[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: The Standard - does anyone care? LONG
- From: "tykemail@xxxxxxxxx" <tykemail@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: cinosamgsd@xxxxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 15:34:36 -0400
This reply isn't meant to flame or insult anyone=2E The only reason I wro=
te
it is because of my love of the breed, and all too frequently, a feeling=
of depression when I leave ringside=2E
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Cinosam GSD cinosamgsd@yahoo=2Ecom
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 08:57:50 -0700 (PDT)
To: showgsd-l@freelists=2Eorg
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] The Standard - does anyone care=3F LONG
I realize that there is nothing more spectacular or exciting than watching=
a great moving dog effortlessly flying around a huge grassy ring=85=2E=2Eb=
ut at
some point the overall quality of the dog has to be taken into
consideration=2E The argument could be that since GSD's are basically
working dogs, it shouldn't be a beauty contest, but lets face it, a herdin=
g
dog does not need to move like the dogs that are currently being shown in
the specialty rings to be successful and most of the herding dogs I've see=
n
don't come close to having the angles that specialty dogs do=2E In fact,
everyone seems to forget that GSD's did just fine when they were actually
used as working dogs on ranches and farms, so if the goal is to breed the
ultimate working dog then the way to do that is emulate the dogs from
decades past not create a new variation because it's exciting and
entertaining to watch it moving at the end of a lead=2E=20
***************************************************
The reason I am aiming for the flying trot is that it is the proof of the
pudding=2E In order to achieve it, a dog (most likely a bitch) must be
perfectly balanced front and rear, must have a firm back to transmit the
power from the rear drive to the muscle mass of the front end so that the
dog moves forward, must have absolutely no waste energy going to lifting,
paddling, sloppy rears or fronts, must not spend energy on keeping the bod=
y
high - in other words, if you see a dog performing the true flying trot,
that dog is exhibiting exactly what the standard asks for=2E This is not
just the suspension movement, which can be achieved without the perfection=
of structure that the flying trot requires=2E =20
I've seen too many dogs in the ring who probably couldn't keep going for a=
n
hour at full trot - which is what a working herder might have to do=2E (A=
nd
I'm not sure if many handlers could either=2E) But the dog that can manag=
e
the flying trot, which is really the lowest energy user of the fast gaits
except for the pace, can keep going for hours, not just three times around=
the ring=2E =20
***************************************************
I love specialty shows, love running around the ring, making "cat in heat"=
sounds to get my dog's attention, just love the excitement of it, but it i=
s
so depressing to see dog after dog with flopping ears or ear sets so bad
they look cartoonish, horribly feet, round goofy eyes, so much angle they
can't even walk as the standard suggests (functional cripples=3F), long
backed, gazelle-like legs, weak pasterns, dogs that look like bitches
bitches that look like offspring of some hybrid wild dingo and so on=85=2E=
win
again and again=85because they can move=2E =20
**********************************************
NO, THOSE DOGS CAN'T MOVE PROPERLY!!! Admittedly, a dog with a bad head o=
r
weak ears might be structurally correct, but they would be ruled out by th=
e
concept of "THE LOOK OF QUALITY AND NOBILITY"=2E And the requirement for
strongly marked secondary sex characteristics means that one shouldn't hav=
e
to look underneath to tell if the animal is a dog or a bitch=2E
Judges that put up dogs that don't meet that standard are doing a great
disservice to our breed=2E Albeit judges try to pick the best out of what=
is
presented to them, judges do have the right to withhold the blue=2E Not
being presented with good dogs (and note, I said "good", not great=2E) is =
not
an excuse to give awards to dogs that do not meet the standard=2E And lot=
s
of the standard is NOT open for interpretation=2E
*************************************************************************
IMO a good breeder regardless of the breed of dog should always try to
create the ideal complete package (according to the standard) rather than
concentrate on one aspect of the package that is currently hot in the show=
ring=2E I haven't been around long enough to remember how badly angulated=
dogs were fifteen years ago, =85=2E=2Eso maybe things are improving=2E =20=
=20
Finally to clarify a few points for those that will nitpick=2E
=20
The standard is open for interpretation=85=2E
*******************************
Parts of it is open for interpretation=2E Lots of it isn't>
***************************************************
Angulated dogs can be successful herding dogs
***************************
Take this up with the good herders who also have a CH=2E in front of their=
names=2E Angulation is about energy use and ground covered=2E
****************************************************************
Not every specialty dog breeder has forgotten what the "complete" package =
is
*****************************************************************
Don't want to start quoting names of dual and triple and quadruple breeder=
s=2E
*****************************************
Moderate angulation is required to propel and drive the dog forward=2E
**********************************************************
BALANCED ANGULATION AND A FIRM BACK ARE REQUIRED TO DRIVE A DOG FORWARD=2E=
A
two-pieced dog or an unbalanced dog won't get very far=2E
***************************************************************
Breeding is an art not a science, even with the best intentions faults
occur or are in the lines and it can take many generations to eliminate
them=2E
******************************************
It's a lot closer to a crapshoot=2E
*****************************************************
My dogs are not without faults and my bitches could use more rear to add
balance and drive=2E =20
Not all all breed judges interpret the standard correctly=2E
Not all specialty judges are blinded to everything but movement=85and they=
can only judge what is presented to them=2E
***************************************************************
How about the judge that measured the distance between the ears, and put u=
p
the widest one=3F How about the judge that put up a shep he considered tO=
have the best front - just like his own dogs=3F Even though he was a terri=
er
breeder=3F How about specialty judges that put up dogs with bad catches i=
n
their rear action=3F Or backs that went like violin strings=3F =20
The real question should be "WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THE JUDGES - ALL BREED=
OR SPECIALTY - JUDGE BY THE STANDARD=3F"
************************************************************************
No I do not feel we should be producing a style of dog that was popular in=
the 50's=2E
Regardless of what takes precedence in a breeding program, health and
temperament should always come first=2E
Dingo's do not have any angle so in reality could not produce specialty
bitches=85=2E
***************************************************
I wouldn't want to put up a dingo (of the same size) against a shep who
could do the flying trot=2E The shep woud win hands down=2E
And pardon me for getting on a soap box=2E =20
Elaine
********************************************************
And so on=85=2E
=20
JMO
Cindy
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