A complete review of our strategy, aims and objectives,
primarily based on the future health and welfare of our breed, is
now taking place. This follows our stimulating Annual General
Meeting, where a wide range of views were expressed concerning the
way forward. The general consensus was that the futile discussions
with the Kennel Club over the previous year or so, had brought into
sharper focus those views of the members that had only been voiced
previously at club level. It was precisely these views which had
contributed to the formulation of the Planned Improvement Programme
(PIP), which had been presented to the Kennel Club during the
unproductive GSD Partnership meetings.
The fundamental principle of incremental mandatory health
tests had proved unacceptable to the Kennel Club. When the
discussions with the Kennel Club ended, it became obvious that
another approach had to be developed and introduced for the future
health and welfare of our breed here in the UK.
With the GSD League (GSDL) being a WUSV member Club, the
Council was clearly aware that most, if not all of the points within
the PIP, had been developed from the rules and regulations of the SV
in Germany, where the breeding, exhibiting and the working sports of
our breed are taken very seriously, and mandatory health tests,
identification (including DNA parentage tests), working
qualifications, and breed surveys are an integral part.
The GSD League had genuinely hoped that significant progress
towards incremental mandatory health tests could have been developed
with the Kennel Club, and had focused all their efforts in this
direction over the years. The most significant progress was made
when the British Sieger Event, based on WUSV rules and regulations,
was introduced 5 years ago and held annually since then. The British
Sieger Event included identification and health screening
requirements, as well as appropriate working qualifications for
entry into the Working classes. The British Sieger Event provided a
major boost of interest and participation in our GSD Breed Survey
Scheme, which is part of the entry requirements.
When discussions with the KC failed to achieve any meaningful
progress, our attention, quite logically, turned to GSD Events based
on WUSV rules and regulations, as a proven template for progressing
improvements to the health and welfare of our breed.
The introduction of “GSDL/WUSV Regional GSD Events” was one of
the main topics raised at the AGM, where exhibitors questioned the
Council on how they saw the future. There were slight differences of
opinion when different Council members answered such a hot potato as
to where the future lay but the fundamentals were the same. The GSD
League, as a member of the WUSV for approximately 40 years, has seen
the progression of the WUSV philosophy of continual mandatory health
checks supported by major research into hereditary diseases, their
breeding and working qualifications and their detailed attention to
the German Shepherd Dog as a whole. Such prolonged and active
advancement of our breed’s health and welfare by the SV/WUSV can
only be seen as a major advantage over any other organising body.
The breed surveys of German Shepherds of breeding age which cover
both physical and mental standards demonstrate the German Shepherd
as a complete dog that is fit for purpose and must be a route the
Club takes when putting on events under the WUSV banner.
Times have changed, and the GSDL must now change with them, by
confirming and demonstrating our commitment to both the Kennel Club
and the WUSV.
We sincerely hope that meaningful dialogue and progress can be
made with the Kennel Club, and to this end we will continue to play
our part, both as a National GSD Club and alongside all other GSD
breed Clubs.
In respect of the WUSV, with the GSDL being a WUSV member, we
are in the unique position of being able to organise GSDL/WUSV GSD
Events and fall into line with the SV/WUSV Breed Standard (which is
also the FCI breed standard) for all GSDL/WUSV Events.
We need to make it very clear, the GSD League, as a Kennel
Club licensed breed Club, fully recognises its responsibility to the
Kennel Club. All Shows and Events organised under a Kennel Club
license will strictly adhere to the Kennel Club’s rules &
regulations, and Judges at breed shows will be expected to judge
under the Kennel Club GSD breed standard.
The GSDL recognises the need to identify all aspects of
conformation in our breed, some of which have strayed to an
unacceptable degree away from the WUSV/SV Breed standard here in
Great Britain. Such deviation from the standard will require the
particular attention of our Judges at all GSDL/WUSV Events and
Kennel Club Shows.
The GSDL will also prioritise the following aspects of the
German Shepherd Dog conformation for particular attention, to take
immediate effect at all our GSDL/WUSV Events and Kennel Club Shows.
Unsoundness of hindquarters/looseness in hocks: -
Judges are requested to pay particular attention to this fault in
all dogs aged 12 months and over. Depending on the degree of the
problem displayed by an exhibit, it should be penalised accordingly.
Oversize:-
Judges are requested to pay particular attention to this fault and
measure & record the measurement of every exhibit aged 12 months and
over in GSDL/WUSV Events and Kennel Club Shows. The desire to reduce
the current incidence of oversize may take several years, however a
start must be made, therefore with immediate effect any GSD more
than 2cms over our breed standard maximum size should be penalised
by the Judge.
It is recognised by
the GSDL that the above two faults in our breed are receiving
particular attention from the SV and consequently by all SV Judges.
The GSDL are aware that these two faults also need to be addressed
here in Great Britain and we intend to monitor the opinions of the
SV and our Judges in respect of any breed fault which may appear at
an unacceptable level of frequency at our GSDL/WUSV Events and
Kennel Club Shows. The GSDL will take necessary steps to correct
any apparent developing departure from our GSD breed standard,
particularly if the health and welfare of our GSD breed is
considered at risk.
The GSDL will
continually monitor information relating to the health and welfare
of our GSD breed, paying particular attention to new health
screening tests as and when they become available. We fully intend
to liaise both with the Kennel Club and the WUSV on such matters.
The GSDL will be
equally concerned about apparent visible defects as well as the less
apparent invisible defects in our GSD breed. Unsoundness in the
hindquarters as well as Hip Dysplasia are two clear examples of what
we mean by this statement.
To assist in
promoting this policy of maintaining the health and wellbeing of our
dogs, a Judges Seminar will be planned in the near future by the
GSDL.
The GSDL Council are
actively considering the development of a system that would provide
an opportunity for exhibits at GSDL/WUSV “GSD Events” to gain the
title of GSDL/WUSV “British Champion”. We are making considerable
progress on this important matter, and we also recognise this will
have considerable attraction for GSD exhibitors, and for GSD Clubs
who will host GSDL/WUSV Regional GSD Events. We are obviously aware
that if we decide to go down that route it will take a considerable
amount of planning and discussion with all involved.
The German Shepherd
Dog League of Great Britain
On behalf of the members and Council
:
+44 (0)1905 830900 -
email: