You�ve been preparing to show your newest little superstar before he was even born. You planned his breeding; you socialized him, trained him, and groomed him getting him ready for his first introduction into the show ring. You�ve made preparations to hire the best handler that money can afford. You �talked� him up to your friends and family. You even showed a picture or two of him on some of the show dog lists. You did a real good job of selling him to the show dog public. People now are starting to talk about him and anticipating seeing a real �head turner� when he walks into the ring.
The big day arrives. In trots your much �hyped� up superstar. You see people starting to whisper and you accept this as an acceptance of his star power. You smile to yourself knowing they haven�t seen anything yet. Just wait until they see your guy move around that ring. Off he goes and he�s charging around the ring. You�re beaming with pride about his great showmanship and attitude. People are whispering even more now. The judge calls his handler out to the center of the ring for a loose lead temperament test. Your dog is bucking and jumping pulling the handler in the opposite direction. Finally the handler gets him to the center of the ring. The dog blows his mind when the judge tries to examine him. Oh he doesn�t try to bite the judge; he�s too scared for that. So the judge sends him to the back of the line and that is where he stays as the winners are handed their ribbons and you�re handed back your dog.
Now the whispers grow louder and you can�t help but overhear some of the snide remarks made as you and your dog walk by. �Even if he didn�t blow his mind, he�s not that much better than a pet dog� someone says a little too loudly. �That�s not movement. He was running because he was afraid of his handler� another voice says.
Showing dogs is not just about getting a dog ready and prepared for the show ring. You better learn to be pretty tough skinned when you are showing dogs. Naturally the above scenario is in the extreme. But sometimes even the best of dogs can have an off day and they may be a little unruly in the show ring. People will talk if a dog looks at them the wrong way. Some people can be down right cruel when it comes to showing dogs. It is a competition and some are out to win no matter which way they can do it. Step aside if you are faint of heart because you may get run over.
There is a whole psychology in the showing of dogs. No one likes to lose, but if you don�t learn how to lose well, then you�re going to carry it from show to show. And an angry competitor is not a very nice person to be around. The dog picks up on it. Ring side picks up on it and the other exhibitors pick up on it. All and all it doesn�t make for a very enjoyable show experience. Showing should be fun. If it isn�t, then what are you doing it for? I can think of a lot of other ways to spend one�s time than doing something that turns your insides upside down.
If you don�t psychologically prepare yourself to show dogs then you may be in for a big shock. All the preparation in the world of getting your dog ready to be shown will not take the sting out of losing with this dog that you have placed so much hope in. If you have a good dog, common sense will tell you that sooner or later, he will be rewarded as being such. To lose control of yourself because one or two judges don�t agree with you is silly. Even the best of dogs will lose throughout their show careers. It�s to be expected in any sport. It�s the nature of the beast if you will. You win some and you lose some. Everybody likes to win. No one likes to lose. But lose you will and if you don�t know how to lose, you can make yourself sick about it!
Oh sure there will be some times that you lose and your dog lost to a better dog that day. Come on admit it now��.the other dog was better on this day. And then there will be those days that you lose to an inferior dog and you want to scream! Go ahead and do it if you have to, but try to do it away from the ring so the judge doesn�t feel like you�re going to jump the rope and strangle her! Probably the worst loss would be when you feel like you walked into a set up situation. You know the ones that I mean. The winning dog/bitch was determined before he even set foot in the ring! And before you die hard �believe that all judges are honest� fans shout that never happens����..OH YES IT DOES! In this case, if you feel like jumping the rope to strangle the judge, ask your friends to hold you back so you don�t lose your AKC privileges and you can still show your dog under honest judges in the future!
Let me tell you, if you are reading this and have never shown a dog before it can be very nerve wracking. Headaches are throbbing temples, tempers are at their most unattractive stage, stomachs are doing cartwheels, intestines are in knots and exhibitors are fighting for the next free bathroom seat in the nearest restroom! I kid you not. I know I�ve been there before.
Talk about catty people��my goodness gracious just walk around ringside and eaves drop if you must and listen and watch the tongues���.they�re wagging faster than your dog�s tail. This is where people come to observe, to compare, to learn and yes to gossip. It�s alright I guess if you are one that is partaking of the sometimes unsavory conversations, but what about if you�re on the opposite side of this equation and you�re the one that they are gossiping about? It can be pretty painful stuff���if you let it get to you. If you go to the show knowing that sometimes your feelings will get hurt because people may not like your dog and are talking negatively about him, then you may be better prepared to deal with it. If on the other hand you go to the show and EXPECT that everyone will love your dog, you may be in for a rude awakening.
Showing dogs can be some of the most thrilling times of your life and some of the most positive as well. You must bring along with you the right attitude. If you do, your losses will not overcome you. You�re smart enough to know it just comes with the territory. Tomorrow is another day and another judge!
