Yes, I'm positive Shon. Believe me, I *wish* it wasn't true, as you will always hold you early trainers in high regard.But she is an AKC person to the core, and anything that isn't to exact AKC standards is beneath her contempt.

Here's one of her boneheaded quotes from her book " The German Shepherd Today" , page 43 :

" At the Sieger show in recent years, all of the top Shepherds in the Open Classes had to pass very strict Attack Tests in order to recieve a high award. Some dogs attack with so much vigor that they must be literally pried off the villian in the attack suit, and dragged away, to make them stop biting."

Isn't that a great interpetation of a trial?

She then goes on to blame much of the temperment problems of the GSD's in the U.S. on European imports.

Further quotes about SchH in the U.S. : pg 157

"As it is the schutzhund dogs are poor physicals specimens that are being promoted as working dogs."

She wants *only* AKC dogs with a conformation championship to represent the U.S. in overseas trials......

She also does not believe in crates, prong collars, and pretty much any type of force in training.

She is no friend or advocate of SchH.

Will, I have been trying to contact you for a while now. Emails come back...you don't answer my PMs. I am beginning to get a complex.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Will, which edition are you quoting from?

I am looking at "The German Shepherd Today", by Winifred Gibson Strickland and James A. Moses (All New 3rd Edition, Revised and Updated), pulb. 1998. First edition was published in 1974, second in 1988. I did not find the quotes you mentioned in the latest edition. I did, however, find the following reference on p. 188 of the 3rd edition:

"I am frequently asked if I approve of Schutzhund training. I very definitely believe in it, provided that only dogs with absolutely sound temperaments are used, that the dog is trained in Obedience and Tracking before before the Protection work is started and that the right training is used to control the dog...."

A lot of time has passed since the first and the third edition, and I believe people are entitled to and should be given credit for changing their opinions :-).

>>>"I am frequently asked if I approve of Schutzhund training. I very definitely believe in it, provided that only dogs with absolutely sound temperaments are used, that the dog is trained in Obedience and Tracking before before the Protection work is started and that the right training is used to control the dog...."<<<<

This isn't a change of opinion but politics at work.
The grip work in SchH is integral to the overall product and begins as a puppy. ANYONE with any understanding of the sport understands this. Her ignorance of the sport shows right through this statement. Her statement should be that she does not know enough about the working aspect ofg the GSD to comment.
Her change of opinion only grudgingly reflects that SchH is being recognized as an integral part of the GSD, as inseperable to the breed as as inseperable are dogs and man.

Todd, PM sent, sorry for the delay, it took me forever to move.

Renee,
It's the "New and revised edition" Copyright 1974, 1988. No number on publishing, so it's probably the first addition of the new revision, ie, the original 1988 edition.

Kevin,
I agree with your interpretation of that totally!

Kevin,
I am by no means advocating Ms. Strickland as an authority on SchH, just setting the record straight (updating?). In her quote she goes further to state that: "There are two schools of thought. Some people believe a dog should receive the Protection training first when he is less inhibited. It is quite possible that this type of thinking brought about the drastic changes in the VDH rules." I have no idea what drastic changes she is talking about. Do you? Hopefully by now, 5 years later, she finally saw the light--she must be a slow learner <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> .

Regardless of whether her change of opinion was dictated by a true change of heart or just politics, it is a step in the right direction, especially from one of the staunchiest AKC proponents. Her book, whether we like it or not, is probably one of the first books read by anyone with a budding interest in GSDs. After scanning every reference to SchH I in the latest edition I doubt that anyone who reads it will come out with a notion that SchH is "bad".

Quote, p. 183: "The USA Schutzhund teams have shown the world that they are a formidable force to be considered in international competition. I would like to see the GSDCA acknowledge their accomplishments in some positive way." Hardly an enemy of the sport. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, maybe... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> but I don’t know her at all and only refer to her public statements.

By the same token, I hope that anyone uninitiated into the sport after reading the following quote: "She also does not believe in ... pretty much any type of force in training" does not get an idea that force is the preferred method of training in SchH. (I’m sure Will didn’t mean it that way). This forum is probably one of the most effective means of attracting new blood into the sport and I hope they don’t a wrong impression.

You're right Renee, force was a bad choice of words there - how about corrections?

The inability to use a prong collar on a powerful animal would eliminate many females and some men from being able to train certain dogs to competition level, I would bet. I can just imagine what she'd say about electronic collars. Ms. Strickland trained *very* soft dogs, not the type that most of us compete with nowadays. And none that would pass a police dog selection test by Kevin, I assure you.

The idea of not using a crate, while fine for someone that never had to work and could stay home 24/7 with their dogs ( Like Ms. Strickland, a physician's wife ) would probably increase the difficulty of housebreaking and training a puppy.

I've learned alot since I trained with Ms. Strickland nearly 40 years ago. One of the things I learned was not to reject training tools out of hand.

But I still have a different view on this than you as I was in her presence when she would bad mouth dogs having a protective nature. Had I took her words to heart, I never would have started SchH.

A wolf in sheep's clothing is what I would suspect of her now, but admittedly you may be right - she may have changed her views and be a whole hearted endorser of SchH now.