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Category: Shows2007 Sieger Show ImpressionsAs always, my report on the international German Shepherd Dog “Sieger Show”, the main event for the breed that is held annually in Germany, consists of two parts, and you might only see part of the whole “picture”... (Read more...)3 Shows in ChinaTravel broadens one, they say. While that epithet was meant to refer to the mind, it has a döuble-entendre for me, in that it tends to broaden my waistline as well. As a roving technical representative for some 30 years, I had opportunity to “wine and dine” on company (expense account) money, which meant that I could afford to develop into a gourmand and connoisseur. Since the mid-1980s, I have also globe-trotted in my avocation of judging dog shows and lecturing on cynological topics. As Keats put it, “Much have I traveled in the realms of gold, and many goodly states and kingdoms seen.” I have yet to stand, like Cortez, upon a peak in Darien, but I have experienced his “wild surmise” in 50 U.S. states and some 30 countries so far, several of them many times. One recent assignment was a return to China — a different part than I had seen before. (Read more...)Will the True Working Dog Disappear?As most of you know, I have been involved with the German Shepherd Dog since 1947 as a trainer, breeder, judge, author, and teacher. My love for the breed is unquestionable and I count it an honor to have fought for its welfare and preservation for all these years. In my zeal for one of God's great gifts to man, namely, the companionship and utility of dogs, I may step on some toes once in a while. But it never from spite or greed or self-aggrandizement that I call a spade a spade, and wish to correct error. Lately I have been railing against the deterioration of character in the show dog and the unwillingness of the working-only faction in the sport to make peace and use "gentle persuasion" in bringing the two communities back together. (Read more...)The Gap WidensIn the German Shepherd Dog world, and echoed elsewhere, we have long heard (and voiced) complaints about the schism that exists between the "show" (Hochzuchtlinie or high-breeding) lines and the "sport" or working-competition (Leistungs) lines. I'll speak to the issue of the non-standard (AKC, Alsatian) styles elsewhere, but first I intend to discuss the continued and even widening gap in the international type. Here, I will allude a little more to the history of the breed. You might consider this "Part Two", with an illustrated companion article (though not actually designated "Part One") having been made available under the title, "Will the True Working Dog Disappear?" (Read more...)Impressions of the 2006 Sieger Show and TourThe 2006 show in Oberhausen was certainly not as large as the SV’s 100th Anniversary show in Karlsruhe back in 1999, when massive publicity and encouragement brought 50,000 people into the stadium, but the Sieger Show is still the world’s largest single-breed event. It is getting more difficult every year to secure the venue. After all, a contract for dozens of soccer games per year is more lucrative than a single weekend of dog shows. (Read more...)Registration does not mean breeding rights and responsibilities.The genealogical table that we call a pedigree or Ahnentafel also contains a summary of the Körschein (Körung report — if it exists) for that dog. Included is the description of the dog, with its advantages and disadvantages, the good and less-than-good characteristics listed. (Read more...)2005 Sieger Show in Ulm ImpressionsIt was my great pleasure to again lead a successful tour of Bavaria and a little bit of Austria, the occasion being the annual Sieger Show of the SV, the largest specialty show in the world, with typical spectator attendance of around 40,000. The largest was the 100th anniversary in 1989 with 50,000 people and an entry of nearly 3,000 German Shepherd Dogs, each of whom had a minimum age of 12 months. (Read more...)The Sieger Show Courage Test — Origin and PurposeTaken for granted in almost all WUSV-member GSD clubs worldwide, and with similar tests in other breeds, the courage test that makes up about a third of the activities at the annual BSZS (Bundessieger Zuchtschau, or German Sieger Show) is treated differently according to country. Some countries’ national breed club require the test at every specialty show, some at just the major shows during the year, some just at the “annual national” show. And in some countries, clubs somehow manage to hang onto WUSV membership despite the facts that they ignore the mandated test or are forbidden to use it, by their nation’s government-run or government-pressured all-breed club. (Read more...)The Courage Test at the Sieger Show.The history and the Standard of the German Shepherd Dog are, and should be, intimately related to the “parent club” of the breed. If one does not agree with that underlying principle of almost everything concerning the breed, then unity in the sport and identification as a breed will suffer. An English Springer Spaniel that does not look anything like the historic or the British dog perhaps should have “English” dropped from its name in countries where breed type has strayed significantly. The Australian Cattle Dog, if it starts looking like a Whippet after drifting in Transylvania, should not retain that name. If some of the Yanks or the Brits want a different breed than the internationally traditional GSD, let them call theirs the Alsatian or something else, rather than the German Shepherd. (Read more...)Requirements for Breeding in and outside of Germany.There has been some heated discussion recently (late 2005) about clubs in the UK, USA, and Australasia adhering to the rules of the SV, the perpetual extending of the SV's "deadlines" to conform to world Standards, and allied topics. A Körung classification is required for registrable breeding in Germany, and it has always been encouraged for other members of the WUSV. If I may, I'd like to offer (my translation of) the rules as they pertain to a couple of the key arguments or statements in the current exchanges; I am sure these will clarify the matter in the minds of some of the people who've been in the middle of the discussion: (Read more...)NASS - 2005 North American Sieger ShowThe largest Sieger Show in North America to date was held outside of Pittsburgh October 14-16, 2005. Known as NASS, for “North American Sieger Show”, it actually is one of four Sieger Shows held in North America, by as many “national” GSD clubs. If one were to give the pedigree (or “father-line”), acknowledging the sponsoring club, one might have called the