Go to the show knowing you love your dog and hope that others will as well. If they don�t, don�t take it personally. Remember you are competition the moment you step foot on the show ground. Not everyone will like your dog and so what. Take him home and love him anyway. Have fun and don�t let the psychological warfare of showing dogs get to you. If it does, then maybe this is not the sport that you should be in. If you�re not having fun, then do something else with your dog where you are having fun! The German Shepherd is one of the most intelligent of breeds. If you�re not enjoying yourself and are tense and upset, he knows and feels it. You can�t expect him to perform his best if you are not willing to accept the consequences of his performance on that day!
From the DVD: "CAUTION: SHOW DOGS!"......Behind all the glamour and excitement lies the never-ending hard work, enormous amounts of love and an all-consuming dedication that is difficult to imagine. Get to know four top breeders, and their dogs, while sharing the years of knowledge and experience required to produce consistent champions. In fact, the full-length movie CAUTION: SHOW DOGS! puts you behind-the-scenes so you can share the excitement and exhilaration of the world of SHOW DOGS!
My rating: showing dogs: (3 -4)
Showing posts with label german shepherd show dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label german shepherd show dogs. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010
WHAT YOUR EYE IS USED TO LOOKING AT
I�ve done articles here before about the different coat colors and coat lengths of the German Shepherd Dog. We have a breed standard, but you could line up all these different dogs with their unique coloring or coat length and there really wouldn�t be any consistency in their breed type. Oh they may all be beautifully structured, but they really wouldn�t look alike except for the erect ears that this breed is known for. So even if they all were the best representatives of their breed only in different colors and coat length, no two of them would look alike.
Many pet people have never seen an all black German Shepherd for instance. Some have never seen or know what a sable looks like. A bi-color may totally confuse them. Most people have seen a white German Shepherd so that wouldn�t be too confusing. Probably the most favored color is the black and tan dog.
Over time if you live with one of the different types of this breed, your eye gets used to looking at that type of dog. Correct or not, this is what you�re used to seeing so when you see something else that doesn�t look like your dog and may even be a better representative of the breed, you still think that you dog has the better quality. That�s because that�s what your eye is used to looking at.
For example, if you are used to showing a specialty type of dog that has more hindquarter than an All-Breed dog, than that�s what you think is correct. It works both ways. The All-breed exhibitor will think his dog is the correct standard for the breed. If your kennel is known for producing good fronts, you will automatically be looking at the competition to see if they have the front and side gait that you�re used to looking at. The same thing goes for the kennel that consistently produces good hindquarter angulation. If a dog has anything less than what you�re used to looking at, then you�ll think it lacks hindquarter. It�s all because this is what you are used to looking at in your own dogs.
Many times you can follow a specialty judge and know what he likes by looking at the type of animals he�s bred and raised. If he�s bred some top winning dogs, many times that�s the type he�s going to put up. It�s what he�s used to looking at everyday and it�s what he�s won with. Some judges are movement judges. Some are breed type judges. Some like lots of rear. Some like lots of front. Ideally you want to show under a judge that takes the whole package into consideration when he judges. Hopefully you show under a judge that has a �trained� eye. He�s lived with and knows dogs and specifically the German Shepherd Dog.
It can be very difficult for some people to develop a �trained� eye. You will never know what a good dog is unless you�ve lived with them and bred them. Living with these beautiful specimens of the breed is all the education one needs. To have bred and lived with dogs that �take your breath� away is the best education you could ever hope for when you step into the middle of that ring. No book, no magazine, no video could ever prepare you to what it�s like living with one of these properly structured animals. I used to love letting my dogs out in the back yard and just sit watching them float around the yard like it was no effort at all. And that�s the key��a good dog moves like there is no effort at all. The other dogs will have to put out more energy to move. That�s probably why you see your better movers in the ring floating rather than charging. The dog that is not as good of a mover will have to put out harder to make up for the lack of his proper structure, whereas the good mover makes it look easy. You won�t see him huffing and puffing at the end of his lead like the charging dogs in the ring next to him.
Someone said to me not too long ago when talking about a fellow exhibitor, �What does she see in that dog? Why is she still showing him?� She said that the dog was a really horrible dog. I replied to her, �It�s what she�s used to looking at.� Is the owner right or is he wrong in showing his poorly structured dog? It�s really not a question of right or wrong. It�s all about what her eye is used to looking at. Until she educates herself, she will still think her poorly structured dog is correct.
So if your dog lacks the front or rear and he�s not a very good mover, you won�t really know it until you put him in the ring next to those that have these attributes. When you watch a dog that is not properly put together, because you live with him, you believe he�s the best thing next to a �hot off the grill� cheeseburger. Then when you put him in the show ring and you see the other dogs, you think that there�s something the matter with the other dogs. They look nothing like your dog does. It�s all what your eye is used to looking at. This is called being kennel blind. Your education begins when you are forced to re-evaluate your breeding and show stock.
