to have quit registering
dogs as a breed people don't think they are? Register with UKC/FCI as
BBS/White Shepherds only if that's what people believe they are? It would have
saved the separatists lots of problems seeing as how many FCI/UKC breeds have
become AKC breeds in recent years... But noone saw the purpose in dropping
their AKC German Shepherd Dog registrations for their White Shepherd dogs.
That really never made any sense why people wanted AKC registrations on their
dogs being named a breed separatist people didn't want to be and think their
dogs aren't.... Or am I crazy on that bit of logic?!?
I avidly remember reading "the white" portion in "Old Business" of the June,
'13 Review. [I sincerely thought we all got the same one- but I'm just a nobody
and only a lifetime in the breed (which is only a short 40-something period...
Oh wait make that 28?!? What was I thinking!?!)- so I really don't know much.
There's people who have forgotten more than I know as well as people who know
less than I've forgotten about all one hears/knows about this breed and all
that encompasses it. Anyhow...]
From the Review (June, 2013 page 50 under old business): "... Accepted a
letter... Of the American White Shepherd Association requesting the Berger
Blanc Suisse be accepted into the FSS program for those dogs that currently
hold a FCI registration certificate as an imported Berger Blanc Suisse. AKC
will not proceed with this request the GSDCA acceptance. There was discussion.
Melanie Fuelgraf, a member of the Berger Blanc Suisse Club spoke in favor of
this action. Zoe made a motion to study the DNA before making a decision.
Motion failed. The board agreed not to revisit this subject."
I imagine the AKC and the GSDCA boards are scratching their heads in wonder as
to why this group of people (white "separatists") once petitioned for AND ALSO
RECEIVED AKC registration for imported FCI registered BBS to be registered as
GSDs so they could mingle with the AKC registered white-coated population. Not
a one of those dogs went into the FSS program; they were instantly included as
AKC GSDs upon approval by the powers that were at the time (including the board
of the AWSA too, who introduced the idea to AKC in the first place regarding
people who WANTED to have AKC registrations- (there have been imported BBS here
who lived their lives out, whose owners were happy with UKC White Shepherd
papers- they never saw any point in registering their dogs as something they
weren't (but that's another story))...
I can see why the PC has decided not to revisit the issue anymore having
already (recently-2007) made the decision to go the way the AWSA wanted once.
So, now the precedent has been set to accept FCI registered BBS as white coated
GSDs with AKC. They could have gotten UKC papers no problem and been happy, but
most white coats aren't UKC registered, and a percentage of those who are
registered with the UKC are registered as GSDs UKC as well as AKC. The
breeding choices for an imported dog (and belief by breeders in the subsequent
puppy sales would be made harder without AKC registration- why not just say its
not an AKC breed so can't have AKC papers?) would be severely limited, and to
facilitate using said dogs who were imported with the general white population
they NEEDED to be registered with the rest of everyone!
Now- the same clubs are asking for everyone involved to reverse a decision only
made to accommodate the original request... But as it appears (through the
minutes) that the entry into FSS would be only for those FCI registered
imported dogs. Where does that leave the rest of the White Shepherds who are
American or Canadian born? Who are UKC registered? They are still AKC GSDs then
by the new request? I'm sure the breeders who have been at it for a long time
wouldn't be willing to scrap their long worked for bloodlines if they are going
to still not be allowed full AKC privileges as such. Most don't have the money
to "sell" the dog to overseas and get its FCI papers then bring it back as just
to qualify and imagine the limited numbers then...
However, I do wonder how many of those separatists will be in the AKC gad breed
ring with their White Shepherds if GSDCA were to remove the conformation DQ for
the white coat. (Which BTW trivial history lesson) the white was technically
removed from the breed ring for the most part in 1958 with the standard change
of "no dog more than 50% white" being added as a DQ. I imagine there were still
a couple of genetically white dogs still eligible for show- the ones who are
primarily buff & cream- some of them would qualify as "less than 50% white".
However, in 1967, the genetically white coat was made a DQ regardless of what
the intensity genes were- as the whitest whites often are color paled (that is,
if they didn't have the epistatic white gene in effect!).
