Showing German at an Ameraican Show - Page 4

Thanks O'line & Ceph,

I'm going to continue showing Theo, now that I have a youngster that can run him around the ring,
Theo is just about 2 1/2 yrs. old now, and I've seen worse looking GSD's that have CH in front of
their name, and you do get to have a different judge each time, so who knows.............
 

Trust me, you'll definately see a gynormus brag if Theo gets noticed

Dan and Marilyn Smith found this thread particularly interesting. They have asked that I post on their behalf:

"It is accurate that Dr. Goldfarb put up Jim and that Dan put up Dr. Goldfarb's dog. However, these two events were five years apart. Please note that Sel CH Darby-Dan's Just Jack and Sel Exc CH Darby-Dan's Miranda were both also shown under Dr. Goldfarb - and both went second.

"As to the comments on Helen Fisher: It isn't that she doesn't like German dogs, but rather than she does not care for roached backs or bad fronts. Early on, Helen gave Jim a point, and later a Group 1.
"Remember that these judges must judge what is brought into their rings. You cannot bring dogs that have no front or are high in the rear and expect to win. If you do so and do not win, it is not because the dog is German. BY ALL MEANS, show German dogs, just make sure they are good.

"Some discussion here also centered on Jim. We feel it is important to note that he is the only import ROM sire in this country in the last 30 years or more. He has also produced ROM progeny.

"Lastly, we find it really, realy odd that people who haven't accomplished much would come onto this message board and critique other people and their dogs."

Regards,

Dan and Marilyn Smith

When I belonged to the GSDCA Helen Miller Fisher was interviewed in "The Review"  and asked about her thoughts on imported dogs. She said, and I quote - ".......I think they are ugly".  Sorry I didn't keep that magazine since I can't tell you which issue it was.  If you see her, why don't you ask her if she said that? Glad to hear that she changed her mind and gave Jim a point and a gp 1.  He's a very nice dog. It sounds like she would be a good judge to show an import under if it doesn't have a roachy topline.

Not sure what is meant by - people who have never accomplished much -  few here show at AKC shows. However, they do title their dogs and Koer most of them prior to breeding them. That is a big accomplishment to most who  post here.

Pat:

First let me apologize for being so late to this thread.

Sounds like the judge paid you a nice compliment on your bitch, and good for you to have her in the Bred-by class which is always the toughest class at any AKC show.  Also, your bitch is young, only 20 months, and the judge may have felt that she needed a bit more maturity, perhaps?  You might try showing to this judge again when your girl is older, as this person did seem to like your bitch. 

As we say with the Labradors...some of which have become notoriously large-boned and clunky (and probably couldn't jump out of a hunter's boat, much less scramble back into one after getting the duck) recently in the show ring...how can the judges find the good, functional Labradors capable of doing work if no one takes them to the shows?  

Thusly, how can the judges find the functional GSDs if no one takes them to the shows? 

Best regards,

Cathy M.

First of all, the AKC standard for GSDs difers from the FCI standard, which should be the only standard. The AKC is a member of the FCI. Therefore, in my opinion it is criminal to rewrite a standard without the approval of the FCI. Further, the GSDCA was given an ultimatum by the SV to conform to some sort of selection in the breeding process. It is time for the SV to take a good critical look at this again. Unfortunately, they are too busy and have other battle axes to grind. Anybody who read the SV President's report in the last issue of the maagzine knows what I am talking about.