You can chose to like whatever it is that you find appealing in this breed�s structure (hindquarters, fronts, movement, etc.) but for all the variety that is out there, there is only one correct structure and that is dictated by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s breed standard. Once you become familiar with it, you may come to realize what your eye has become used to is not what the standard calls for in a correctly structured animal.
My rating: Get familiar with the breed standard: (4)
Many pet people have never seen an all black German Shepherd for instance. Some have never seen or know what a sable looks like. A bi-color may totally confuse them. Most people have seen a white German Shepherd so that wouldn�t be too confusing. Probably the most favored color is the black and tan dog.
Over time if you live with one of the different types of this breed, your eye gets used to looking at that type of dog. Correct or not, this is what you�re used to seeing so when you see something else that doesn�t look like your dog and may even be a better representative of the breed, you still think that you dog has the better quality. That�s because that�s what your eye is used to looking at.
For example, if you are used to showing a specialty type of dog that has more hindquarter than an All-Breed dog, than that�s what you think is correct. It works both ways. The All-breed exhibitor will think his dog is the correct standard for the breed. If your kennel is known for producing good fronts, you will automatically be looking at the competition to see if they have the front and side gait that you�re used to looking at. The same thing goes for the kennel that consistently produces good hindquarter angulation. If a dog has anything less than what you�re used to looking at, then you�ll think it lacks hindquarter. It�s all because this is what you are used to looking at in your own dogs.
Many times you can follow a specialty judge and know what he likes by looking at the type of animals he�s bred and raised. If he�s bred some top winning dogs, many times that�s the type he�s going to put up. It�s what he�s used to looking at everyday and it�s what he�s won with. Some judges are movement judges. Some are breed type judges. Some like lots of rear. Some like lots of front. Ideally you want to show under a judge that takes the whole package into consideration when he judges. Hopefully you show under a judge that has a �trained� eye. He�s lived with and knows dogs and specifically the German Shepherd Dog.
It can be very difficult for some people to develop a �trained� eye. You will never know what a good dog is unless you�ve lived with them and bred them. Living with these beautiful specimens of the breed is all the education one needs. To have bred and lived with dogs that �take your breath� away is the best education you could ever hope for when you step into the middle of that ring. No book, no magazine, no video could ever prepare you to what it�s like living with one of these properly structured animals. I used to love letting my dogs out in the back yard and just sit watching them float around the yard like it was no effort at all. And that�s the key��a good dog moves like there is no effort at all. The other dogs will have to put out more energy to move. That�s probably why you see your better movers in the ring floating rather than charging. The dog that is not as good of a mover will have to put out harder to make up for the lack of his proper structure, whereas the good mover makes it look easy. You won�t see him huffing and puffing at the end of his lead like the charging dogs in the ring next to him.
Someone said to me not too long ago when talking about a fellow exhibitor, �What does she see in that dog? Why is she still showing him?� She said that the dog was a really horrible dog. I replied to her, �It�s what she�s used to looking at.� Is the owner right or is he wrong in showing his poorly structured dog? It�s really not a question of right or wrong. It�s all about what her eye is used to looking at. Until she educates herself, she will still think her poorly structured dog is correct.
So if your dog lacks the front or rear and he�s not a very good mover, you won�t really know it until you put him in the ring next to those that have these attributes. When you watch a dog that is not properly put together, because you live with him, you believe he�s the best thing next to a �hot off the grill� cheeseburger. Then when you put him in the show ring and you see the other dogs, you think that there�s something the matter with the other dogs. They look nothing like your dog does. It�s all what your eye is used to looking at. This is called being kennel blind. Your education begins when you are forced to re-evaluate your breeding and show stock.
You can chose to like whatever it is that you find appealing in this breed�s structure (hindquarters, fronts, movement, etc.) but for all the variety that is out there, there is only one correct structure and that is dictated by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America�s breed standard. Once you become familiar with it, you may come to realize what your eye has become used to is not what the standard calls for in a correctly structured animal.
