The German Shepherd
Dog League of Great Britain (GSDL) is genuinely concerned about the
considerable reduction in GSD entries at Championship Shows, both at
General Championship Shows and Breed Club Championship Shows.
The GSD League
understands this problem has developed over many years, some 15
years at least. There are multiple reasons for the continual decline
in entries, and therefore no single or simple answer exists to
reverse this trend.
We appreciate this
opportunity to hold discussions with the Kennel Club on this matter.
Other breeds may
also be suffering from a decline in entries, which may be caused by
similar problems, however whilst the GSD League understands the
Kennel Club has responsibility for all breeds, and will therefore
assess any proposals very carefully indeed, especially for any wider
implications, the GSD League has thoroughly examined the challenges
that face the German Shepherd Dog breed and make these proposals to
the Kennel Club with sincerity and with conviction that an urgent
and broad approach is necessary.
The current rotation
system of GSD Breed Clubs has served a very limited purpose, mainly
that of preventing some GSD breed clubs losing their CC status
because of poor entries. What it therefore encourages is APATHY,
because when you remove the risk of losing CC status, you remove any
worry about low entries, because the rotation system protects a club
from any negative consequences of their low entries. If and when the
Kennel Club reduce the number of CC’s for our breed, the rotation
system is simply stretched over even FEWER CC’s, thus making the
periods between holding Championship Shows for each club even
greater. It also means that the most successful Club Shows in terms
of entries are NOT receiving their HIGH entries EVERY year, in order
to allow a LOW ENTRY Club to enjoy having a LOW ENTRY Show.
Striking a balance
between the positives and the negatives of the rotation system
should be the objective.
The stark reality
hits home when you consider the highest entry club and the lowest
entry club is sharing 1 set of CC’s, giving each a CH. Show in
alternate years. Ignoring the Two Day show, lets take Birmingham &
District GSD (A) Association being ‘paired’ with GSD Club of Kent
(Z), net entry for A = 180, net entry for Z = 56. Then take the NEXT
highest ‘net entry’ Club and ‘pair’ it with the NEXT lowest ‘net
entry Club, e.g. B = 177 & Y = 68. It is damaging to our Show scene
to continue with such a scenario, and the worst scenario is exposed
when a significantly higher number of LOW
ENTRY Club shows
prevail in any particular year during the rotation pattern. This can
have a demoralising impact on many exhibitors.
The rotation system
also creates problems securing good venues, compared with the annual
show, which can offer a preferred annual contract with a venue
owner. The catering, stallholders, schedule & catalogue printers,
and almost all other requirements and desirables for a successful
Show, all benefit from an annual event, committees finish one Show
and start on the next, giving continuity for the committee,
developing valuable experience, and for all others connected with
the Show, including the most important of all, the exhibitors.
The rotation system
has for many exhibitors broken their habit of showing their dogs,
they miss one show, or another, which is not being held, and they do
something different. They used to know the schedule of CH. Shows
held every year, the months they were held, the weekends of the
month they were held, the venue’s they were held at, the catering
offered at each venue, the parking arrangements at each venue and
were able plan accordingly. Frequently joining up with friend’s
en-route, sharing costs, sharing each others company, developing at
each regular show a camaraderie and routine’s which added to their
showing experience. Club secretaries were always aware at which
shows to have their schedules available for their own shows,
distributing them at shows, saving postage costs, administrative
time, and also achieving higher entries, especially because
exhibitors, on being given a schedule would discuss with each other
their mutual plans for entering and travelling etc.
There are so many
benefits for Clubs holding annual Championship Shows which were
taken for granted by so many and they have been substantially lost
with the rotation system. We hope it is not too late to recover and
progress our GSD show scene here in the United Kingdom. The Kennel
Club and all GSD Clubs in the UK can be assured the GSD League of
Great Britain, the oldest GSD Show Club in the UK, will play a
leading role in focusing attention on all issues requiring
attention, and most importantly offering its experience and
expertise in identifying solutions and putting them into practice,
along with supporting, wherever and whenever possible, all other GSD
clubs.
We recognise that
some of our proposals may present the need for very difficult
decisions to be made; indeed the GSD League was faced with many very
difficult issues when formulating our proposals. The overwhelming
interest of our breeds future, here in the United Kingdom, made it
absolutely essential for us to fully explore every area that
requires attention, even those which others may be reluctant to
acknowledge. The toughest decisions are often the correct decisions;
our breed needs us all to make the correct decisions.
1)
We propose the top
11 GSD Breed Clubs are allocated CC’s on an annual basis – TABLE B
2)
We propose the
bottom 6 GSD Breed Clubs have their CC allocation removed – TABLE B
It may be considered appropriate initially, to write to each GSD
Breed Club with CC status, and ask them if they wish to retain their
CC status, or give it up.
3)
We propose the
bottom 5 General CH. Shows have their CC allocation for GSD removed
– TABLE C
It may be considered appropriate initially, to write to each General
CH. Show Club with CC’s for GSD, and ask them if they wish to retain
their CC’s for GSD, or give them up.
4)
We propose that
these 5 sets of CC’s are allocated to the GSD Breed Clubs
5)
We propose that the
remaining ‘rotation’ 16 GSD Breed Clubs (includes Cambridge GSD
Club) have CC allocation on alternate years. (8 sets of CC’s per
year)
6)
We propose that the
Cambridge Branch of the GSD League, becomes the Cambridge GSD Club,
and is allocated the CC’s from the Iceni GSD Club, on a rotational
basis. This Club is close to the geographical position of the Iceni
GSD Club, and has held a Spectacular Open Show for each of the last
3 years, which has achieved net entries in excess of 150 each and
every year. This is a truly remarkable achievement brought about by
a dynamic committee committed to identifying GSD exhibitor’s needs
and desires, and providing them. Every year they have carefully
examined their show, with a view to introducing changes which will
make a positive effect on their next show, and removing aspects
which they considered may have had a negative effect. Continual
monitoring, brainstorming sessions, and most importantly a
determination to succeed - all the ingredients we need to instil in
each and every GSD Club, to invigorate our GSD Show scene. Couple
this with dynamic leadership from the Kennel Club and the leading
breed club’s and we have a recipe for success.
