angelsun

yes and I still am amazed at how one kennel will not clean off faces so they always appear to have a beard. I personally always liked a cleaned face. True hairless don't do as well in Canada, unfortunately the judges like the 'pretty pony' look of the hairy hairless. As for collies, both varieties (coat) coming from the same litter makes the standard necessary to be the same other than coat. Size seems to be an issue with many breeds, with the larger ones generally appearing in North America. My breed for example, allows three inches in the states, two in Canada and then two here, (but the start/end point are shorter here) Does make it very tricky, but isn't that the whole challenge in breeding to show?

We'll be thinking positive thoughts (and packing wet wear!)

I have to agree. When you have a domestic judge comment on the colour of the dog you are showing by saying "I have never seen this colour before" and yet is introduced as a group specialist? Truly things that make you go 'mmmmmmm'.

Like any judge, they have their prejudices in either colour, ear style or tails on/off. Doesn't seem to matter where they come from, they either like a certain dog for what it is regardless of colour/ear style/tail on or off, or they don't. All too often, losing exhibitors are quick to blame the judge for not judging to the countries standard to which they are in, when in fact the dog may simply not be in the eyes of that judge, a good example of the breed and they found another they like better. I've had many people where colour is a factor in their breed go on and on about how their chosen colour is ignored and that it can't win because it's X (insert not the status quo colour) when in fact they need to look at the reality that their dog either hasn't got the front the competator has, or the head, or the rear etc....they are so strung up on colour as their reason for losing, that they fail to take into account that there may be other reasons as to why they do not come out on top. when I lived in North America, I always went to foreign judges because again, I felt it was a fair shot at the dog being judged, not who I was (because I was at that time, very well advertised in the doggie mags) I remember showing a cropped dog to a judge from Europe that you could tell was dead against cropped ears, so much that they pushed the lovely pointed crown down against the side of the dogs head (I wasn't the only breed that had this done) and then looked at the head with the ears in the position this judge felt they should be. I thought at the time, that's it...I'm toast....but clearly other than the ears which they did not like, they liked the rest of the dog. Others that had this happen to and lost, were quick to point out loudly that the judge should be judging to OUR standard which permits cropping and that they clearly lost because their dog was cropped. Imagine their surprise when I told them I had not lost and in fact was placed quite high in the group that day.....guess that arguement didn't hold much, and perhaps that judge found something else, other than the cropped ears, that they did not like.

Continued education is a big part of this. I hear too many breeders (registered) that sell a pup and tell them, it's your dog, do what you wish..if you want to desex, it's up to you and others that state clearly, if you want to breed with it, it's up to you...you paid for the dog, it's yours. Sorry, disagree beyond belief with this one! Breeders should be giving the desex lecture as to why it's best in the long term, not giving a bunch of pet owners who decide their bitch needs to be a mother (and who cares who the father is because it didn't cost me anything to get her pregnant and I can make a few dollars off the mongrels she produces) or that they want exactly the same as their dog (didn't know we could clone successfully all aspects of this yet) I push the desex topic hard with my puppy buyers for good reason. I came from a country with a HUGE puppy mill in my breed and the beginnings of them starting to mix the GP with other stuff. A mill that didn't test anything and would not take back sick dogs (of which there were many) nor back the owners in any form if they were unfortunate enough to get the ones that were not well. In my opinion, there is NO reason to keep a canine entire if they are not to be used to reproduce. People can banter around all the stats as to why it could be healthier to get a dog desexed, but that aside, it simply is not necessary to keep testicals on a male who is or has been classified as a pet because of some structural issue that does not conform to the breed standard, simply because the owner needs to see two balls bounce around as the dog walks away and it for some reason keeps (in most cases) the male of the house happy. As for bitches, for those that own large breeds that bleed like stuck pigs twice a year or better, sure it's easy to toss them outside and keep the carpet and furniture clean, and say that since there isn't a male in the house, no worries....do they realize that a bitch will go looking for a male as much as a male will come skulking around and find a crack in the fence if possible? What about those dozen pups that come from such a rendevous.....will one of them be exactly like the mother and fulfill the owners desire to get another dog just like this one? What about the bitch that hasn't any milk, or the bitch that looks at these wiggly things and says...mmmmm....dinner, or simply....what the hell are these and NO I"m not looking after them! What about those dozen pups that end up in the shelter and the vicious circle begins yet again because someone adopts what looks to be one breed, falls in love with it and decides that they want another just the same....here we go again. yes I rant about desexing and the need to do it, and I have always and will always continue to rant. I ranted as a pet owner before I started breeding and I rant even moreso now as a breeder....is it because I don't want competition? Puleeze...I've made it my goal for over a decade in my current breed, to mentor and bring people under my wing so we HAVE more good breeders.....I practice what I preach....my girls who give me a couple litters and I retire, are quickly spayed....the boys are either collected where possible and castrated or simply castrated when they do not appear to have the need for their jewels any longer. There are some out there that say that I have no right to insist that my pups are desexed...but I disagree....besides, by the time I screen people and explain my reasons, I find there are no issues. If the potential buyers flat out refuse to desex, they simply don't get a pup of mine...end of subject. This is how I personally break the cycle.