My rating: Get familiar with the breed standard: (4)
Friday, 11 June 2010
"STINKIN' THINKIN"
So the man pulls up in my driveway in a Lincoln sedan. He looks at my puppies. He asks how much? I tell him. He looks shocked. He says to me, I can buy a German Shepherd puppy at the pet store for �such and such.� Why should I pay you that much? My reply to him is, �You could be driving a broken down second hand car instead of the Lincoln that you drove here with. It�s obvious; you get what you pay for. I tell him of the bloodlines of my puppies, the health guarantee that I offer and my return policy if he�s unhappy with the puppy. Bottom line��he�s only interested in the purchase price. I tell him �Do yourself a favor, if you are looking for something for nothing, adopt a dog from a shelter.� He keeps the Lincoln. He drives away. I keep the puppy until the better person comes along. I am looking for a forever home for my puppy. He�s looking for �bargain basement prices� ��..�stinkin� thinkin�!�
So I call up the �nose up in the air�thinks he�s better than most� handler who is in charge of the Grand Victor�s stud services. He campaigns the dog as well as keeps him at his kennel for stud services. I tell him I want to breed my champion bitch to this dog. He gives me an �attitude� and is unwilling to cooperate with me about the day the bitch needs to be bred. Nope he can only do it on this one day. Take it or leave it. I leave it! I wonder if he ever told the owners of this dog that he didn�t breed the Grand Victor to this top producing champion ROM bitch��..�stinkin� thinkin�!�
I need a handler for my dog at the upcoming four day week-end shows. The judges should be great for my dog. So I call the handler and tell him I want to enter my dog at these shows. He tells me he can�t take him that week-end. He MIGHT be showing �so and so�s� dogs there. But I tell him, these judges really like my dog. They�ve already put him up in the younger classes. I think we have a great shot to win under them. I know the dogs he�s taking and the people that own them. They have lots of money, but their dogs are not as good as mine. I can�t convince him. I get another handler. We show. They lose. We win. Now handler number one isn�t talking to me because we just beat him at his own game��..�stinkin� thinkin�!�
Your friend owns a lovely young stud dog. He�s a very well bred dog. He hasn�t really proven his worth as a producer yet because he�s so young and hasn�t been bred to that much yet. You own a beautiful young bitch. She too is well bred. Your friend wants you to breed your bitch to his male. You don�t want to. Oh, both are lovely animals, but they don�t complement one another very well and you need improvement in your bitch in an area that the stud dog lacks as well. Your friend doesn�t want to hear it. You two are friends and he feels that you should breed to his dog based on that friendship. Your bitch comes into season. You breed her to another dog. Your friend calls you a traitor and isn�t talking to you anymore����stinkin thinkin!�
You get your judging license and are asked to judge a specialty show that is known to pull 4 or 5 point majors. The attendance is huge and some well known pillars of the breed belong to the club that asked you to judge. You�re excited and honored and can�t wait for the day to arrive. In walks one of your closest friends dogs that you recognize right away as she�s calling her dog to get his (and your) attention while his handler is setting him up. You really think he�s a nice dog, but you really love the dog standing behind him better. You go with your gut and pick the other dog hoping your friend understands. She doesn�t��.she�s not talking to you anymore��.�stinkin thinkin!�
You belong to many different German Shepherd e-mail lists. It�s not uncommon for people to come on those lists and brag about all their wonderful achievements and show wins. You being of the good natured spirit that you are, find yourself writing one congratulation note after another. Sometimes people thank you. Other times they ignore your social graces all together. The following week-end your dog wins his first major. You�re excited to share your joy and post your own brag. You�re lucky if you receive one �Way to go kid� from someone����.�stinkin thinkin!�
You share your opinion about a certain subject that everyone is talking about. Because you haven�t been around very long, you�re met with the mentality of �I�m right, you�re wrong� and your opinion has no merit. You�re intimidated, so you keep your mouth quiet and you don�t get a chance to say what�s on your mind for fear you�ll look like a fool���.�stinkin thinkin!�
You buy a puppy from a well bred litter. You have high hopes for this youngster�s future. You show him at some local shows. He takes a third and fourth place ribbon. You let him mature and then bring him back out again. Time hasn�t been on his side. The well bred promising puppy is a losing adult. The breeder won�t take him back or refund your money. And no he�s not going to replace him with another puppy. You�re furious, but there�s nothing you can do about it, so you take it out on the dog. He no longer gets all the attention that you once lavished on him���..�stinkin thinking!�
I�m way up here. You�re way down there. I know best. You don�t. I�ve bred all these champions. You�ve bred just one. My dogs finished in the specialty ring. Yours finished in the All Breed ring. I�ve been in the breed for over thirty years. You�ve only been in the breed for five years. Therefore, I know and you don�t know. I�m the big shot. You�re the little shot����stinkin thinking!�����.sometimes the big shot gets run over by the little shot����ahh�..and history is made!
From the book: "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE".......This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks.
