Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show - Page 12

So on what basis do they judge them?

This is probably going to wad some panties up, but the majority of the time in All Breed shows, it is not the fuzzy end of the leash that gets judged.

Rik

Rik, I will agree with you to a point. Its not always the dog that is being judged but once you get to Eukanuba or Westminster it has as much to do with who's behind the dog as it is the dog itself. I know professional handlers who will bi pass the big shows if its not a judge that will put them up. Thats why you rarely ever see a dog win at that level that isn't owned by someone with big bucks behind them and capable of spending a couple of hundred thousand through the year campeigning thier dogs. Handlers will follow particular judges becuase they know they will be put up. Is that fair? No! but it is a fact that most show people understand and accept. In the end its not really about winning for most people but its about having fun and enjoying something you love. A lot of people are not physically able to perforn in performance venues but they can in dog shows so they chose that way to go. My personal opinion is if you have nothing positive to say and your way of helping is to rag on what other people are doing and why, then perhaps you need to be doing something else. Even people with show lines care about their dogs and are open to good advice and help.

"A lot of people are not physically able to perforn in performance venues but they can in dog shows so they chose that way to go. My personal opinion is if you have nothing positive to say and your way of helping is to rag on what other people are doing and why, then perhaps you need to be doing something else. Even people with show lines care about their dogs and are open to good advice and help."

It is not about the fact they are not performing in performance venues, it is the fact the the show arena has literally changed the shape and look of the GSD, and NOT for the better. 

I dont' think the show arena has done the same to the Bouvier although obviously when you breed a dog for the show ring you are forgetting about it's ability to work.  And both of our breeds are working breeds.  Surely you can understand Sjboe why people are upset. 

Red Sable, I could not agree with you more. Case in point. I attended the National Bouvier Specialty in Portland this past October with my male and a puppy. I have always groomed my dogs to show their structure as well as to look nice. What I found there were over sculpted dogs and there was no way my dogs in a more natural state were going to compete like that. My dogs are dogs 75% of the time. They have hay flates to run in every night when we get home, horses to drive nuts as well as moose to chase, lol I let them be dogs then will pull them in and clean them up about three weeks prior to a show. But to be honest Bouvier people have the exact same concerns about our dogs as you do GSD's. A lot of us see them going in the same direction in the show ring. Its up to those of us that know our breeds, what they are suppose to be and do everything we can to preserve them. I have always been a believer that there is no reason a dog can not do both and if he or she is structurally sound, represents the breed as is intended then we have done everything we can.

Vonisk,

Thank for for clarification. I hoped it something like that.

Does anybody knows who judged GSDs?

I don't care what you do with your dogs.  I hope you do love them.  I don't care if you want a "biting" dog.  I get the impression you think that it's bad or dangerous or something, if i'm wrong, i apologize.  If i'm correct, I think it's sad you have such little understanding of what's involved. 

I don't care if people do agility, SAR, run around in the backyard, ring sport, schutzhund, train narc dogs, bomb dogs, find lost keys, find antler sheds in the spring, hunt for mushrooms or retrieve ducks.  I hope people are doing something with their dogs, it's why they have them.

But, if you're breeding, your dogs should be tested, they should face pressure and they should be able to pass the tests.  I don't care about titles a whole lot, but if your dog has what it takes, it should have one if you're breeding it.  If not, I better personally know you, and know you're testing your dogs.  I'm more concerned about that than anything.

it's been proven for a hundred years that the dogs that are tested and pressured consitently produce dogs with good drives, stable temperments and the ability to do anything we ask of them.  It's also apparent what the lack of testing produces as a general rule. 

I don't care what kind of dogs people like.  I do care that a majority of dogs from certain lines can't jumpa meter hurdle or more .  I do care that in the face of any environmental, physical, or mental pressure a majority of dogs will fail, cower, and not be able to handle it.  Whether or not those dogs run agility courses or go to hospitals is not my concern, they should be able to do both.

I don't care what "lines" you like.  There's always going to be some "type" differences among all breeds.  But the dogs should be able to do physically and mentally what the standard calls for, or they shouldn't be bred.

oh, and my dogs wont' jump off a cliff because the ball went there.  But they sure has heck are going to search and search and search for a way down to get it, until I tell them to stop.  They have drive, and brains.