We'll be there as it's local for us and doesn't include a three hour drive!!! (yippeee!) Lets hope it doesn't piss down rain like it did last year...made for a mucky experience!!

The nice thing about judges from other countries, is they don't know the faces on the end of the lead.....there is a lot to be said for that, as sometimes knowing the breed standard inside and out, isn't why one dog is winning, versus another. I'll take international judges anyday, regardless of if they've ever seen a GP or not...at least I know that probably because theyve been given a schedule of breeds they must judge, theyv'e cracked the books and read the standard, but mostly because I know that if mine is the first of the breed they are going to see, I know I'll show them something correct, even if they don't know it....but the next time they judge, perhaps they will remember.

Never had an issue with them eating them, nor retaining them as when whelping, they usually give a yank and everything is out there. The moms don't seem to get the runs either, but I have heard others claim that theirs do because they allowed them to eat. Not in my case to date with many litters. The ONLY time I've yanked them away is if I have a birth defect in a pup that is not viable, and then the whole lot gets gathered up and disposed of quickly.

No, too old for that sort of thing. Gave it up about ten years or so ago I think it was. Never cared for the circus to be honest anyway and only did it because I was well paid at the time.

I don't bite..................... much

Don't be too hard on her...we all suffered through excessive wet and mud that weekend! I"m barely recovered!

Gipfel German Shepherds is pleased to announce that Tripp is now known as A/Ch.Ramorra Warp Core Reaction, picking up his final points at Junee on the weekend and finishing up at not quite 15 months of age with multiple class in group wins, Best of Breed wins and Sweepstakes wins and placements. Tripp was bred by Bob Knight (Kojak) and we are pleased to have this goofball as a part of our show team and soon as a part of our breeding program. I've enjoyed training and showing him to his title. Angelsun German Pinschers is also pleased to announce that Angel is now known as A/Ch.Masterkarn BackNBlack completing her championship requirements last month at the tender age of just 12 1/2 months, also taking home multiple class in group wins. Angel was bred by Anita Fryer and I thank her for allowing such a lovely girl to live in our home, and winning a peice of a die hard GSD man's heart!

Absolutely right....I do it every weekend. No, it's not the same loose lead as I show my pinscher as I can basically lay that on her back as she moves, showing that I am not manipulating her gait or appearance, but it is not tight, or even taut....the dogs are under control, gaiting correctly and not racing.

I"m the only German Pinscher entered. and not many GSD's either. Did someone say snow???? bite your tongue!!! (rushing off to repack and make sure I remember the woolies!!)

There are dogs out there in every breed that are called "size reducers" and "size increasers". Regardless of their pedigree, they consistantly bring size down or bump it up, depending on what is needed, no matter what they are bred to. I've known in my breed, a size reducer, that although he was a top end dog, never produced that size and in fact, had a problem producing large enough to make standard size! These dogs are very valuable as when used properly (and not focusing on whether they are linebreeding to the breeders pedigree, or outcrossing) they do their job and it is the next generation (their offspring) that the breeders begin to consider pedigree more closely. there are many wivestales out there when breeding dogs, such as if you breed a large/oversize one to a small/undersize one, you'll get the in the middle size...sorry....you get big ones and little ones mostly and unfortunately if the bitch is the small one, you might get a section during whelping too! I have some size in my pedigree that I am aware of. Because the standard for my breed here is an inch shorter than I was used to working with in Canada, I have to be VERY careful of this in the future. No longer will I be able to have my 20" (50cm) dogs, because the size is now 45cm here. After years of consistantly having boys this size, I've got to find a structurally sound size reducer, and hope that when I cross back into my own lines, I can maintain this size. This is what makes breeding interesting, because as much as I know I can succeed, I know that I will breed some biggies. The trick with me then, is to know how to spot them when young, and remove them from my future breeding plans by finding them great pet homes.

