HD and bone problems

[draggar]

Originally Posted by Vicky

I think Marcy did a great job giving you one of her pups! It seems like everyone here (in the US) involved with CsVs is concerned about the same thing, which is why such an emphasis is being put on actually working the dogs in some fashion as well as all the obvious health testing. Not only is the health testing important, the structure of a well-balanced working dog is vital, too! That's just something you need more than the show ring to test.

She made a good decision? Shoot, I need to try harder then.

One of our largest grips with the AKC judging style is that it is too common for judges to judge by the wrong end of the leash. Many times they look at the names and the handlers more than the actual dog (most of the time a judge has their mind made up as soon as the dogs walk into the ring). The emphasis is also on looks, not the whole package (temperament, working ability etc..).

We officially gave up showing Kiri (our GSD) on this day:

Kiri does extremely well in the Sieger show ring as well as UKC shows. Her movement is only topped by her daughter (Athena) and structurally she looks like the GSDs we saw before the breed got ruined (WWII style GSD - straight back, big head, intelligence etc...).

At this show, my wife was in the front of the line (she had the lowest armband #). Behind her was a bitch who was scrawny and could barely walk. The entire time her tail was tucked between her legs (mind you - the AKC / GSDCA-WDA standard states "must show confidence").

Behind that female was a male who looked like he was dragging his rear end on the ground when he walked and, as the other female, had his tail tucked between his legs the entire time.

There were 2-3 other dogs in the ring behind those two.

When the judge was doing his final look over he looked to my wife and said loud enough for everyone to hear "You, go to the back of the line". (In a nutshell he was saying "I want everyone to know I think your dog is the worst one here"). Guess who got BOB and BOS? The two (now) in the front.

We've seen breed given to dogs that snark at other dogs (in and out of the ring). We've seen breed given to dogs that could barely walk - one was even limping the entire time. Heavily overweight dogs, you name it.

At least with the Belgians there's some inconsistency. Some judges to look at the dog and others don't. Collies here are a different story.