[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Our German Shepherds
- From: Zoa Rockenstein <zrockenstein@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx" <Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx>, "ELG440@xxxxxxx" <ELG440@xxxxxxx>, "showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:08:52 -0700 (PDT)
I agree with some of what everyone has said on this thread and would like to
comment on a few things.
Breeding ourselves into a corner: Yes, we have. Yes, it is a problem. But,
there is a way out and it isn't just about "Dallas-free" lines. Several
breeders are beginning to bring dogs from some of the German show lines into
their breeding programs. When I first mentioned this a few years ago, I got a
flood of emails from people saying the progeny would never win and it would
take years to get a decent shoulder back, etc. Now I have seen some of the
progeny finish, and win multiple groups, in the first generation. I have been
happy with these breedings, the show results, and the rock-solid temperaments
they produce. Of course only time will tell about the longevity, but I think
we need to take some risks in order to bring in some genetic diversity at this
point in the development of the American show gsd. It does take a lot of
careful study into lines and dogs and pedigrees for those of us, like myself,
who are not familiar with the
German show lines and dogs.
Blaming breeders for bad health and other problems: I think we have to look at
the important interaction between breeders and judges. We all love the breed,
but breeders are also "in it to win it". Consequently, breeders will breed
what judges will put up...and put up with. The Standard does not require that
gsds walk on their hocks, for instance. If judges would quit putting up dogs
that do, it would keep breeders from going to extremes. Judges control what
people will breed and what exhibitors will buy. I remember seeing someone
wearing a hat at the National that read, "I didn't come here to lose." Me,
neither, buddy! IMHO, judges need to assume a little (ok, a lot) more
responsibility in guiding the breed through this difficult transition period.
Some are expressing an awareness of this.
Thank you.
Public opinion: Love of German Shepherds is not waning. It is on the
increase. It is love of American show gsds that is waning, and we have all
seen this quantified with continuing decreases in entries, clubs, new people
coming into the sport, etc. Some of us have responded that we don't care what
the public thinks about our show dogs because the public is ignorant. Most of
us have been at all breeds where we have heard other breed fanciers say
something like, "It is too bad the way that the German Shepherd people have
ruined their breed." These are dog people who know a sound dog when they see
one. I went to the UPenn Working Dog Conference at Purina Farms in April (the
most amazing dog event I have ever been to in my life, btw). Carmen and I were
the only GSDCA members there. We were invited to bring our dogs in order to
participate in various working dog training sessions, and I brought then 9
month old RiverRock's Starlett O'Hara
(Star). A couple of people made the practically verbatim comment that
American show gsds were "nothing but a bunch of spooky hock walkers whose only
talent was to stare at liver." My response was to point to Star, who walks on
her feet, and to tell them that all my champions have working titles and that I
think life is too short to train an ugly dog. As Star and I participated,
before audiences, in the various training sessions people began to come up to
me and say how beautiful she is and how they wish they could own a German
Shepherd who looked like that and worked like that. People want a beautiful,
functional German Shepherd. What they do not want is a crippled nut case that
is dead in 8 years.
Dr. Zoa Rockenstein, AKC Breeder of Merit
http://www.riverrockgermanshepherds.com/
Generations of Dually-Titled Champions
and Protective Companions for a Changing World
>________________________________
> From: "Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx" <Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx>
>To: ELG440@xxxxxxx; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 6:06 AM
>Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Our German Shepherds
>
>
>Me too (the people calling all the time thing). Trouble is it's usually
>because they lost dogs too young or are having issues now and don't want to
>be without dog.
>
>Just this week I listened to a 40 something man cry on the phone for well
>over an hour, had just put his 8 year old down w/ DM, 3 young children 7, 5
>& 3. Didn't know what to tell the children. ("Daddy killed their dog", he
>kept saying).
>
>Another couple looking for a young dog, they have an 8 year old bitch now,
>love her, very nice breeder (guess they figured I knew her), lovely,
>lovely...but she has to be on Prozac (their dog, not the breeder...although,
>who
>knows?), tremendous separation anxiety, all sorts of classes, behaviorist,
>$$$$$, tried everything before they went to meds, not unintelligent people
>BTW and plenty of prior dog experience, made heroic of attempts before
>going the meds route oh and BTW, chronic immune issues, ear infections, coat
>issues, gastro intestinal issues, special foods, very expensive, but gosh
>they just love her and the breeder was sooooooo nice (did they mention
>that?).
>They are keeping her obviously, love her, vet suggested a different
>line/breeder for their next dog.
>
>I'm not in the camp that dogs are getting healthier...sorry.
>
>Do I think we are alone...no. Listened to another young lady cry over a
>Golden, 7 suspicious growths removed by the time he was 5 and died of
>hemangiosarcoma at 7. So, family thinking they would go w/ a GSD this
>time...they
>don't have/get hemangiosarcoma do they? Well...as a matter of fact they
>do.
>
>And gosh, last night was only Tuesday night.
>
>Now, a valid argument could be made that people who have happy, healthy
>dogs aren't calling and that is a point, BUT, when they do call the dogs are
>dying waaayyyy too young. Dear God we used to routinely have 14-15 year
>old dogs. They used to eat cheap food w/ food coloring in it and have shots
>every year no matter if they needed them or not. Now their food is more
>expensive than ours, we don't do shots every year (God forbid!), many are
>treated as carefully as hot house flowers not the working/utilitarian farm dog
>
>they are supposed to be and when they hit 12 now it's a celebration!
>
>I am of the opinion that we have really bred ourselves into a corner, even
>when we DO think we are going out, by the time I spread 6-7 generations of
>pedigree on my desk...well it's hard to "go out".
>
>Also, I used to think (foolishly) that if a "bad" wasn't there, you weren't
>going to put it there by doubling up.
>
>Now I know better. Doubling/tripling/quadrupling up plays havoc w/ the
>immune system and much of what plagues the breed can be traced back to a
>poorly functioning/weakened immune system.
>
>
>
>
>Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC
>Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions
>visit http://www.pinehillgsds.com/
>
>
>In a message dated 6/11/2013 7:43:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>ELG440@xxxxxxx writes:
>
>We have
>people calling every week and sometimes every day, looking for a German
>shepherd puppy.
>
>
>===========================================================================>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/
>===========================================================================>
>
>
============================================================================
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/
============================================================================
Other related posts:
