Making Of A VA Dog In The US - Page 3

Had I known part of the info in the other thread (show with good protection phase) I would have saved euro 4000 I wasted on two useless puppies, Had I known the value and difference between breeders such as djc and gucci and others so claimed reputable breeders I would have had my foundation dogs by now and stopped looking at ads half of which full of deceit.
Go ahead dog1 and let us have something good to read and learn from on this forum, if it takes some braaging in the way let it be if there is some advertising in it by some posters with solid back up on the quality of dogs and lines so be it. I am keeping an open eye on djc girl and what she will produce, if dog1 is willing to gift me a puppy from Waiko I will be fortunate, if he says this male is special and rare I believe him.

Ibrahim

how does the old saying go, "it ain't bragging if you can back it up". having seen Waiko and a couple of his progeny at a recent show, I'm just not seeing anything said here as bragging.

If the progeny I saw are indicative of what the dog is producing and the other parts come together (performance test, good day in the ring, etc) then it seems to me to be more of a fore gone conclusion than a brag. But time will tell.

Rik

Waiko is a fantastic boy! Loved from the first time I met him. Strong solid character. Wish you guys mucho success in the future! Congrats on this weekend at NUSC too! Theresa

Thanks Rik, we feel the same way but we have to prove it.

Let's back up a little bit and re establish what we are doing here. We are seeing the changes going on within the US that are transitioning this country into breeders. This is a very exciting time and there's a lot of opportunity out there in the GSD community.

Here's the transition.

Year 2000; Lynchburg, VA

VA1 Winner Enzo Buchorn! Who has the money and resources to compete with VA dogs from Germany? Nobody does,,,,, the sport is for the ultra rich at this level.

This trend continues for a few years until 2007 in Danbury. Here we have a US bred dog with a super progeny group competing with some of the best Germany has to offer. He wins! The dog with his progeny have overcome the high placing import. The transition begins, but the group is all from one breeder and mostly owned by the breeder? Who has the money and resources to do that? Not many, but not many is more than none. It's still a sport beyond most.

This trend continues to the 2010 NASS where we begin to see another breakthrough. VA1 and VA2 dogs begin to have a couple kennel names in the group and multiple individual owners of the progeny. Who can afford a dog who was somewhere first ring in Germany? Lots of people can! If they can't,,,, them and a partner can. The competition is now no longer a rich man's sport. It's a sport where many can participate, compete with the best in the world at an affordable price and succeed. Who can afford to be a part of a team? Anybody have talent but not enough time to manage a stud dog? Have a place to raise a puppy and desire to learn about the German German Shepherd but can't navagate all the rules and regulations?

There are many out there that can and there are breeders screaming for them to come help. The German Shepherd scene in the US is really close to the SV model. We just need to understand it, embrace it, and participate in it.

Is this a good thing? More entries, more participation, more puppies from the dogs that are proven themselves to be the best in the breed, need I go on? It's just what this country needs in the face of all the bickering between clubs.

I have thought about this and thought about it. I really do not understand the "bragging" comment. The dog has documented accomplishments or it does not.


99.99% of the breeders I have met are interested in one thing. The check clearing. And here is a guy looking past that, who knows what it takes to promote a stud dog and is accused of "bragging".


I have bought one puppy in the last 20 years (2 decades for my special fans) for show. And when I took him out, we kicked ass, and some international ass to boot. Do you think that is bragging. If so, I'll send you a pic of the trophies.


This "bragging" breeder offered me a pup that I feel is every bit the equal of the one I had. All he asked is that I promote the dog. I don't know where the pup is now, but someone has a special one.


the thing that this breeder may or may not have learned is that out of 100 folks making promises to do all these spectacular things with his pups, he will be very lucky if he finds one who will actually follow through and commit to what it takes, in both time and finances, to promote a dog. 

Rik

Randy,
I commend you for putting in the effort to promote your dog in all ways possible....I don't believe that it is considered "bragging".
We are in the same "boat" with our two stud dogs.
Although we consider ourselves fortunate that our home grown dog was awarded a VA title....it was by no means an "easy" accomplishment. We invested many years into his making. We not only bought his mother as a young female (we saw her potential)...we invested the time and resources to title and show her to her VA title....then we purchased "her" mother, as a retired female available to give us a final litter.
We do not breed excessive amounts of litters per year...so our VA dog's progeny are only now over 1 yr old. *We have only bred him 4 times to our own females*.
*shoot...I have females that are turning 6yrs old, and have not been bred yet*.
Our other home grown stud dog was awarded the V-7 placing at both Sieger Shows.....and we are just now able to have progeny from him. (they are pictured in a thread on this forum)...and we are extremely pleased with them.
We are also faced with keeping these stud dog's progeny, so they can both present progeny groups at this years NASS......OMG.....it is a very hard thing to do!  If it were not for the wonderful, small group of close friends....it would clearly not be possible.

Continue with your goals Randy, and best wishes to you!
Perhaps we will be fortunate to be in the progeny groups with you!!
Robin

this is a wonderful post and good luck to both Randy and Robin, you may one day have your VA studs.

Robin,

I'm gathering up some information. Can you write a little about your experience getting Cuervo VA. How did you prepare leading up to the show in Chicago? I'm sure you have a story.

Hi Randy,
I'll tell you the small, boring story...when I get home from work tonight.
*Our life is really not that interesting...and it's a hard road to climb for a top placing.*
Robin

Information is gathered. All of the dogs bred early enough to have progeny old enough to be entered in the NASS are born except one litter due in a couple days in NY. We have a litter of 8 in MA and the unborn litter in NY that could add to the number of progeny. So far we have 16 of his best retained for the group from 12 litters.

Not as many litters as we statistically needed. We only kept the sables so we have retained an unusually high percentage of his offspring.  Some of the ones in the group are not even 4 weeks old yet. They are in the group because they are sable. They may or may not be in the final count. The group may need to shrink a little. 16 puppies is a little more than I can raise, prepare, take to the show, etc.

This is where the challenge American breeders face is. It's also where the opportunity for others is. How to achieve the balance. How many good ones can you get from the females you breed to? Can you pick out the best from the litter? Were the females good enough to produce the quality the male is capable of producing? How many can you keep. How many can you feed? How many people will help? How many can you train? How many can go to shows to get ready? Will the group be 6 or 16?