[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Running with the Big Dogs
- From: Ruth Scheubler <rightdogphoto@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: DaList <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:01:10 -0800 (PST)
I think you are right about the show game/business. The answer many of us are
opting for is finding other venues for enjoying our dogs - be it herding or
tracking or agility or flyball or what have you. Those of us who elect to keep
the emphasis on our DOGS and the partnership with our dogs have many outlets.
And that, in short, is why the shows/futurities keep getting smaller and
smaller. Not that fewer people are active with their dogs, just that they elect
not to deal with the business of conformation showing. It should not be
necessary to have a group of owners to afford the
training/conditioning/handling/grooming/advertising needed to be successful
regardless of quality of dog. It used to take a a good dog and an owner willing
to do the work to get the dog ready.
So while the C course ewes are lambing, I go tracking. (still get wet but no
wet
sheep to deal with) And if it is too wet for that I watch dogs I bred compete
in
agility with their owners instead of watching them in the conformation ring.
Makes me very happy.
Ruth
________________________________
From: "TerraNorte@xxxxxxx" <TerraNorte@xxxxxxx>
To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu, November 11, 2010 10:40:43 AM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Running with the Big Dogs
Fellow listers -
Two days ago I started thinking about how to wade into the discussion of
inclusionary thinking, amateurs versus professionals, futurities etc. My
first commentary draft was from the angle of "if you want people to join your
game, you have to make them feel welcome and comfortable". It dealt with the
powers that are at the controls of the GSDCA ignoring the owner/handler at
both the regional and national levels - full size rings for the puppy
through bred-by classes at the national, the absence of the Amateur Owner
Handler classes, etc). Before sending it, I wanted to give it a day to sit -
so
I could make revisions before blasting it out to the public; to further
collect and organize my thoughts.......
Then yesterday - I was reading the "dumb it up" posts and reminded of a
conversation a million years ago involving several scions in Saddle-bred and
gaited horse world held in the aisles of the National Western Stock
Show..... at the time - I was very proud of showing my Quarter Horse filly in
my
first Halter/Conformation class at the really big show, and was complaining
at the tricks some of my competitors were using and the whole - "its not
fair to have to compete against professional handlers" litany ...... At this
point, one of the long time trainers who had seen it all said - "Go home
little girl ...... this is business and there isn't room for whining."
So here is commentary draft #2 - everyone has to realize that dog showing
whether at the futurity, regional specialty or national specialty level is
a business. It is the dollars that drive the machine. It is not an
altruistic endeavor. If it were - we would be content with participatory
ribbons
and written critiques of our darlings.
I think this issue will also come down to supply and demand
economics...... The few with the dollars will continue to play the serious
games while
those without, will watch. With fewer players, the cost of playing will
continue to increase to a time when there isn't enough players to support the
activities. Then the activities will cease in numbers. Eventually - there
will be a resurgence from the bottom - they will restart the activities at a
base level and the cycle will start again. We can either support the base
now, or wait for the cycle to run it's course. All it takes is
time..........
As someone who enjoys showing her own dogs - I guess I will have to stop
whining and either work on my "athleticism and Game" to run with the Big
Dogs or be content to watch from the porch.
~ Val Manning
Rancho Terra Norte'
Wellington, CO
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POST is Copyrighted 2010. 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
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
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