For better or for worse, I am back here, not promising to stay either…..but I
am going to express my opinion, and hope someone cares.
The only real issue with GSDCA is that those who know the most tend to be the
least welcoming of new people. When newbies feel unwelcome and then are told
they will have to spend about $100 to $500 per dog show, they run the other way.
Now, if you care what I think, keep reading, if not give up now.
We need to be more welcoming, AKC tried to make requirements out of being
welcoming. I have hosted "tours" to explain what is going on.
I know there are many who make their entire living off showing dogs, but that
becomes prohibitively expensive for what passes for the middle class now. So
you pros keep working, keep rich clients to afford you. The rest of us need a
chance to win against you anyway, as owner-handlers.
We over groom our dogs. This double handling crap is untenable for many of us.
I can't run around the outside of the ring faster than my dog, ARE YOU SHITTING
ME?????
While this works at specialities, because we can and certain people insist we
do. At all breeds, you can actually get kicked out of AKC show. And Owner
Handlers have no chance with this at all.
We need to consider some regression, back to when a clean dog is all you
needed, and a 6 foot lead, not a 15 foot lead.
And entry fees are getting out of control too.
If we want to save GSD for conformation, we need to change how we do it all……
This is actually a pretty short version of my opinion, but here it is.
I don’t own a show dog because of all of this. I can’t handle anymore, maybe at
an all breed, but certainly not a specialty, not ever again. Nor am I prepared
to pay handling fees.
Sheila, in Maryland now, and happy.