event “the NASS of the WDA/GSDCA/AKC”, since that is the hierarchal lineage. The other U.S. club is the USCA (also known as USA, for United Schutzhund Clubs of America), older in holding Sieger Shows, but slipping behind WDA in recent years because of management and personality problems. Their pedigree is USA/WUSV/FCI but as a bastard offspring, because they failed to secure full WUSV membership in the beginning, forfeiting that honor to the GSDCA. There are also independent North American Sieger Shows held in Canada (GSSCC) and Mexico, which last I heard was still part of North America. (Read more...)Interactions between the “Show lines” and “Working lines”The possibility of selecting a subject with excellent morphological attributes (structure and form) coexisting with an equally high quality of character, is presented these days as not attainable. The dichotomy between the various (genetic) selection pressures seems to generate a more and more obvious division between the developing types in regard to selection for training and/or anatomy. (Read more...)2004 Lanting Sieger Show Tour - Part 1The 2004 Lanting Sieger Show Tour was wonderful experience. We had a group of great dog people, great bonhomie and we learned a great deal from traveling together. Born in Hawaii, I left the islands at age 20 and I never saw much reason to vacation anywhere else! Going to Europe was a something totally different for this “newbie” GSD owner. I had a blast on the trip and learned way more than I thought I would. (Read more...)2004 Lanting Sieger Show Tour - Part 2Part 2. On Sunday, we hurried back to show to grab good seats in the stadium where the finals of each class were held. The finals of the youth classes featured both sexes gaiting simultaneously on their separate halves of the stadium field. (Read more...)The Changing Face of ChinaSpecial to Canine Chronicle - The Changing Face of China. I was asked to give organizational advice for clubs and show superintendents. As a canine training consultant, I also toured one of the police dog training centers and discussed techniques. Many of the police dogs in the province were also entered in the show, something I had not seen since I judged in Pakistan a few years ago. (Read more...)2004 Sieger Show Impressions.The show itself, a 3-day affair and this year with about 2,200 GSDs, is the experience of a lifetime for many fanciers. A few join my guided tour group (the only non-profit one going) again, but most are first-timers; many additionally are novices in both European travel and in the breed, so everybody gains a great deal. The relative uniformity of the international-style GSD (which by definition excludes most of the “Alsatians” and “AKC-types”) is marvelous to behold. The novice finds it hard to tell them apart until someone points out subtle differences. (Read more...)The 2004 SV/WUSV/FCI Rules for the BH QualificationParticipants who for the first time enter a BH trial and who have not furnished appropriate proof of this special experience, must pass a specified written examination before the date of the event, to the satisfaction of the trial judge, before they and their dogs are tested in the practical part. (Read more...)100 Years of the German Shepherd DogThey started with utility, and von Stephanitz kept stressing that concept. Even today, the president of the SV echoes him by re-stating it: The German Shepherd Dog is first and foremost a working dog! (Read more...)Judging the “Total Dog” in TrinidadIt was an honor and a pleasure to be invited back to again judge in the Caribbean country of Trinidad & Tobago, this time by the German Shepherd Breed Club of T&T, the previous assignment having been sponsored by the Rottweiler Club. (Read more...)Protection for the Working ClassThe following outline will hopefully make the protection phase for the Working Class dogs in the show more consistent and allow handlers to know exactly what is expected. (Read more...)German Sieger Show Bremen 2000I recently led a tour of Europe for a small group of people from all over the U.S. and even one from Germany. The center of focus was the German Bundessiegerzuchtschau (“Bunde” can refer to a German club, you know that “Sieger” means “winner”, and “zucht” means breed or, in this instance, conformation), where representatives from most. (Read more...)Breeding SchemesBreeders often talk about inbreeding and outcrossing as though they were the only possibilities -- and generally with negative comments about the latter. There are other possibilities, and I have long been a proponent of assortative mating. It is not a theoretical concept that doesn't work in practice; I know several breeders who do it and achieve good results. This essay will attempt to explain why it is a good idea, but first I need to define the aternatives. (Read more...)Angles Front and RearThe Front variously called the front assembly, forequarters, or shoulder, the whole combination made by the shoulder blade (scapula), upper arm (humerus), breastbone (sternum), and their related soft tissues is at the heart of much poor movement in German Shepherd Dogs the world over. (Read more...)Anatomy of the German ShepherdFor breed judges, Koermeister and breeders the evaluation of the German Shepherd dog is a daily activity. For all others, it is likely of interest to know how a dog - especially your own - is evaluated. (Read more...)The 2004 SV/WUSV/FCI Rules for the BH QualificationCOMPANION DOG AND BEHAVIOR/TEMPERAMENT TEST, WITH TRAFFIC SURENESS AND OTHER SPECIAL EXPERIENCE(Begleithund & Verhaltens Test, BH/VT) (Read more...)Schutzhund-Versatility Test Level-1 (SchH-1/VPG-1) for working dogs.This is a translation by Fred Lanting of the official Schutzhund-Versatility Test Level-1 (SchH-1/VPG-1) for working dogs. (Read more...)Peru Sieger Show 2003At the end of November, on my way to judge in a neighboring country, I was pleased to be invited into the ring to take pictures and converse with the officers and judge of the 2003 Peru Sieger Show. (Read more...)Impressions, 2003 USA Sieger ShowFor a number of reasons, this year’s United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA) Sieger Show was smaller than usual, though there were sufficient world-class dogs there, that anybody would be proud to own. (Read more...)2003 Sieger Show ImpressionsThere has been a political revolution in the metaphoric halls of the SV recently, and many have wondered how it would affect the dog itself. (Read more...)Judging in Tense TimesIt seems that every other trip I make to Taiwan coincides with renewed national (or nation-to-nation) turmoil. (Read more...) |
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