My rating: Being kind and helpful to one another: (4)
So I call up the �nose up in the air�thinks he�s better than most� handler who is in charge of the Grand Victor�s stud services. He campaigns the dog as well as keeps him at his kennel for stud services. I tell him I want to breed my champion bitch to this dog. He gives me an �attitude� and is unwilling to cooperate with me about the day the bitch needs to be bred. Nope he can only do it on this one day. Take it or leave it. I leave it! I wonder if he ever told the owners of this dog that he didn�t breed the Grand Victor to this top producing champion ROM bitch��..�stinkin� thinkin�!�
I need a handler for my dog at the upcoming four day week-end shows. The judges should be great for my dog. So I call the handler and tell him I want to enter my dog at these shows. He tells me he can�t take him that week-end. He MIGHT be showing �so and so�s� dogs there. But I tell him, these judges really like my dog. They�ve already put him up in the younger classes. I think we have a great shot to win under them. I know the dogs he�s taking and the people that own them. They have lots of money, but their dogs are not as good as mine. I can�t convince him. I get another handler. We show. They lose. We win. Now handler number one isn�t talking to me because we just beat him at his own game��..�stinkin� thinkin�!�
Your friend owns a lovely young stud dog. He�s a very well bred dog. He hasn�t really proven his worth as a producer yet because he�s so young and hasn�t been bred to that much yet. You own a beautiful young bitch. She too is well bred. Your friend wants you to breed your bitch to his male. You don�t want to. Oh, both are lovely animals, but they don�t complement one another very well and you need improvement in your bitch in an area that the stud dog lacks as well. Your friend doesn�t want to hear it. You two are friends and he feels that you should breed to his dog based on that friendship. Your bitch comes into season. You breed her to another dog. Your friend calls you a traitor and isn�t talking to you anymore����stinkin thinkin!�
You get your judging license and are asked to judge a specialty show that is known to pull 4 or 5 point majors. The attendance is huge and some well known pillars of the breed belong to the club that asked you to judge. You�re excited and honored and can�t wait for the day to arrive. In walks one of your closest friends dogs that you recognize right away as she�s calling her dog to get his (and your) attention while his handler is setting him up. You really think he�s a nice dog, but you really love the dog standing behind him better. You go with your gut and pick the other dog hoping your friend understands. She doesn�t��.she�s not talking to you anymore��.�stinkin thinkin!�
You belong to many different German Shepherd e-mail lists. It�s not uncommon for people to come on those lists and brag about all their wonderful achievements and show wins. You being of the good natured spirit that you are, find yourself writing one congratulation note after another. Sometimes people thank you. Other times they ignore your social graces all together. The following week-end your dog wins his first major. You�re excited to share your joy and post your own brag. You�re lucky if you receive one �Way to go kid� from someone����.�stinkin thinkin!�
You share your opinion about a certain subject that everyone is talking about. Because you haven�t been around very long, you�re met with the mentality of �I�m right, you�re wrong� and your opinion has no merit. You�re intimidated, so you keep your mouth quiet and you don�t get a chance to say what�s on your mind for fear you�ll look like a fool���.�stinkin thinkin!�
You buy a puppy from a well bred litter. You have high hopes for this youngster�s future. You show him at some local shows. He takes a third and fourth place ribbon. You let him mature and then bring him back out again. Time hasn�t been on his side. The well bred promising puppy is a losing adult. The breeder won�t take him back or refund your money. And no he�s not going to replace him with another puppy. You�re furious, but there�s nothing you can do about it, so you take it out on the dog. He no longer gets all the attention that you once lavished on him���..�stinkin thinking!�
I�m way up here. You�re way down there. I know best. You don�t. I�ve bred all these champions. You�ve bred just one. My dogs finished in the specialty ring. Yours finished in the All Breed ring. I�ve been in the breed for over thirty years. You�ve only been in the breed for five years. Therefore, I know and you don�t know. I�m the big shot. You�re the little shot����stinkin thinking!�����.sometimes the big shot gets run over by the little shot����ahh�..and history is made!
From the book: "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE".......This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks.
My rating: Being kind and helpful to one another: (4)
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
HOW DEEP IS YOUR POCKET?
I got the idea for this article from a friend that told me how much she pays for a handler to board and train her dog. She asked me if I could write something about this subject. Seems the handler has had the dog since the National and charges $400 a month for boarding and training. Now I�ve got to ask right up front��just how much training does a dog need month to month to get ready for the show ring? Just to fill you in, this dog had a high placement in a huge class at the National and has been shown just a few times since then. His owner has had Select and Futurity winning dogs so she�s very familiar with owning show dogs. She�s probably one of the best double handlers that I know. Just how much training is enough training? I told her by the time this animal finishes his championship you will have spent a great deal of money to attain it. She�s frustrated. Take the dog back home I told her! Come on now, the dog has already shown that he is competitive in the show ring by doing so well at the National! What is he being trained for? Give me a break!
Years ago, this was unheard of. How many people sent their dogs to handlers to be trained for several months? We all know that the German Shepherd is a very easily trained dog. Unless you are elderly, disabled or pressed for time is this really necessary? Of course it isn�t. No dog needs months of training to get him ready for the show ring. This is a lot of nonsense. Unless the handler is keeping the dog at his place and showing him every week end or so, what does he need your dog there for? Someone is eating steak for dinner��.and it�s not my friend!
