In a message dated 2/3/05 8:02:49 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, windvane@xxxxxxxx writes: Now Now Evan , sounds like your getting a little testy? as you say" not that there's anything wrong with that." Not actually. Everyone who knows me knows it is hard to get my testy meter up over half way. I have always felt strongly about a number of things related to this sport. This might be a good time to set them out, since we seem to be in a lull between trashing the next national location, and arguing about German vs. American dogs. These are my ten main points I try to remember each day. Of course, each day I have more trouble remembering things. 1. Our board works hard for us, tries to do what is best for the breed, the club members and the club. They are dedicated people who take the blame and seldom get the credit. Anyone who is willing to serve on the board should be respected. 2. No one, who is not elected to stand in the center of the ring should be telling the judge how to judge, unless it is some system set up before the show. Then, if the judge does not do it, the people who will elect the judge in the future, should be who will decide if they want that person back. How the judge judges on that day is his or her opinion, and on that day it is the only opinion that counts. 3. There are very few instances where judging is other than honest. Some judges may be stupid, some may not know the standard, and some may not care. But judging dogs is not important enough to be crooked. In the all-breed rings often judges do not understand our breed, but they are not dishonest, just incompetent. 4. The people are what make the sport so much fun. Who we meet, and who we deal with is what matters. While the dogs are important, they are just how we keep score. 5. How much you win, does not make you a better person. If you lose, it does not make you less of a human being. How you deal with your dogs, other people and your family is how you should be judged, not how many champions you have. 6. If this sport is not fun for you, it is time to do something else. There is nothing about showing dogs that is required of anyone. 7. The breed continues to improve as the breeders try to eliminate problems. The future is always going to be better than the past, no matter how our memories try to tell us it used to be so much better. 8. New people in the breed always have something of interest and value to add. Just because we have done this for 30 or 40 years does not mean we have all the answers. 9. You should only give advice to those who want to listen to it. And, if others listen to you, that does not make you right. 10. If you don't like a judge, don't enter. If you do enter, accept the decision from that judge, and always remember you chose to enter. No one forced you to do so. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Evan _Asgard German Shepherds_ (http://www.asgardgsd.com/) http://www.asgardgsd.com/ Where Type Movement and Temperament come together ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. 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://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================