[Woody Taylor]

Dumb question, I guess, given that I'm not seeing it brought up in the thread (or I missed it): why would they not have put Mals and Belgian Sheepdogs in the "approved breeds" list?

I guess I can see where you all would be hesitant about being excited about it...on the other hand, I think it would only help the sorry state of things in these (4) breeds today if they're diligent about policing it. The notion of breed conformation from the AKC's perspective extending out to working ability seems to be a smart.

Actually I'm just being selfish, maybe this means I can show up to my local AKC-chartered training school with a prong now. ;-) Annie will be ecstatic that she can get rid of the Gentle Leader for ob proofing. :lol:

Edited to ask...let's say it takes off...isn't the training community for this event going to be pulled from the Schutzhund/Ring community? It's not like AKC ob clubs know how to teach bitework. Wouldn't that at least provide that some positive "genes" are brought over?

 

[Woody Taylor]

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.

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.

 

[Woody Taylor]

The Belgian Shepherds aren't on the "approved list" because thier parent club(s) didn't push to get the AKC to do this. The Bouv, GSD, Dobe, & Rottie parent clubs did...since they showed the most interest and pushed for it the hardest, they are the ones allowed to do the WD program during the test period. Who knows what will happen after the test period.

I figured this would be the answer, Mike! ;-) I think Bouvs are pretty cool, so I'm personally interested to see them developed out for this kind of work.

Now that I think of it, I have never heard anyone in these forums comment on AKC/American bred Mals and Tervs and Groens...what's their story? What kind of dogs are they breeding out?

 

[Woody Taylor]

Nervy junk.

It's weird that they'd take on breeds like that which are relatively unpopular as pets in the states and goof them up so bad. I'm not doubting what you say, just wondering why anyone would ever get a Mal to breed for conformation stuff.

I guess that's a larger mystery about the AKC I have never understood...just how many breeders of these animals are out there? I get Sheps, Retrivers, toy breeds...but stuff like the Mal or a Komondor? Are there more than 25 Komondors in the US? And if there are, are they just hiding under those dreadlocks of the 25?

 

[Woody Taylor]

While I'm not going to jump into why and anger a lot of people who think this is a good thing, I will say I think this is a very, very, very bad thing. I have some not so humble opinions on it, I'll just say....and this coming from someone who has shown confirmation in the AKC ring.

You're not going to anger me, and I'm interested to hear your opinion, as long as you're not bothered if I disagree with you. I have made up my mind about never having a Komondor as a pet, but other than that, I'm open.

 

[Woody Taylor]

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.

Yeah, heh, I cannot imagine any of the people from " Best in Show" will be showing up in the working ring. Hard to keep the diamond tiara on your head when a nervy GSD is trying to take it off.

See that movie if you haven't, by the way...it's pretty funny, very clean, though the humor will go over kids' heads. But hilarious if you like dogs and like laughing at crazy show people.

 

[Woody Taylor]

The show people will turn the dogs over to trainers just as many of them turn their dogs over to show handlers now.
:-k I wonder how all that double handling is going to work on the bite field? :wink:

You never know, working dogs may be repulsed by hair gel and skipping. :twisted:

 

[Woody Taylor]

And, FWIW, my AmBred baby has a big old case of HD . I should have been prepared to hear the vet tell me that on Friday, but I guess I was hoping it was just soft tissue damage. No cartilage left, femur 25% affected, arthritis has already set in and she's only about 2.

Sorry to hear that about your dog, Stacia. That sucks.

 

[Woody Taylor]

Damn it. He learned copy and paste. :lol: :lol: :lol:

He's mentioned repeatedly how much training he's forgotten, this too shall pass. :lol: :lol: :lol: Just kidding, Jeff.

 

[Woody Taylor]

I had a pretty miserable scare with it when this forum first started up. I know you probably covered all the bases, but did you have any second/third opinions? Annie's diagnosis went from "moderate HD" with the primary vet to "nothing to worry about" with the surgeon (who just happened to stop by that clinic that day, luckily) to "nothing really there except clinically silent pano" when the U of MN radiologist reviewed it. I'm not out of the woods yet, but...

In any case, I don't know if you're in a place where you can send them in for evaluation by a vet school radiologist. Maybe others here on the forum have additional resources. I'd want a second look on something this drastic.

 

[Woody Taylor]

I looooooved that movie. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Too many great scenes, I loved the beginning with the yuppies who took their Ch. Weimereiner to the shrink because it had seen them having sex.

 

[Woody Taylor]

Having did the show dog scene for a few years, I could introduce you to EVERY single one of the people that were represented in that move. They really are out there! :lol: :lol:

I hear that from a lot of folks...that's why I lean toward's Jerry's positions in this thread. I can't imagine any of those people in a bite suit. Maybe that one very mannish lady (Best line of the movie:"...Now there's a happy fella!" :lol: ).

Damn, now I have to go rent that again.

 

[Woody Taylor]

I had a sheltie on Rimadyl for arthritis, but he didn't do well on it. I remember reading something about Rimadyl in a negative light....can't remember what though.

Ed Frawley makes a few references to Rimadyl, here's the one I always remember (CAPS HAVE THAT EFFECT ON ME EVEN MORE THAN regular writing )

Some Vets recommend RIMADYL - I am very much aginst this drug - its a bad drug. It can It can kill dogs. DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG RIMADYL.

http://www.leerburg.com/hipart.htm

I don't know either way.