That is a great question. The first bit of helpful advise about winning in the American specialty Ring, and this gal is no longer in Shepherds, and did bred a Grand Victor is The Standard has absolute Nothing to do with winner in the Specialty Ring. she said for me to grow some tough hide and learn to get over the standard. At the time I thought she was a total B**ch little did I know it was the most honest advice I ever got. Maybe hidden in that advise lies the reason we are withering away. Terry ________________________________ From: "pagairs@xxxxxxx" <pagairs@xxxxxxx> To: terrycochran97756@xxxxxxxxx; MASSTANA@xxxxxxx; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 12:45 PM Subject: Re: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: THE DECLINE OF THE CONFORMATION RING That's true Terry, so then why a standard? Gary -----Original Message----- From: Terry Cochran <terrycochran97756@xxxxxxxxx> To: pagairs <pagairs@xxxxxxx>; MASSTANA <MASSTANA@xxxxxxx>; showgsd-l <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wed, Apr 2, 2014 2:31 pm Subject: Re: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: THE DECLINE OF THE CONFORMATION RING Probably about the same reaction we give the German dogs in our ring :0) When in Rome :0) Terry ________________________________ From: "pagairs@xxxxxxx" <pagairs@xxxxxxx> To: MASSTANA@xxxxxxx; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 11:47 AM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: THE DECLINE OF THE CONFORMATION RING Actually John, I did have that exact experience. A few years ago a local WDA club had a show and I decided to go along with my Ch. male out of our breeding. No comments were made directly but the looks he got said it all. Just a look is one thing but the stares, glares and smerks made their thoughts quite obvious. Gary -----Original Message----- From: MASSTANA <MASSTANA@xxxxxxx> To: showgsd-l <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wed, Apr 2, 2014 1:37 pm Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: THE DECLINE OF THE CONFORMATION RING I would be curious to know if anybody has ever taken a good looking, sound tempered, clean coming and going, but angulated shepherd to a performance trial and gotten a reaction from the exhibitors which was not welcoming and complementing? I know at our local conformation shows if someone comes by with a good looking, but obviously not a show quality shepherd, we all still go over and complement the dog to the owner and ask where the dog came from. Trying to be nice, not looking for an opportunity to tear down the breeder. I ask this because it seems that any degree of angulation will cause some folks to decry the "poor shepherd breed" and how far the breed has fallen. I wonder if you had taken a top conformation winning shepherd with you to a performance event, whether you would have been as welcome. Just curious. John V ===========================================================================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. 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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/ ============================================================================ÿÿ ============================================================================ 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/ ============================================================================