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Going down the tubes

I feel compelled to put pen to paper with reference to recent letters about the split between the German Shepherd Dog and the Alsatian. Surely those of us who love this breed should be promoting the “all round dog” and not just the show specimen.

Having read letters from both sides of the argument about splitting the breed, I am amazed at the thoughtlessness from both sides. Not once in these letters has anyone mentioned that this is supposed to be a working breed and both sides have done it an injustice by neglecting its’ working ability for its’ cosmetic appearance!

I can hear all the pens going onto paper defending their breeding ethics and how their dogs can work.

Then answer me this, when I first entered obedience shows over forty years ago, GSD’s out-numbered Border Collies. Now GSD’s in obedience are a rarity, proved by there being only one German Shepherd competing at Cruft’s Obedience Championships 2008. I then went into Working Trials where German Shepherd’s dominated – NOT SO NOW. Again only one German Shepherd competed at the Kennel Club Championships 2007.

Police forces at one time ONLY worked German Shepherds but because they cannot find enough suitable candidates from either side, we now see the wider introduction of Malinois and other breeds.

If we look at the “B” litter from the vom Lierberg kennels, Bodo was the 1967 German Sieger with qualifications of Sch.H3 and FH. His litter brother, Bernd was VA3, SchH3 and FH in the same year. Another brother, Bandit came to Britain and was made into an International Champion, SchH2 and PH.

Few dogs produced more direct progeny that worked successfully on the trials field and in the show ring. These dogs still resemble the working lines being used to this day on the Continent. Does this make dogs from working lines yet another different breed or type?

In the gun-dog world, to hold a full title of “Champion” the dog must compete in a special field trial competition. If not then they carry the title “Sh Champion” only. This is also the case with the Border Collie. Why not, then, the German Shepherd?

My opinion on this is because 90% of the dogs from either side of the argument are unable to work. Just listen to the noise of both sides baying for my blood and I will give it freely if the “so called German Shepherd people with working qualifications from the Continent enter the BAGSDS Super Trophy in June – details can be obtained on www.BAGSDS.net
A little bit of protection work at the Sieger proves little, let me see the dog tracking and doing obedience too. Only a few people are prepared to stop the rot and they do not come from either side of this argument.

However, this is not the only working breed going down the tubes, just look at the two Airedale Terriers working at the World FCI Championships in Italy in 2007, when was the last time you ever saw an Airedale in Britain working to this standard?
Yours etc
Stuart Nye

Absurd proposal

As the new chairman of the Breed Council I would like to reply to your article ‘Call to split the G.S.D. gains momentum’.

The honourable GSD UK (Alsatian) Club Chairman, Mr Roy Brandon, campaigns for the split between the English and Germanic characteristics of the German Shepherd breed, however, the Breed Council adamantly supports the International type originating from Germany, which is renowned worldwide.

The Seiger Show in Germany exemplifies Top of Breed and incorporates working qualifications into the judging process. It is ‘the show to go to’ for German Shepherd enthusiasts worldwide including many UK breeders and aficionados alike, some of whom compete. It is therefore not surprising that this year’s Best of Breed Winner at Crufts; as adjudicated by the well respected breed judge Mr Terry Hannan, who presented the award to the world famous Sieger ‘Zamp Vom Thermodos’, who is one of the best producing sires. Surely this is the point of breeding and showing for the future of the German Shepherd dog.

The U.K (Alsatian) Club proposal to split within the breed is ludicrous, and I have responded to the unsubstantiated list of Pros and Cons and the proposed establishment of criteria which appeared in the April 11 issue.

Type - The UK club suggest that splitting the breed would stop the constant disagreement of type. We feel that the proposed split would not resolve the type disagreement and the process of implementation would aggravate this further.

Breed Interest - The breed council feel that this is an invalid argument as there is already great interest in the international breed type.

Show atmosphere - We feel that the split would not impact on show atmosphere.
Group’ Happiness - The international type is already happy.

Attending an appropriate show - We have no problem with attending the right shows.
General societies could show both breeds - Our reply to this statement is that there is only one breed!

Number of show entries – We feel that this is an issue as a result of other external factors e.g. finance and therefore the split would not increase entries at all.

Abandonment of ‘middle of the road’ type - This group would not wish to be cast aside in this way, resulting in a further decline in entries.

Registrations decline - We would argue that a split would potentially reduce registrations by alienating middle of the road types. Additionally with the ‘Dangerous Dog Act’ we only want responsible breeders. Therefore the increase in uptake of registration would not necessarily mean a positive impact to the breed.

The establishment of criteria for the proposed split would effectively rewrite the current standards and undermine the established benchmark for the breed. How could either of the proposed means of differentiation be achieved effectively?

