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I think this is good others may not. Here's what the AKC has said about it.
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2876
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=2876
I have a slightly different worry. I''m thinking this "WDS" title won't be anywhere near as stringent as a SchH or ring title, and therefore will lessen the meaning of traditional working dog titles. It's going to depend on teh rules and regulations set out for this "sport". I also put no stock in AKC titles and am wondering if this isn't going to just feul the sale of the AmBred shepherd (look, he has a WDS along with his Ch!!).Sarah Hall said:Hmm... makes me both worried and excited. The worried part is that the rules aren't going to be strict enough and we're going to have more unstable dogs taught to bite. The excited part is if this may be a step in the right direction for the German Shepherd's future in the US. I'm wondering if the idea of what a German Shepherd SHOULD be (as well as the other approved breeds in this sport that are suffering a plight like the GSD) is finally getting into the director's minds! This will change, somewhat, the breeding of the German Shepherd Dog because the average show GSD cannot compete without risk of injury in protection. Perhaps all dogs to compete will be required to have hips/elbows OFA'd or PennHip'ed?! I hope so. This may start to change the AKC's guidelines on breeding, and may bring it one step closer to an SV-style breeding program. That would put a LOT of breeders out of business, but it should be about the quality of the dogs, not the breeder's bottom line. Maybe I'm getting too worked up over such a small step, but I wonder what the ripple effect will be 10 years down the line?!
I don't think we'll see the German style dogs winning; I think we'll see the AmBred dogs being chosen over the German ones to further the AKC agenda. I'm just not a fan of this idea.Bob Scott said:I'm really up in the air over this one. If to many ASS (American Show Shepherd) dogs fail in attempts to get titiles, two things will happen. Weak, nervy dogs will be getting bite trained, and requirements for titles will start becomming weaker so these dogs can earn one.
Who will be the judges and helpers for these events? I belong to a WDA club and we're not real keen on it.
Love the diatribe on European show dogs. Always a treat to read about my "subpar" dog in the morning.Mike Russell said:5. If the AKC event gets recognition as a working title by the FCI/SV and was easier than a VPG title (haven't seen the rules lately, but heard they were to be the same as IPO), then I'd think the Euro Showline people would be rejoicing. That way they can have their "pretty" dogs getting titled and brag about strong temperament and diverse abilities, when actually they're doing easier work (and probably still doing it subpar).
Take a look at a few vids on the Family Treasures site. Count how many dogs either don't engage or do a poor job of barely hanging on during the protection work on the Sieger show videos. Then go to the National SchH events videos and look at the difference in drive, courage, and grip.Stacia Porter said:Love the diatribe on European show dogs. Always a treat to read about my "subpar" dog in the morning.
I don't see any problem with your logic, sir. I guess I'd say as a n00b that even the six or so months exposed to forums and training that you all are involved in changed my notions of what expectations one should have in a good GSD, etc. Any other way to educate people on breeds you all care about and qualities you like in them is goodness, IMHO.Jerry Lyda said:Woody, I don't think I'm the only GSD owner that only competes in schutzhund/ASR or any other ring sport. I am also a board member of the local GSD AKC club. There is probably others as well. I think it is a good thing the AKC finally doing this. The way I understand it is the reason other breeds are not in it is because it's a test period for a certain amount of time. I also don't think you'll be seeing a lot of showline dogs in it either. It takes a special person who is willing to train for WD titles. The run around the ring show person will not be doing this. Not enough dedication there. You will see some that have these dogs that will be dedicated enough to title their dogs. It's not so much that the showline dogs won't do this sport, it's more that the people with these dogs won't. Agreed that most of the showline dogs won't but some will. Let's set back and see what happens.