As we have all heard the old saying, Opinions are like ears. Everyone has at
least two. Here are mine.
Dog people can be very opinionated. So much so that you learn not to get into
any kind of conversation with them about ANYTHING. You stay clear. Lesson
learned. Dog shows can be very political and frustrating if you are exhibiting.
Read some of the dog magazines and attend several major dog events and you
quickly learn that dog shows are highly competitive. You must be a gracious
loser and a thankful winner.
I started out in 1978 with Golden Retrievers in Maryland. Traveling the circuit
in conformation, obedience, tracking, field trials, and hunt tests was fun and
rewarding. I looked forward to attending the Golden Retriever regional
specialities and National every year both as a spectator and exhibitor. It was
25 years of FUN.
Now I have one German Shepherd and live in California. A stark difference of
opinions, dog events, and dog club management. I have never attended several
German Shepherd regional specialities as a spectator and served as a obedience
steward. I have never a attended National.
Reading all the recent negative press and member comments about the mother
club, GSDCA confirms that GSDCA is in serious disarray. It's not FUN anymore.
The FUN has turned into a grueling several days of travel, highly expensive,
and tiresome.
Respectfully,
John LacherOroville, CAJohn.lacher@xxxxxxxxx.
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On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 1:27 PM -0700, "Ruth Scheubler"
<rightdogphoto@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Damn - again I totally agree with a post. Must be a red-letter day.Ruth
On Thu, Aug 11, 2016 at 8:28 AM, Sheila Lieberman <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
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.
