Hello all, I wasn't going to get involved in this, I usually don't, but I just have to say if you guys hate showing this much you really should find something else to do with your spare time and money. Personally I love it and can't wait for the next show! If I go too long between shows I start going through withdrawal symptoms. The shows I go to are usually a ball (must be different than the ones you guys go to), the people are friendly and helpful and fun-loving. We help each other with grooming, sharing generators, blowers, etc. Laugh at each other when our equipment breaks down, commiserate with each other when our dogs are blowing coat or just being idiots. We go out and eat together afterwards if the host club isn't putting on a great feed, which they usually are, and have a great time. I was just a kid "back in the good ole days" (late 60s, early 70s) when there were 20 dogs in a class but what I remember is that most dogs in a class were not much more than back yard pets. Including mine. (If we won a third place ribbon in Am-bred that was a big win to us) The quality today is amazing in comparison. I started in obedience back in the 60s and worked my way up to conformation and never looked back. Is what I do better than what someone else does? No, you do what you like and I'll do what I like! How about that? Work for you? Lastly, the economy does suck and money is tight but some folks just have to place blame. You know there are mean, nasty people in my American Legion group and some in my Marine Corps league and some at work but I don't dwell on them or hang out with them. Some of the best people I have ever met in my life I met showing my beloved German Shepherds. I'll see ya at the shows. Patrick E Green ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2014. 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/ ============================================================================