How much money are you willing to put out to have your dog finish his championship? Are you willing to pay your handler to show your dog week after week? And for that matter, can you afford it? How many reserves are enough? Is there a limit to how long you�ll continue to show your dog? Do you have an unlimited, bottomless bank account to do so?
Some people are willing to do what ever it takes to own a champion dog. They truly love the sport of showing and they are having fun no matter what. They will do whatever it is that they need to do to finish their dog. Then there are others who don�t care about having any fun (Oh yes, I�ve had people tell me this already), they come to a dog show to win. Nothing else��.end of story!
I know of someone that has been showing their dog almost every week-end. I think the dog needs another major to finish. The dog is over seven years old. Is it a good dog? In his owner�s eyes he is. His owner wants the dog finished and is determined to make sure that he does. His handler doesn�t mind. He�s getting paid. The owner is happy. The handler is happy. The dog��.well he�s got a pleasant personality so he�s just a happy dog anyway. By the time this dog finishes his title, he will be a very expensive champion. It makes me wonder, who was the most expensive dog to finish his championship title and how long did it take him to do it? I wonder how old he was. Does anyone know?
Is there a limit on how long it should take a dog to finish their championship? Are you of the belief that you just keep on plugging along until he does attain it? Some will argue that they are doing it for the fun of it. How much fun is it to lose the majority of the time, I wonder? One would think that they are no longer doing it for the experience. But hey, if these people are truly having fun, then it is their business. Then there are some who believe and have said, �We don�t need anymore mediocre champions in the breed!� Yup, I just read that the other day on one of the e-mail lists that I belong to.
Under normal circumstances, showing dogs is an expensive hobby. We�re talking about handling fees, traveling fees for the handler, his meals, his lodging, and tolls on the highways. Add to that any bonus you may throw his way if he wins the points or goes Best of Breed. Then you have to pay your own expenses to travel as well. Then there�s the entry fee for the dog, the expense of grooming equipment and supplies, leashes, collars, and any special supplements you may add to your dogs already expensive food. So owning and showing show dogs is a luxury, and in this day and age, a luxury that many can�t afford.
How expensive is it to show your dog at the National Specialty show? If you go with a popular handler, it will cost you quite a bit. Remember that these professional handlers have their choice of which dogs that they want to show. Most of the time they will choose the dog that they think they will have the best chance of winning with. Also most of these handlers have a loyalty to their long standing clients and those clients will normally have first choice of these handlers. It can run you thousands of dollars to show at the National level. And don�t forget the bonus�s that these handlers are accustomed to receiving if they do big winning with your dog. This is the biggest show on earth in the German Shepherd Dog community. Also many people show at the Canadian Nationals as well.
Then take a look at the Futurity/Maturity shows. Some people consider these shows nothing more than glorified match shows. Try telling that to the big winners at these shows. There are no points awarded to winning at these shows. Years ago this was considered a breeders show so one could see what blood lines were producing the qualities that they may be looking for in their own breeding stock. Now days, many exhibitors consider them just as important as any other show because they know if they win the big awards here that it is their ticket into the futurity/maturity finals at the National Specialty show. This is where their dog will have a chance to compete for Futurity Victor/Victrix and Maturity Victor/Victrix. So once again, showing at these types of shows will cost the owners of these dogs more than a pretty penny.
So how deep is your pocket? Do you work around a budget that you save just for showing your dogs? I have a friend that works a part time job just to support her show dog hobby. Yup, she takes the money that she makes from working to show her dogs. Do you eat hamburger helper every month to ensure that you have enough money to show your dog? Is it foolish to be so �dog obsessed?� For most people, they don�t care. They are doing something that they love!
I never sent my dogs to a handler for training. Looking back on it now, most handlers weren�t set up to take other peoples dogs for training. It seems like times have changed and more and more people are sending their dogs away to a handler. I believe in the saying: �Never say never� because you don�t know what you may do that you normally wouldn�t have in the past. That said, how I feel about it is, even if I could afford to do it, I wouldn�t. I don�t feel like a dog needs to go away with a handler under most circumstances. However, if the dog is one that the owner wants to show all over the country looking to win Best in Show awards, then I can see where they�re coming from. It�s almost impossible for most people to take off of work to travel all over the country to show their dogs so sending them to handlers makes sense.
As much as most of these beautiful dogs do lots of winning all over the country, there�s another side as well that some people don�t like to talk about. Because I�ve never sent my dog away, I�m only relating here what I�ve been told by some people that have. What about those dogs that gets sick, or worse dies when they�re away? What about those dogs that get loose and either are never found again or are killed by a car? What about those dogs that bloats and dies? No handler wants to make the call to an owner with this type of bad news.
