Did You See It? Did You See It???

[Valigator]

The 2005 Westminster Kennel Show.......Carlee a female German Shorthair took best in show.....that was the first time I saw a pointer actually make it to the finals....and you should of heard the crowd...I have never seen the audience fall so in love with a dog.....and the applause for that dog was deafening.....when she took the ribbon I jumped up and screamed I was so happy!!!!!!It was a good noght for all of us pointer lovers.......

[gspsonny03]

Get out of town! I quit watching that particular dog show for that very reason. The Hunting dogs never get anywhere. Although they usually aren't hunting dogs even though they are classed as such. All I can say is about time.

[M.T. Pockets]

I didn't see it, but I heard it on the radio news this morning.

[Valigator]

OH Sonny, I really wish you had seen it I am sure it will be replayed.....honest to God I have never ever seen an audience react to a dog like they did to her...people were on their feet....she will make the talk show circuits now and more people will get an appreciation and education on them...its a good thing....

[skeet]

Val, How can you watch that crap!! That ain't a dog show..that's a people show..really! Gag me with a spoon! The fix was in again. Those people are so tied up with kennel club politics that it's not about dogs anymore. Dog and pony show is more like it! Even field trials are screwed up any more. I've been a gun at some retriever trials and everything has to be just perfect. Not like working a dog in the HUNTING fields at all! Much less a Kennel Club like that (gag) thing on TV. I'd much rather have a working dog that doesn't do everything right but really finds the birds than those cookie cutter, look at the way I stand aren't I pretty dogs.. Sorry just the way I feel

[Valigator]

Oh Skeet... c'mon....of course there are politics....but anyway you look at it if your a dog lover, these shows portray the physical perfection of the breeds....they are great to watch...It just warmed my heart to finally see a gun dog take the show.....if Carlee never pointed anything but lizards...she was still the highest standard for her breed....

[skeet]

Just my opinion you understand but the highest standards for the breed are the ones that work their wonders in the field....not in a coliseum. That show is a joke as far as hunting dogs are concerned. And yes I love dogs...except ankle biters...but that show isn't about dogs...It is about politics. It's about like watching the Miss America pageant. Sure they are pretty...but why are they better than the rest of the pretty ladies in the world...Oh and they all want "world peace" just like Araffat! They'll do anything to win. Been around some of these dog show people and can tell you they are a bunch of elitist idiots. Hunt a hunting dog??? Oh no....I couldn't let my dog do that!! Not trying to get ya ticked kiddo but just the way I feel. Not much different with field trials either!

[Gotcha!]

Actually, it all has to do with Breeder Ethics. I had 2 GSP's from a breeder in SoCal, that bred for Dual Champions. You had to be interviewed and approved by her to even buy a dog from any of the breedings she controlled. Most of hers were BIG dogs too. My Stud weighed 95 lbs and all of his muscles showed. You had to sign an agreement to hunt the dogs and, for certain dogs, you were required to use her kennel name in its registered name.

While it is true that a lot of "show" breeders don't really care what the original intent of a breed is, there are some who try to perpetuate the true traits of the dog, not just its confirmation. Pedigrees don't make a dog either, and often the best breeders get duds. Thats just the nature of the beast - because there will always be throwbacks to wild stock from which selective breeding originated.

Most of us "dog" people already know that, allowed to become feral, dogs will revert back to Dingo looking critters who forage for themselves.

[Jack]

I'm afraid I'm with Skeet on this one.....

[skeet]

Gotcha is pretty much right except for one thing with Breeder ethics. When they require all these things from a buyer...it's all about money. Not for you ...but for them. Money and politics in the dog world. They just seem to screw up everything. Sigh!

[Gotcha!]

I didn't say anything about money. Of course it is what drives the world. How many of you spend the money to breed good dogs, and then give them away? (Not talkin about your friends and relatives here.)

BTW - in the late '60's this woman got $2500 and 2 litters of pups (by her Stud) for an 18 month old *****(female dog) that wasn't even for sale. That came from a "Hunt Club" that only wanted the dog for hunting, and being able to get the pups was the only way she would sell the dog.

Now, personally, I don't really care to hunt with "Field Trial" dogs anyway, and trained mine to hunt the way I liked. All the stuff they train dogs to do to look pretty kinda gets in the way of a good "meat" dawg!

[Valigator]

Wow a couple of ya sure know how to take the play out of the pup dont ya?

[BILLY D.]

HEY VAL

CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF IT WAS A GREAT VICTORY FOR THE DOG, THE HANDLER AND THE BREED.

ANY THING THAT IS DONE AT THAT LEVEL OF PROFESSIONISM IS THE SAME, BE IT CARS, GUNS, DOGS ETC. YOU BET YOUR SWEET PATOOTIE IT'S ABOUT MONEY. SO WHAT, IT DOES NOT DETRACT FROM THE INSTINCTS OF THE BREED.

IT WAS A GREAT WIN FOR A GREAT DOG AND BREED. YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OWN A DEUTCHE KURZ HAAR OR NOT, OR IF YOU ARE JUST AN ANIMAL LOVER, BUT YOU CAN RELISH IN THE VICTORY. SOME FOLKS JUST CAN'T ENJOY ANYTHING OR LET OTHERS ENJOY IT EITHER. BAH HUMBUG!!!

ENJOY, LIFE IS SHORT.

[M.T. Pockets]

I've been hearing about it all day on the news radio in Minnesota. I can't ever remember hearing about this event before, apparantly it's a big deal for a hunting breed to win this event. I guess the people outside Madison Square Garden was going wild.

If people are having fun, why not. It's not my money their spending. I don't know if this win will be a real benefit to the German Shorthair breed overall, I think of what happened to the Iris Setter breed when they started being bred for shows instead of hunting.

I have quite a bit of experience in my youth showing cattle. In my mind there's not much difference than these dog shows. With cattle it was more of a pride issue and parents will do and spend whatever it takes for their little 4-Her to win a purple ribbon at the County Fair.

[gspsonny03]

Val, There is a guy on here, I think it's Brithunter, with the tag line "don't let them grind you down". Maybe they are right maybe they aren't, it really doesn't matter. You're excited, I'm excited, wheather it's political or not a GSP finally won. And unless they can test it for steroids or something they can't take it away. I do agree with M.T. though and that's whats consoled me about the pointing breeds not being recognized for the last forever. Every time a dog breed gets recognition from a "Show" title, the public becomes enamored with them and every Tom, Dick and Harry on the continent thinks they ought to breed them and sell them for a fast profit, with no intention of keeping up the breed standard. As M.T, mentioned that's what happened to the Irish Setter, the Lab, the Poodle to some degree and a whole host of others. You can find them in every animal shelter in the country. I just hope that doesn't happen here. I will have to admit though when I bought my first GSP here six years ago, if you met someone on the street and they seen him, they would ask what kind of dog is that? Now they are all over town. Anyway thanks for the post Val, I enjoyed it. But then you knew I would.