Showtime *lots of pics)

CorvusCorax

CorvusCorax

Deary me...
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Ah Kitty, you have all this to look forward to with your new baby!

Bitework
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Totally missed this shot, dog took a flyer, was awesome!
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BANG!
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Breed ring
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A breather in the shade!
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B's half brother, open male winner
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The guy I ring train, 2nd :D and it was between him and his bro.
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Working male class, the eventual winner :)
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Offleash gaiting
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The next generation!!!
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Great pics, who is the all black? And just to be boring, can I have some names please?
JDchaser, these are show dogs, but german shepherd exhibitors hold some shows that also need the dogs to show their working ability'
 
Cheers guys - exactamundo BS and this is why we fight so hard (and ding on so much :p) about holding this kind of show and we hope it starts to happen everywhere, a lot more often.

Every single dog entered was microchip-checked/tattoos read. No ID, no show.
In order to enter the working class, they have to have hips and elbows scored below a certain level, at least Sch II, and to proceed to the actual class, have to pass the bitework and of course the off-leash gait, which is breathtaking to watch - especially for the blokes :p
 
All pets JD :D

That black dog, I have heard one of our trainers say is the most intense dog he has ever worked, he has competed all over Europe, when he is working, he is so 'in the zone'.
Off the field? He likes having his ears tickled and his belly rubbed.
The kennel he came from used to be straight show dogs but they now produce working dogs - and the best thing is, he is V (excellent) rated for construction in Germany - best of both worlds.
The dog offleash was 2nd in the youth class at the biggest breed show in the world, in Germany a few years ago and the winning dog was 4th in the adult class.
So no 'cripples' here :p

MM - check my FB :D
 
Nope, quite the opposite - it's better a dog is controlled in protection work and knows when to go, when to 'out' - the rules are very tight and if the dog does not come off the sleeve after three commands, it will be disqualified.

It's like I mentioned on my post last week about my dogs catching one of our cats - my dog which is trained, when commanded to, dropped the cat immediately, the other, who is just a pet and sits around and looks pretty, did not. So back to work I go with her, next week!

It can take three years to fully train a dog for this kind of work.
They are mainly after the sleeve. not the guy - once the sleeve is off, there is no interest in the guy that is wearing it - they don't think they are attacking a person, they think they are 'winning' the sleeve. The training of personal protection dogs and police dogs is slightly different, in that they can bite different areas under different stimuli.
That's a whole other debate :p
 
Its just another exercise to the dog, no different to teaching them to sit. They are taught to bite the padded sleeve, that is what they are focussing on not the person, you will often see the "criminal" and the dog making a fuss of each other shortly after the test. However you are right in that it certainly isn't something just anyone should try and teach, all those dogs are trained by very experienced people.
 
Something like that! It is a sport, trials are held up and down the country and there is a world championships every year, in which a full three-phase obedience/tracking/protection routine has to be completed, but it is mainly a breed selection tool - a dog who has SchIII (therefore can do all these things, has completed a 20k bike test and has all their health tests passed) is a much more desirable animal to promote both in and out of the showring, and to breed from, than one which has not.

Aggressive, scared or nervous dogs cannot make it - it is all about discrimination, courage and control - a brave dog will be confident to go onto the sleeve fully and firmly, and confident enough to let go when the handler commands it to.
 
I am know nothing about this kind of showing, but having seen some of the vids posted on here, it's very impressive.

The biting seems to be a very well regulated command, just like any other. There was an amazing video posted (by CC I think) the other day of a very young handler. Her dog would bite the man and hold on as long as he was trying to run away, but as soon as he stopped, the dog would let go, sit in front of him and bark, as soon as he tried to move, the dog bit the sleeve again - very impressive control.

The only time I would worry, is if people encouraged dogs to be indiscriminately aggressive, but this is not generally done through good training but rather through dodgy practices like chaining them up all day long, hitting them, etc.
 
MM posted that video and to me it epitomises everything the sport is about.
As mentioned, when the training is undertaken properly, there are very particular triggers and commands

There are networks of training clubs affiliated to the breed parent club in Germany.
If anyone wants to train their dogs in these disciplines, they should attend one.
Everything is very well regulated and trainers are of the highest calibre.

As mentioned, courage/confidence, control/obedience and discrimination are all key factors.

You won't get a dog to behave in a correct manner - or do any work for you - by abusing it. GSDs are very transparent, when they are happy in their work, you know it.
 
This is the distinction then, as when I mentioned the gsdwales had ringcraft classes, his breeder asked english or german and I was like ??? then she explained that Z would be shown german and did tell me he knows how to gait.

She also stood him up for me and he looked very smart.

And then we played instead :D :p

CC I don't think I have ever asked you where you are based?
 
On a different land mass :p

I wouldn't worry too much about standing him and gaiting him at this age, he's a baby.

If you do take him to any sort of training class, I would go for a breed specific one - JMHO :)
 
CaveCanem said:
On a different land mass :p

I wouldn't worry too much about standing him and gaiting him at this age, he's a baby.

If you do take him to any sort of training class, I would go for a breed specific one - JMHO :)
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LOL well thats cack!! I met an Irish lady yesterday at the garage whose mother breeds GSDs in Belfast (I think) and it begins with B, cant remember the name though :( you are far too far away to come teach me!!

So the GSDwales training and ringcraft woujld be good?

Also, love the idea that its more than just looks alone they are judged on, however can a dog trained to succeed in your showing, also do good heel work etc - I assume they can cope with the difference and don't need to do solely one or t'other?
 
If owning a GSD will make me look like that lady doing the off lead gaiting, I am off to get a part-ex on Henry tomorrow:p:D Hell, I wouldn't have been watching the dog either!
 
Kitty, the GSD Club of Wales would be perfect.

As mentioned up there, those dogs ARE show dogs. Who also work.
The dog with the girl in the green top, which won yesterday, was judged conformationally, and in terms of his progeny, the fourth best in the world, at the German Sieger show in 2008. The male gaiting off leash, was second best young dog that same year.

Any dog with 'Sch' after its name has had to complete a very strict heelwork routine. To encourage them to gait out in front, you just use a different command.

There are working dogs, like the black one, who are also shown. He has been rated excellent in Germany.
 
So much to learn, I really HAVE to get down to the GSDwales puppy classes (the next intake isn't until sept :/) and at least watch and talk with some of the people there!

My fave is the first gaiting pic, I like that doggy :D
 
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