A friend of mine that is a German Shepherd Dog judge told me one time she sent her dog away to a very well known trainer. She told me when she got her dog back that his temperament was never the same again. Yes, this is the negative side of this discussion and most of the time these things don�t happen, but try telling that to those people�s dogs that did have this happen.
As some of us get older, our desire to show our dogs may still be there, but sometimes we are just not physically capable of doing what�s necessary to get them trained for the ring. This is when I can see a trainer or handler can be very useful. But does he need to be away for several months? Not in my opinion, he doesn�t! I�ll keep the �jingle ling a ling� lining my own pockets!
Just because sending a dog away isn't right for me, doesn't mean it isn't for other people. Many of those people have the trophies, blue ribbons and champions to prove that it is. Everyone's circumstances are different. For some people getting a phone call from their handler telling them that their dog just won the points is a wonderful thing. I on the other hand like to be there watching my dog do the winning. Whatever works for you and your dog!
I�ve worked with the best handlers in this breed at one time or another. I admire the hard work and dedication that they put into their craft. I always brought my dog to the show ring, ready to be competitive and shown to perfection by his handler. As positively that I feel towards handlers and the tremendous contribution that they have made to the sport of showing dogs, I still want to enjoy my dogs and want them home with me. They�re my companions first and a show dog second. If I can�t get them ready for the show ring myself, then maybe it�s time for me to check into a nursing home. And if it�s any indication about how �wonderful� I was in training my own wild child �Bu� for her futurity, I just might be checking in there sooner than I planned!
From the book: "BEST IN SHOW"......"...this book is an absolute "must have"...an unqualified triumph." -- - Dog World (UK) "A bible for all dog show enthusiasts...a treasure that nobody in the dog show world can be without, at least not if they want to maintain their credibility." -- - HUNDSPORT (Sweden)
"A must-read to help you enjoy and understand the world of dog shows even more." -- - David Frei, co-host, The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA Network
"We put this workhorse to the test at the GAZETTE and it became indispensable in about 15 minutes. We can give the book no higher praise than that." -- - AKC Gazette, February 2008 "a treasure trove...the be-all and end-all book about dog shows." -- - The Ringleader (Australia)
My rating: handlers: (4), sending dogs away to be trained: (2-4)
Years ago, this was unheard of. How many people sent their dogs to handlers to be trained for several months? We all know that the German Shepherd is a very easily trained dog. Unless you are elderly, disabled or pressed for time is this really necessary? Of course it isn�t. No dog needs months of training to get him ready for the show ring. This is a lot of nonsense. Unless the handler is keeping the dog at his place and showing him every week end or so, what does he need your dog there for? Someone is eating steak for dinner��.and it�s not my friend!
How much money are you willing to put out to have your dog finish his championship? Are you willing to pay your handler to show your dog week after week? And for that matter, can you afford it? How many reserves are enough? Is there a limit to how long you�ll continue to show your dog? Do you have an unlimited, bottomless bank account to do so?
Some people are willing to do what ever it takes to own a champion dog. They truly love the sport of showing and they are having fun no matter what. They will do whatever it is that they need to do to finish their dog. Then there are others who don�t care about having any fun (Oh yes, I�ve had people tell me this already), they come to a dog show to win. Nothing else��.end of story!
I know of someone that has been showing their dog almost every week-end. I think the dog needs another major to finish. The dog is over seven years old. Is it a good dog? In his owner�s eyes he is. His owner wants the dog finished and is determined to make sure that he does. His handler doesn�t mind. He�s getting paid. The owner is happy. The handler is happy. The dog��.well he�s got a pleasant personality so he�s just a happy dog anyway. By the time this dog finishes his title, he will be a very expensive champion. It makes me wonder, who was the most expensive dog to finish his championship title and how long did it take him to do it? I wonder how old he was. Does anyone know?
Is there a limit on how long it should take a dog to finish their championship? Are you of the belief that you just keep on plugging along until he does attain it? Some will argue that they are doing it for the fun of it. How much fun is it to lose the majority of the time, I wonder? One would think that they are no longer doing it for the experience. But hey, if these people are truly having fun, then it is their business. Then there are some who believe and have said, �We don�t need anymore mediocre champions in the breed!� Yup, I just read that the other day on one of the e-mail lists that I belong to.
Under normal circumstances, showing dogs is an expensive hobby. We�re talking about handling fees, traveling fees for the handler, his meals, his lodging, and tolls on the highways. Add to that any bonus you may throw his way if he wins the points or goes Best of Breed. Then you have to pay your own expenses to travel as well. Then there�s the entry fee for the dog, the expense of grooming equipment and supplies, leashes, collars, and any special supplements you may add to your dogs already expensive food. So owning and showing show dogs is a luxury, and in this day and age, a luxury that many can�t afford.
