So, what's it's going to be for the GSD forum............... - Page 8

Liesjers, here is where I disagree with you.

One year ago I am so naive of German dogs that I do not even know WL/SL. This in the first board that my research turns up.

I keep digging, until I identified 3 breeders who I feel can provide the dog I am looking for. One of these breeders owns this bitch.



I have many years AKC and this is absolutely the most incredible bitch I have ever come across. 

I challenge anyone to present a more perfect example in the US, (only Clarissa Blue Iris comes close) of timing, balance shoulder opening, rear evtension, back strength, any thing that this bitch presents. (Dingo excluded of course)

I called the breeder/owner of this bitch and offer the contents of my savings account to buy her. They laugh at me.

So, because I always choose from the female, I contact a very top talent (also I meet him on this board) and ask his opinion. He sends me this picture, because he has already spotted this bitch in Germany and tried and failed to buy her.

This bitch has a litter, we drive 1500 miles to evaluate them, he takes the first pick, I take the second.

Even though I know nothing SV, my pup starts winning from his first show. Sadly he is now 9 mo. old and 1/4 inch from growing himself out of the show ring.

That changes nothing about his incredible character, structure and side gait, pictured in my avatar

Please compare him to his mother.

So, if anyone thinks this board is not very valuable, I offer my experience to dispute this.

Rik

SunSilver, indeed it is you I refer to. No disrespect to xeph, but she will never match you in cunning and intelligence.

And I dispute that you wish to have mentors.
 
If so, then you would take the advice from the many top SL/WL people who have come here and offered it to you.

To you advice from very top breeders SL/WL, U.S./Germany seems only an insult.

I understand there are many reasons people cannot accomplish their dreams.

Finances, family obligations,distance, many things stand in the way.

What I cannot understand is why anyone settles for less than what they dream.
 
If you want top S/L, W'L then keep moving towards that goal.

Many people offer you advice, always you cause them to regret it.

So I challenge you, at one time, I also know very little. But when offered advice from people who reach the levels I dream of, I always listen. I choose what pertains to me, but always I listen.

So, if you wish a truce, then I no longer make very poor comments which in the end only reflect badly on me. 

You decide. 

Rik

not to beat a dead horse,  but these females can move well,  and still maintain a level topline.

I will not even comment.. 

Rik 

So, what's it's going to be for the GSD forum...............
by Rik on 29 July 2009 - 03:07

Rik

Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 03:41 am
Hello YR, thank you for your very nice comments concerning me.

I assume from your "handle" that you are from Texas, so very good news for you.

My next planned show is Central Texas in Dec. Ask Shak for details.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to show up and put Rik in his place. If nothing goes south, I will have a male in 12-18 and a working class female. She already goes V in Germany and also her first show in the U.S. (CIPWDA). Also, I'm pretty sure that I show the only sable S/L in the U.S. so I am easy to recognize.
       Rik, i'm pretty sure a few other people have sable showline dogs here in the US. I have a few myself. It also must be pretty ruff for you trying to find others to talk to here on the database, since you know so much about the German Shepherds, and are surrounded by ALL the most knowledgable people.

     Do you not see that this is the German Shepherd database. You want to attack, attack, attack anyone not as know-it-all as yourself. The people you criticize are people that have been here longer than you, that are here to share what they know, and learn what they don't.

And I dispute that you wish to have mentors.

Not so. I have a number of online mentors. Most of them don't post here, though. It's the flesh and blood, hands on mentors I'm lacking, due to my location. There isn't a single GSD breeder within 100 miles of here, not even an American lines breeder!

Backyard breeders are a dime a dozen, though. Typical ad seen in local foodstore: For sale: Boarder collie/blue healer pups. $250.00  When they can't even spell the breed's name correctly, it's time to run as fast as you can in the opposite direction!

If so, then you would take the advice from the many top SL/WL people who have come here and offered it to you

I have seen no such advice, only criticism. The last time I was given useful advice on training was when Shelly posted to a thread I started on tracking.  However, I have numerous good  contacts I would trust to help me find another dog. Both Fred and Star's breeder have volunteered to do so. It would make more sense to go with Fred, due to his decades of experience, and contacts in Germany.

I haven't slept, except maybe an hour or so tonight. The ol' brain just refused to turn off. It's now 6 am, and I've spent the last hour checking real estate ads, and trying to get up the guts to buy a country property suitable for a small kennel, so I can really pursue my dreams, without the 2 dog restriction we have here in town.

Not easy contemplating something like this when you're the wrong side of 50, and alone. Oh, and I did mention I only have 10% hearing, didn't I?

Sadly he is now 9 mo. old and 1/4 inch from growing himself out of the show ring.

My condolences. Now, imagine that's the ONLY registered dog you have, and you'll get an idea of how disappointed I was when Star did not turn out as I (and her breeder) had expected.

Good Morning Rik,

I left this forum for some time also, because of all the "garbage" that was constantly being thrown at others.
I know that you have the intelect and desire to achieve the goals, that you have set forth.......I respect & like you!

Chris, Molly, Randy...just to name a few, have been targeted by several people on this board repeatedly.....I know, I read the posts also.
Maybe they have left the "nonsence", but they continue to be very strong breeders & exhibitors in this breed....and nothing "here" will change that.
I only "choose" to not engage in "cyber space vocal warfare" because it's ridiculous.........
I have nothing to prove to these people......they do not matter in my venture in life.......I lose no sleep over what they say.
People that "actually" know me, know this to be true.

Rik, don't lose your cool.........don't argue or get "verbal", instead.....get achieved!........that "powers a greater punch" than words.

Your friend,
Robin

That's exactly what Rik has been saying to people on the forum, Robin, including myself. SHOW ME WHAT YOU'VE DONE!

We'd all be much further ahead if we'd stop these online wars, get off the bloody computer, and go work  our dogs!

Rik, I don't see how the story refutes what I said.  You said you DROVE 1500 miles to see the litter.  That's exactly what I'm talking about.  You contacted someone else for a second opinion and took someone along to help evaluate the dogs.  You had a lead and you acted on it, you didn't just buy a dog off an ad here, sight unseen.

I do not believe that this forum can or should be a substitute for seeing and handling the dogs, traveling and talking to other people for their opinions, finding a good TD/helper for Schutzhund training, etc.  There is no substitute for actually DOING these things.  I am a newbie to Schutzhund and I have a lot of questions floating around in my head, but you will not find me asking them here, not because I'm trying to disrespect other posters, but because I truly believe that the most appropriate way to get the answers is to go to my TD, who knows me and has worked my dog in person multiple times a week.  No one else here has seen my dog or seen how we train.  I have asked questions on other boards in the past and have found that the most experienced, respectable people just tell me that I need to go to my TD because they cannot give solid advice without having actually been there.