Kathaleen you are so right on...however there is NO hope for the sheepies .Many are not o f the mentality to understand the real under lying problems in the breed. The only hope is that some German dogs will fit into our breedinmg p[rograms, and some seem to be . Here in America we have the right to do as we like...or as a handler so instructs...Its much easier when you have someone calling the punches for you. We have some wonderful American lines, and their progeny speak for themselves. As I recall there was a problem survey form included with the futurity entries at one time...What happened to all that data????Where is the Health committee of the parent club????It seems we are all too busy to function these days. Rest assurred the breed will cointinue, and there will always be some beautiful GSDs. The sheep will never change, and you or I do not have the power to make any one individual change...all change must come from within. I am glad you have spoken out as I have tried to do for the last 20 years...Some times you have to hit the old mule right between the eyes with a 2x4 to get his attention... CHuck Kruger DVM ============================================================================ 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 ============================================================================