[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: The DOGS...But, tell me how

  • From: tsaligsds@xxxxxxxxxxx
  • To: Carolyn Martello <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 20:52:27 +0000 (UTC)

LOL And to build on Carolyn's post..... as I was reading it suddenly dawned on 
me that we have the most versatile breed in the world.  Think of all the 
various duties these dogs perform - requiring varying levels of drive and 
angulation, yet all GSDs..  Historically, when 'man' needed a dog for a 
specific purpose HE DEVELOPED A NEW BREED.  Thats why we have so many 
different types of retrievers - Labs, Goldens, Flat Coats, Chesapeak Bay, 
Etc.  ALL RETRIEVERS but different breeds due to the area they come from, 
terrain they hunt, and game they retrieve.    And, to make sure people 
recognized them as seperate, breed developers changes something obvious - 
usually coat length, color or texture.  



Remember when there was rumbling of renaming OUR dogs as American Shepherds and 
maintaining only the European as GERMAN?  England did it during WW2, calling 
them Alsatians,  and took how many years to 'reunite' the breed under one name 
because tehy were still GSDs!!!  Personally I think, with the time that has 
lapsed in the breed's history and all the varying work that is attributed to 
the breed, AND breeding programs that only focus on one venue regardless OF 
that venue [possibly to the detrement of the breed as a whole]  we've done a 
pretty good job maintaining all of the varyinging body styles under one breed 
name. 



THEY ARE ALL GERMAN SHEPEHRD DOGS!! 



Suzanne 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carolyn Martello" <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: tsaligsds@xxxxxxxxxxx, ELG440@xxxxxxx 
Cc: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Friday, August 7, 2009 2:16:30 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: The DOGS...But, tell me how 


It appears we are right in Evan's 'time line' for the G.vs.A.  
discussion........so here goes.....<G> 
I think these are all extremely valid points and appreciate the varying points 
of view and I would like to add 
to Suzanne's point of view.   Lets get to THE DOGS.     Politics 
aside......<G> 
We may not like it.......but IMO here will always be a difference between our 
German Shepherd Dogs that 
do the type of intense level of competition that compete at the German Seiger 
Show to represent the U.S. 
and the GSDCA, Inc. and the level of Conformation Dogs that represent us at our 
GSDCA, Inc.National.  
It is two different venues of high level competition.....and we need to learn 
to appreciate both. 

We personally prefer a strong working drive work ethic on a GSD and try to 
continue breeding it with our 
 "show" dogs......and yet I know that they probably  could never ever be as 
competitive as the dogs we sent 
to the Seiger show.   We do not want them so high drive and hard that the 
average family cannot deal with 
them either!!! 
That being said........I appreciate that level of drive and the type of dogs 
being bred for that particular venue. 
But....... 
Can they compete in our National or even Specialty Shows or even All Breed 
shows?    NAW.....<G> 
Would I breed to one to improve what we have at this time..........NAW...... 
Would we breed to one that had what we felt we "needed".........Yep if we found 
one......just haven't ....yet. 
Would I expect them to breed to my dogs to improve what they 
want......?......NAH...they don't need it....... yet. 
Would I expect them to even be able to be great herding dogs........ ..?. 
Does my jaw drop with the beauty of watching them gait or herd........?....do I 
like their looks.....generally no.  
I understand they have a  huge difference of type themselves between their 
"conformation" dogs and their 
"working" dogs. 
They are utilizing what they know will work.....it is different than what we 
want.   NONE of us put in the time 
and effort and intensity of work and training that it requires to compete with 
that type of SchH competition. 
How can we possibly criticize what they choose for their dogs or 
bloodlines.......?    
Should they ever condemn or make fun of our dogs publicly at that 
level.....ABSOLUTELY NOT! 
Hopefully they will not.  Hopefully we will not do the same to our 
team.    
I love our team at the top of the podium!!! 
They ARE our team!!    These trainers are from the U.S.A. and they have a 
German Shepherd Dog competing!!! 
We WANT their type of dog to represent us at their type of shows!!!    They 
have what they want and need.   It's 
time we accepted that.    Someday.........maybe it won't always be that 
way........... 

The SchH people get tired of watching our dogs gait in a circle....I get tired 
of watching them "hit & bite"....<G> 

Do I want a dog that looks like that........because it hits hard or bites 
hard.........NAW.   <G> 
Should they condemn our dogs......NOT if they are really seeing the good 
ones......and I hear the same from 
them.   We don't need their type of dog being sold to the average American 
family.........and they don't need our 
type of dog to COMPETE at the level of high intensity drive that they need for 
what they do.   Lets accept that. 
The intensity and work ethic and drive on their dogs is typically so high they 
don't even compete in herding as  
well as ours and many do not make good average family pets.   ( this is 
generalities I know ....and I apoligze...so 
please don't bury me in exceptions.... ) 
Would I ever spend the time to train a dog at that level if I had 
one.......NAW......I'd rather be kayaking ......<G> 


Carolyn    marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
www.Marhaven.com 

============================================================================
POST is Copyrighted 2008.  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://showgsd.org
NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/
============================================================================

Other related posts:

  1. Home
  2. showgsd-l
  3. Archive
  4. 08-2009