If by phenotype: who are the “panel of experts”? Where would they come from and what would be their qualification to their position. If decisions are based upon observation and photograph, is each dog to be assessed individually - who has the resources to deal with this!
If by genotype: Then the proposed 85% German blood line criteria would cause uproar, this would give some breeders two different breeds - with one being classed as the ‘German Shepherd’ the others as the ‘British Alsatian’.

The proposal is absurd and impracticable, how can this be implemented without causing further and unnecessary disagreements to the detriment of all concerned, particularly during the proposed 10 year transition period is beyond our comprehension.

The Kennel Club breed standard reflects the German (SV) standard as such we hope that the Kennel Club will finally dismiss this proposal out of hand. It is an infeasible scheme which would effectively regress rather than progress the breed and would cause irreparable damage to the reputation of the internationally respected British Kennel Club.

Yours etc
John Cullen
Chairman Of Breed Council

Ringside observations no good!

Mr Killick appears to not be aware that all the dogs shown in Germany are Schutzhund trained (or HGH if they are stock working GSDs) and that this means the dogs are under control at all times, unlike some breeds in the UK where they are actively baited against each other and whose owners/handlers have absolutely no control over their charges.

As for them having misplaced hips and hindquarters, I presume this is from observation from the ring side and clinical examination and x-rays, in the gait the GSD front and back feet should show full extension, unlike many breeds that potter around the UK rings. These are herding dogs that drive stock from pasture to pasture along roads that have to be able to get to stock that might wander off course PDQ without over extending themselves.

I would suggest that Mr Killick actually goes to the German Sieger to observe all aspects of the the breed and also go to some Schutzhund and HGH trials to see the control that the Germans have over their dogs and why the dog is constructed the way it is.

I know Mr Killick has given BIS to two GSDs, however I would suggest that if he was judging to the breed standard he should have measured the two dogs before awarding them the BIS, he might then have been aware of where the two dogs certainly did not meet the UK KC Breed standard.

The GSD should be a dog that is fit for the purpose it was bred for, dogs with weak temperaments and ones that are overly long and deep in body could never work stock (this is not the way dogs work stock in the UK) as the dog is required to be able to gait for long periods of time and shepherd the stock in an area designated by the Shepherd on its own.

My preference is for a GSD with an outgoing stable temperament of the correct proportions and sound in movement of the correct coat type and colour. As Alfred Hahn once said about my dog at a Championship Show (where he won)"There is no such thing as an overly friendly GSD"
I've never owned a GSD that hasn't been from direct German lines so have never had temperament problems with my dogs, they have also been sound physically. however, I have judged many GSDs from various bloodlines and those that failed to meet the proportion of height to length required by the breed standard have never been sound nor had the drive and reach required by the breed standard.

Yours etc
Dyane L Jones

Dismissive judging

Why do some judges find it necessary to write insulting comments in their critiques? After a recent Ch show, with only 26 exhibits present, the Borzoi judge's 'critique' consisted of a eulogy of the four top winners with none of the others meriting an individual mention. Instead, they were dismissed en masse as of poor type and very untypical of the standard. As they included three champions and four CC/reserve CC winners, one wonders why the judge felt they were so far beneath their arrogant contempt? As they were too lazy to submit an adequate critique, we will never know.

Judges need to be aware that exhibitors have paid them a compliment by entering, and so they deserve better treatment than this, especially in today's climate of high entry fees and soaring fuel prices. Of course one does not expect all judges to like the same dogs, and no-one appreciates a critique full of platitudes which makes no attempt to explain why A was placed over B. However, it is possible to say something good about even the worst specimen, and to be polite and considerate when pointing out faults. I am the first to admit that my breed is not in a good state at the moment, but the dismissive nature of this critique was an insult not only to the exhibitors, but also to those judges who had placed these dogs well on other occasions.

This breed received a similar critique from a club open show a while ago, from a different judge, and I feel this is a l trend which needs to be nipped in the bud. An exhibitor with a previously successful dog which could be an asset to the breed has already asked if she should just retire him as she feels so disheartened. Is this is the effect these judges are trying to achieve? If so then perhaps they should be the ones to contemplate retirement.

Yours etc
Jean Clare

Not over yet

FCI Canadian judge ban! This is not over yet, despite your article to the contary, it’s a provisional okay until December 2008!

Now you know most clubs hire judges a year ahead, let’s face it what Club is going to hire a Canadian judge for a show later on in 2009 and then be told by the FCI that you can’t have them! This matter is far from over, my wife is a Canadian Kennel judge for Sporting (Gundogs) and there is still lots of discussion here about the FCI decision....or lack of same.

Yours etc
George Levecque

Please call back

LAST WEEK a very kind reader - and breeder of Shetland Sheepdogs - rang the Editor with a very kind offer to replace the Shetland pony tragically killed by a Rottweiler. Would this lady please call back if possible. Many thanks!