How expensive is it to show your dog at the National Specialty show? If you go with a popular handler, it will cost you quite a bit. Remember that these professional handlers have their choice of which dogs that they want to show. Most of the time they will choose the dog that they think they will have the best chance of winning with. Also most of these handlers have a loyalty to their long standing clients and those clients will normally have first choice of these handlers. It can run you thousands of dollars to show at the National level. And don�t forget the bonus�s that these handlers are accustomed to receiving if they do big winning with your dog. This is the biggest show on earth in the German Shepherd Dog community. Also many people show at the Canadian Nationals as well.
Then take a look at the Futurity/Maturity shows. Some people consider these shows nothing more than glorified match shows. Try telling that to the big winners at these shows. There are no points awarded to winning at these shows. Years ago this was considered a breeders show so one could see what blood lines were producing the qualities that they may be looking for in their own breeding stock. Now days, many exhibitors consider them just as important as any other show because they know if they win the big awards here that it is their ticket into the futurity/maturity finals at the National Specialty show. This is where their dog will have a chance to compete for Futurity Victor/Victrix and Maturity Victor/Victrix. So once again, showing at these types of shows will cost the owners of these dogs more than a pretty penny.
So how deep is your pocket? Do you work around a budget that you save just for showing your dogs? I have a friend that works a part time job just to support her show dog hobby. Yup, she takes the money that she makes from working to show her dogs. Do you eat hamburger helper every month to ensure that you have enough money to show your dog? Is it foolish to be so �dog obsessed?� For most people, they don�t care. They are doing something that they love!
I never sent my dogs to a handler for training. Looking back on it now, most handlers weren�t set up to take other peoples dogs for training. It seems like times have changed and more and more people are sending their dogs away to a handler. I believe in the saying: �Never say never� because you don�t know what you may do that you normally wouldn�t have in the past. That said, how I feel about it is, even if I could afford to do it, I wouldn�t. I don�t feel like a dog needs to go away with a handler under most circumstances. However, if the dog is one that the owner wants to show all over the country looking to win Best in Show awards, then I can see where they�re coming from. It�s almost impossible for most people to take off of work to travel all over the country to show their dogs so sending them to handlers makes sense.
As much as most of these beautiful dogs do lots of winning all over the country, there�s another side as well that some people don�t like to talk about. Because I�ve never sent my dog away, I�m only relating here what I�ve been told by some people that have. What about those dogs that gets sick, or worse dies when they�re away? What about those dogs that get loose and either are never found again or are killed by a car? What about those dogs that bloats and dies? No handler wants to make the call to an owner with this type of bad news.
A friend of mine that is a German Shepherd Dog judge told me one time she sent her dog away to a very well known trainer. She told me when she got her dog back that his temperament was never the same again. Yes, this is the negative side of this discussion and most of the time these things don�t happen, but try telling that to those people�s dogs that did have this happen.
As some of us get older, our desire to show our dogs may still be there, but sometimes we are just not physically capable of doing what�s necessary to get them trained for the ring. This is when I can see a trainer or handler can be very useful. But does he need to be away for several months? Not in my opinion, he doesn�t! I�ll keep the �jingle ling a ling� lining my own pockets!
Just because sending a dog away isn't right for me, doesn't mean it isn't for other people. Many of those people have the trophies, blue ribbons and champions to prove that it is. Everyone's circumstances are different. For some people getting a phone call from their handler telling them that their dog just won the points is a wonderful thing. I on the other hand like to be there watching my dog do the winning. Whatever works for you and your dog!
I�ve worked with the best handlers in this breed at one time or another. I admire the hard work and dedication that they put into their craft. I always brought my dog to the show ring, ready to be competitive and shown to perfection by his handler. As positively that I feel towards handlers and the tremendous contribution that they have made to the sport of showing dogs, I still want to enjoy my dogs and want them home with me. They�re my companions first and a show dog second. If I can�t get them ready for the show ring myself, then maybe it�s time for me to check into a nursing home. And if it�s any indication about how �wonderful� I was in training my own wild child �Bu� for her futurity, I just might be checking in there sooner than I planned!
From the book: "BEST IN SHOW"......"...this book is an absolute "must have"...an unqualified triumph." -- - Dog World (UK) "A bible for all dog show enthusiasts...a treasure that nobody in the dog show world can be without, at least not if they want to maintain their credibility." -- - HUNDSPORT (Sweden)
"A must-read to help you enjoy and understand the world of dog shows even more." -- - David Frei, co-host, The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA Network
"We put this workhorse to the test at the GAZETTE and it became indispensable in about 15 minutes. We can give the book no higher praise than that." -- - AKC Gazette, February 2008 "a treasure trove...the be-all and end-all book about dog shows." -- - The Ringleader (Australia)
My rating: handlers: (4), sending dogs away to be trained: (2-4)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)