A friend of mine was over in Adelaide for the Wei national & laughed at how walking on a loose leash sorted out the "men from the boys".....so to speak. :rolleyes: Personally I always/will show my sheppies on loose leashes too, I always smile to myself when I hear the group 5 judge clearly say "loose leashes" for the sheppies. Yes, me too...and my thought says "let the fun/circus, begin!" I've seen your girls showing on a loose lead and it's nice to see a dog both under control and correctly gaiting as well.

Angelsun - perhaps regardless the other dog is still better whether or not it's behaving All shows I have gone to all the judges ask for an up and back Perhaps if you consider touching hocks and a roached back better..then you are correct.

shepherds get this a lot and I"m a big fan of it. This breed often can move and track correctly at speed, but has issues walking (hocks touching, crossing over, being noticably weak and wobbly) Judges often will ask us to walk out and back to see if indeed the dog is sound in movement. Many dogs in the breed simply can't do it, as they aren't taught to walk in the ring, but race around. Our young dogs of course don't do this as well, but our older (about a year) are taught to 'heel' and walk on a loose lead, and not trot. What annoys me is when a judge asks for the dogs to go around, on a loose lead and not race, and so we do, only to be ignored and the racing, strung up dog that's out of control is awarded. Why bother to ask us to show a certain way, when no one else does it, and award to the most out of control exhibit? (in my opinion)

Hi, Anything around 60% is excellent. You won't find many semen post thaw past a mobility of 60%. That's funny you would say that, as nothing I've EVER done has had a motility post thaw of less than 85%. To have 60% in my opinion and experience, isn't super great. I would strongly suggest that when you use this semen, you enquire about adding a booster (most frozen places will know what to use as often it varies depending on the method used to freeze) to go from a 90% motility to 60% is a huge drop and adding a bit of 'turbo' to the mix prior to insemination, could help kick start the sperm into a better 'mood'!

I don't care for it. Too much can get lost when passing things along, and in my opinion, if the person isn't that dedicated to doing the 'hard yards' they aren't won't be dedicated to their new family member. I've had many call me and do the talking, only to be told they won't get answers, get the person to call and chat themselves. Part of the talking is me sorting out the potential owner to see if they are suitable for one of my pups. I can't do that through a third party (insert won't) Selecting a pup and a breeder is not like buying a car or new dishwasher where you can get facts and figures on reliability and safety (health and temperament) Part of the process for a new buyer, is going through breeders, finding one that clicks and that they can trust to move to the next level. Only the individual is capable of that, not a third person.

I do that sort of breeding all the time.

The ANKC rule book states: the thing simply is....dogs don't 'speak' languages, they understand tones and sounds (which we call words) and are conditioned to respond to patterns of these (which we call language) to behave certain ways. We can use the word 'apple' and teach the dog to place its bum on the ground.....what we humans know as 'sit'. The dog does not understand our language of the word sit, it only hears the sounds and tones and after teaching him, he knows those sounds mean he puts his bum on the ground. We know this is true, because we have dogs being rehomed to different languages all the time. Like any learning curve, it takes a little for them to realize these new sounds and tones mean a physical action. It doesn't matter what word you use, as long as it's consistant. I know dogs trained to 'sounds' only...that is a tongue clik means sit, two clicks means lay down. A pursed lip rasberry means roll over etc. I have a dog that was rehomed at three to Sweden....it took her about a week to learn the tones needed to do all her trained actions that were keyed by english. The same with the dog I sent to Spain (to a non english speaking home) I will say however, that some dogs have a problem with accents as I've found here....my Canadian accent did confuse some of the dogs here for a time as I enunciate words very differently than they were used to. Now I"m happy to say, they understand Canadian as well as Australian!!

I was right there as well, and no, wasn't pleasant and not something (as mentioned) to be discussed publically due to the situation.

In North America, it was group three (working) that used to be huge..it held the herding dogs as well and it would take every bit of a full day to complete one group and the ring wasn't even remotely large enough to handle all these big dogs....it was a good thing when we split working and herding (the equivalent of utility and working)

I know that some shows in Ontario in Canada, will flip the alphabet to try to make it more fair for everyone so that some don't always have to start first....the funny part is, in the toy group in Canada, you would in fact be listed as "Silky Terrier"...they don't use the Australian part, so you are almost at the end of the group of dogs followed often only by Yorkies. (friend of mine breeds silkies and I have shown many of hers.....a bunch of them have tried to move the breed to the terrier ring)