As a long time breeder who has bred many performance dogs and have myself earned a bundle of performance titles, I believe that we have to follow the AKC rules regarding allowing any dog listed with the AKC as a "GSD" into performance and they will be judged according to their work. HOWEVER - we are a breed club with the mission to protect and promote the GSD according to the AKC recognized GSD standard. Therefore the special awards we provide to highlight the breed should follow our mission standard. How do we explain to newcomers to the breed why the GSD should look/act a certain way? So why should they not breed their floppy eared dog of poor conformation having large white patches and proudly promote that dog as a GSD? Does the standard matter or are we happy to have any mutt of any kind get an PAL number and become a Victor at our national? Like many old timers in the breed I started with a pet I started in obedience and then decided I wanted one that looked like the dogs in the conformation ring. Once I found out why the standard required what it did it stopped being because those conformation dogs were beautiful but because they were more correct that I wanted to breed dogs like them. And those correct dogs could and did do well in both rings and in real life working situations. Ruth ________________________________ From: "myjoygs@xxxxxxx" <myjoygs@xxxxxxx> To: marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx; cherlyngsd@xxxxxxxxx; genoaktortoise@xxxxxxxxxxx; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:13 AM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: White GSD.....Awards Are obedience GSD contenders allowed to compete in obedience if they have teeth missing, are a long coat, have noses that are not predominately black, have an undershot jaw, hanging ears,or neutered? Yes I realize that not all are disqualifying faults. In my humble opinion, in the conformation ring the GSD dog is judged according to the standard because they are considered breeding stock, the dogs are judged to be the best representative of the breed on that day in structure, character and movement according to the standard. Obedience what are they judged for? Performance of a routine. Are they being judged for the best breeding animal of the day or the best performance dog on that given day? Yes some of our champions also do obedience but those champions are not being judged according to the standard they are being judged on their performance. Therefore, I see no reason why German Shepherds who display a fault, disqualifying fault should be banned from obedience. They are still German Shepherds they still think and act like a German Shepherd, they are not being judged on how they look but how they perform. So if a person buys a German Shepherd and it doesn't turn out to be conformation material because of a disqualifying fault the owner who may also be interested in obedience can not show because of that fault? Do I think whites should be allowed in the conformation ring no, although I have seen some very nice structured white GSDs. To those of you on the list who are more in the performance venue with your GSD then the conformation venue what are your thoughts on this? Also curious does anyone know in other breeds if they are allowed to compete in performance events if they have a disqualifying fault according to their standard. MYJOY SHEPHERDS Joyce Willis -----Original Message----- From: Carolyn Martello <marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: cherlyngsd <cherlyngsd@xxxxxxxxx>; genoaktortoise <genoaktortoise@xxxxxxxxxxx>; showgsd-l <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tue, Feb 7, 2012 11:52 pm Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: White GSD.....Awards HMMMmmmm .........since it says ALL physical disqualifying faults.......maybe we hould emove them all........why stop there?  n time we could offer a special Class for Panda Shepherds and Shiloh Shepherds. arolyn  marhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ww.Marhaven.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Lyn Chernak To: genoaktortoise@xxxxxxxxxxx ; showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:18 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: White GSD.....Awards I too asked that question last week but have not received an answer. If the OD really feels that they should remove the disqualifying restriction from the erformance areas, why don't they take it a step further and remove the color hite as a disqualifying fault from the Standard? By removing the restriction from the National requirements for the highest wards, the only thing they are allowing the whites to do is win the title OB rand Victor/Victrix, they would still be High Combined. White GSDs have always een able to compete in the performance areas but never in an AKC conformation vent. Let them compete for Grand Victor / Victrix . Lyn Chernak CherLyn Shepherds - Updated Nov 29,2011  http://www.cherlynshepherds.com Three Generations ~ GSDCA 13 Club ~ Membership CherLyn's Dixie, BH, CDX, RAE, TC, HIC, CGC Ulric vom Kriegerhaus, CD, RA, TC, CGC  ________________________________  From: Amy Greenhut <genoaktortoise@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 7:56 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] White GSD.....Awards  In my opinion the BOD should not have approved that a white GSD can be awarded op performance awards at the National. It is a disqualifying fault.......why as this done??? For the record....I have no problem with the white ogs.....some of them are absolutely beautiful.......but a disqualifying fault s exactly what it says.....  Amy Greenhut Justrock German Shepherds Board Member Last Hope Safe Haven http://lasthopesafehaven.com Gen Oak Leopard Tortoises & Tortoise Rescue Behold The Turtle, He Makes Progress Only When He Sticks His Neck Out A Quote By James B. Conant  ===========================================================================POST s Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original author nd of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are ermitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l anagement. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its dministrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any ost.  ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY ANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION F ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND S A VIOLATION OF LAW. 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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and ts administrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in ny post.  ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY ANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION F ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND S 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/ =========================================================================== =========================================================================== OST is Copyrighted 2011. All material remains the property of the original uthor and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind re permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the howgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Each Author is responsible for the content of his/her post. This group and its dministrators are not responsible for the comments or opinions expressed in any ost. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER F ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL ARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A IOLATION 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 ATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ =========================================================================== ===========================================================================POST is Copyrighted 2011. 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/ ============================================================================ÿÿ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2011. 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/ ============================================================================