My experience to the AKC show ring was limited but a true eye opener: In 1993, we had a beautiful V-rated male which we had imported from Germany. His bitework was really nice and that is why we imported him. Joe, my husband wanted to become a helper and this was the perfect opportunity since one of Germany's teaching helpers was going to stay with us for a year to study abroad. While we were training along, we found out by coincidence that this dog not only worked well (he was written up in 1995 by the now defunct Dog Sports Magazine for his bitework), but he was also beautiful. So, we started showing him and he did well. Then, we decided to enter him in an all-breed AKC show up in Cumberland, MD (if I am not mistaken) in 1994. Back then, I was involved in AKC obedience with my 11x SchH3 female. Well, our poor boy placed dead last. My husband approached the judge afterwards to ask why. The judge was nervous, did not want any discussion and told my husband that our dog was a mere pet quality dog. That was it. We felt like outcasts anyway. None of the other exhibitors would talk to us. They just stared and whispered. Spectators came to us and shook our hands wanting to pet our dog. they said repeatedly that they did not understand why that happened as he was obviously so much better looking than the light-boned barrel-chested spooks who shied away from any sudden movement (not my words, just quoting other people). I have to say a few days after the show, I received a phone call from a German woman who was interested in breeding a couple of her American bitches to our boy since he was "not roached". Her name was Gish or Kish, something like that. Wife to somebody important in the American breed ring. We got into an argument about these AKC dogs since I told her what I thought of them. Needless to say we never saw or heard from her again.  A few months later in April 1995, our pet quality male was awarded VA-5 at the USA Sieger Show by SV judge Ernst Rueckert. I told this story once to Fred Lanting and he wanted to know from me who that AKC judge was, but I could not remember. Are there any archives to check on this?

Here is our Sammy: www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/177842.html RIP my beautiful boy!

Chris

"Lastly, we find it really, realy odd that people who haven't accomplished much would come onto this message board and critique other people and their dogs."

Well,  that's what message boards do.  Have discussions.  You don't need to be an accomplished handler/trainer in order to have interesting conversations and discussions,  or to "earn" the right to post your thoughts and questions, as this comment seems to imply.  I'd hate to see anyone bullied into not sharing and participating by comments like this, that would really be too bad.

It's an attempt to intimidate, GSDXephyr. There's a lot more going on here than meets the eye.  I'll just leave it at that for now.

GSDxephyr, that comment made me laugh, too!  This is one of the tamer discussions we've had about AKC dogs, and some of the comments have been quite complimentary towards dogs and judges!

If Dan read some of the stuff on this board when we REALLY get into it, it'd curl his hair!

Sibersee, I'd read that story before (you posted it elsewhere) and it's really sad.   I was thinking of it when I made my first post in this thread.

PET QUALITY indeed! 

Sunsilver, thanks. I guess I sometimes repeat myself. But it was quite "traumatizing" for me, to say the least. It influenced my opinion on AKC and their dogs for years to come. I never paid anymore attention to AKC events afterwards. Maybe, these dog are now better than they used to be, who knows. The only thing I would like to know who the judge was. Maybe, somebody can find out for me. It really bothered my husband, because Sammy was his everything. He still misses him today. Sam died an untimely death due to perianal fistulas.

Dan Smith: I never made his acquaintance although he used to live fairly close. His first wife Sandy was in the same Schutzhund club as we were in the early 90s (Maryland TOP Dog Club), but I lost contact with her as well. I used to refer people to them when I got calls for black GSD here in our D.C. metro area.

Mr. Smith, if you read this: I would love your opinion on my black boy Onyx! Should I dare to enter him in an AKC ring or would he be considered roached as well? www.vomsilbersee.com/onyx.html I am not involved in any politics. I just would love your opinion as somebody with experience. It would be nice if you could chime in here.

Chris

Good thing I keep my catalogues:

On November 21, 2003, Galaxy von Ajaye, my dog, was entered in the 6-9 month puppy class at the Northeastern Maryland Kennel Club in Friendship, MD.

He obtained first place and a blue ribbon.  There were only 2 pups in the class.  He went up against Darby-Dan's Louisiana Ligtning bred by Marilyn & Daniel Smith.  The judge was Mrs. Sandi F. Goldman. 

So, he went on for Group but of course did not go further. 

I will say this, everyone was very nice to me and my puppy at this show.  They all wanted to know more about him.  I found it to be a very nice experience and for my puppy it was a great way to get him out and about.