7)
The above proposals
will result in GSD Breed Clubs having 19 sets of CC’s annually, and
the General CH. Shows having 14 sets of CC’s annually.
8)
The overall effect
of these proposals is forecast to be, from year one as follows:
loss of entries for the 5 General CH. Shows no longer having CC’s =
approx. 200 – Table A & C
loss of entries for the 6 Breed CH. Shows no longer having CC’s (@ 3
shows per year rotation) approx. 200
rise in entries for 11 Breed Clubs having CC’s annually = approx.
800
rise in entries by allocating Cambridge GSD Club CC’s (rotation) =
150+ each Show
This offers the opportunity of an annual net rise of approx. 500+
from year one.
Surely for approx. net entry of 2000, the provision of 19 sets of
CC’s is reasonable for BCS.
At the same time for a net entry of approx. 1400 the provision of 14
sets of CC’s is reasonable for GCS.
It could be argued for 34 sets of CC’s - 20 for BCS & 14 for GCS.
We ask the Kennel Club to be as generous as possible at this
‘watershed’ time for our breed’s future; a few extra CC’s could
reduce the pain, and contribute towards a positive attitude towards
these proposals. Ideas and principles, formulated into proposals are
one thing, commitment and the broadest determination to make them
succeed is another, we definitely need both.
9)
There are other
areas which need addressing to bring about the reversal of the
falling entries.
It is not good enough to “stop the rot”; we recognise the need to
invigorate our CH. Show scene.
10)
We propose jointly
assessing the GSD CH. Show net entries every two years.
During these assessments consideration is given to the following,
With regard to the GSD Breed Clubs with CC allocation on alternative
years. (Rotation)
a) The Breed Club with the lowest net entry has their CC allocation
removed.
b) The Breed Club with the highest net entry is allocated CC’s on
an annual basis.
With regard to the GSD Breed Clubs allocated CC’s annually.
The Breed Club with the lowest net entry is considered for alternate
year’s allocation.
This would also allow consideration of the GSD Breed Club (on
alternate year’s rotation) with the second highest net entry, being
compared and considered for annual allocation.
There are many benefits of the above proposals, in particular it
provides incentive for Clubs to do all they can to attract the
highest entries, with the clear knowledge of the benefits or risks
to their future CC allocation in the event of their failure.
The GSD League went
on to consider further proposals for the benefit of our GSD
Championship Shows.
11)
The Two Day Show is
clearly a huge success, however the 4 year rotation could be reduced
to maximise its benefit on our Show scene. We therefore propose the
following:
The GSD League & GSD Club of Wales to host a Two Day Show on
alternate years and the GSD Club of Northern Ireland & the GSD Club
of Scotland host a Two Day Show on alternate years. The GSD League &
GSD NI on the same year and the GSD Wales & GSD Scotland on the same
year, with a minimum period of 2 months between the Shows.
12)
There are many
issues which can affect the success or otherwise of a GSD
Championship Show. The GSD League fully recognises the need to
introduce training in order to address these issues.
a) GSD Clubs to establish weekly training arrangements for show
training and basic obedience.
b) Seminars for Show Managers & Show Secretary’s & Show
committees
c) Central support for GSD Clubs regarding many aspects of
running a successful Show.
d) Seminars for CH. Show Judges to raise their awareness of
ALL of their responsibilities, with particular attention being paid
to current breed faults which need addressing, and to the vital
importance of the highest level of integrity when Judging our breed.
e) Workshops for Show Judges to highlight the major influence
their Judging has on our breed, and on the morale of exhibitors, not
forgetting their effect on the appeal of showing GSD to the GSD
owner. The impact of using of foreign Judges compared with British
Judges on entries, and their appeal to GSD exhibitors.
f) Seminars on the way our breed is Judged, the amount of
fast gaiting, the levels of outside attraction, the time taken to
Judge minor puppy & puppy classes, the length of time it takes
Judges to Judge, and the finishing time of most GSD Breed Club CH.
Shows which is currently around 6pm or 7pm. The importance of
handlers in exhibiting our breed, can this be reduced, by a modified
style of Judging. All of which affect the appeal of GSD exhibiting.
g) The way GSD exhibitors conduct themselves at Shows,
participation in General Championship shows, including Group
competition.
h) Greater accountability within our breed to constantly
monitor all GSD Shows, particularly GSD CH. Shows, with a view to
identifying the many negatives and positives, then proposing changes
or alterations which will enhance our sport.
i) Having at least a maiden or Novice class at each
Championship Show which encourages new exhibitors.
j) Having a junior handling class at each Show to encourage
youngsters into our Show scene.
k) Holding regular “brainstorming” sessions within our breed,
within clubs, to draw out ideas for progress.
l) CH. Show Judges should retire at 70 years of age, or
earlier.
The GSD League of Great Britain presents these proposals in a
genuine attempt to bring about the changes necessary to radically
improve and re-invigorate our GSD Show Scene. We sincerely believe
these proposals offer a great opportunity. We understand they will
be difficult for some to fully accept, we ask that they put the
interest of our breed ahead of any local or particular club
interest. We hope they will be fully supported by the Kennel Club
and the whole of our breed.
GSD League Chairman: Graham Stephens