With the removal of just the white coat DQ, most white coated GSDs would be
"eligible" to show in conformation- as the skin pigment (eye
rims/nose/lips/pads) is black, the darker the more desirable according to all
the WS/BBS standards.
Once upon a time before we had an understanding of genetics, many thought the
white coat on a GSD would result in having similar/same problems as say in a
white Boxer, or double merles (any breed with merle) usually appear white.
Blindness deafness and skin problems are what used to be told about the white
coated GSD. I remember- we had one amongst our pack in the late 1970s that my
dad rescued- like what would one more GSD in the house hurt? Ya, "Whitey" (oh
the originality of children!) is who introduced me to white coats, and I was
amazed to learn he had coloured GSD parents! So amazing life is before the
disenfranchisement of becoming a teen LOL
I'm not interested in the politics of what people want to call their GSDs who
are AKC registered and have a white coat. Bottom line is they're AKC registered
GSDs and just have a white coat. Yes once upon a time I single registered
white coated GSDs (with a coloured parent too) as white shepherds. Why? My
dogs were better matched that type at the time. Yes, I showed them too- having
many Best In Show winning Total Dog qualifying Grands who also had performance
titles plus healthy hips & elbows etc. will I UKC register white shepherds
now? Certainly not as the UWSC (provisional white shepherd parent club for UKC)
closed the option for single registration. and I guess how could I believe in
separation when my favourite litters are the ones that come in a "mixed bag"
where there are whites and coloured pups in one litter. Breeding for that is
obviously practicing inclusion of the whites in the GSD population not
exclusion. While its not politics-- I don't belong to any White clubs, but I AM
a member of our parent club for the breed: the GSDCA! I must speak my beliefs
as reflective of my actions through that part of my breeding program. I would
have to call myself a hypocrite to say I'm a separatist anymore with every
white stud I have ever owned having both coloured and white puppies and having
more coloured breedings and coloured to white breedings than I have white to
white- with only a couple of those having a pedigree with all white
grandparents as well. Can't have an ideal in head when it doesn't work out in
reality.
On an interesting note...
I have tremendously benefited from the matings being "as close to outcross and
still be an AKC registered GSD" in the establishment of consistent orthopaedic
health in my pups. Like dogs passing hips at 10 years old- and improved
longevity having more than a couple making the magic 12 (and more yay). I also
use PennHIP as a hip screening tool along with OFA for everything else. (One
stud dog almost did me in on my pennhip scores however so he had to be bred
away from :(. The genetic diversity that we do have left in our breed ought to
be preserved, not snipped away and only a teeny percentage breed together (in
effect what people appear to think has happened with UKC closing single
registrations except to dogs with BBS papers- so basically no more single
registrations of new white blood even from here in the states) and are near a
genetic bottleneck already? It has been a frequent topic about the
health/genetics/temperament condition of our breed lately.
My thought on it is: why cut-off mostly untouched genetic material for 30
years (and still a GSD) when we desperately need some kind of shot in the arm?
I think some people would be surprised to see how nice in type progeny is with
breeders utilising whites in their lines.
Sorry all for a long email. I've had this line of thought on my mind for quite
some time- never having been able to find satisfactory answers for my
questions...
Jen P & the Pack
JayDee's Proud-Haus Shepherds/ ProudK911
www.jaydeesphs.com
AKC Breeder of Merit
Home of the Total Dog you can be Proud of!!!
On 9 Jul 2013, at 16:07, Melanie Fuellgraf <valleydogs2000@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> I was reviewing the minutes from the January 2013 Board meeting and I was
> wondering why there was no mention in the "Old Business" section of the
> minutes of the request I made to the Board that the GSDCA object to the AKC
> registering imported Berger Blanc Suisse dogs as AKC GSDs. These are dogs
> of a different FCI breed. Even the SV views these dogs as a different breed.
>
>
> â¬I think this is important information for the membership to know, to at
> least be able to voice an opinion to the Board about.
> Does anyone know how I would go about asking for a correction to the minutes
> to include this information?
> Thanks,
> Melanie Fuellgraf
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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
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