THE KENNEL Club has once again made clear its position on the German Shepherd Dog and the
dispute by some of the minutes of a meeting held in August last year.

The meeting was held between the KC and the GSD Partnership (including representatives of the
Breed Council, the BAGSD and the GSD League of GB, though no representative from the BAGSD was present).

The meeting reported to have seen an agreement between the GSD Partnership, including obtaining sample from haemophilia A affected dogs to help in the setting up of a DNA scheme; sorting out a judging seminar in October to ensure that judges understand the breed standard
changes and issues surrounding a lack of soundness, also the preparation of a four-point plan to address a number of health and welfare issues.

Issues

The dispute appears to centre around the fact that some of the GSD Representatives have not yet acted upon any of these issues.

In a piece in the Kennel Gazette, this lack of action is said to ‘be particularly inappropriate given the reported comments made by Herr ReinhardtMeyer, SV National breed Warden, following the Sieger Show in Germany.’

Herr Reinhardt Meyer had apparently made comments regarding the great importance of soundness in the breed. The point was also made at last year’s British Sieger event.

There has also been reports of comments in a magazine that the German style of showing is inappropriate within the UK show scene and the style of size and venues.

Fairness

The KC stated: ‘The KC has long supported this view by opposing double handling on health and safety grounds, and on simple fairness, as not everyone has access to professional or additional handlers.

Comments have also been made that it is difficult to assess properly a dog’s temperament and movement whilst its attention is being attracted from outside the ring.Again it is disappointing
that this issue is simply not being dealt with more robustly.’

The KC said that it would stand by its decision to defer allocation of CCs to the breed in 2012, but would reconsider its position when the GSD Clubs ‘embrace the need to address these concerns, and commit to an effective and realistic plan of action.’