I am new to Schutzhund and was about to trial my female GSD for the BH; however I found out just before the trial that the minimum age is now 15 months, and must wait until the spring now. I have observed two trials and listened to the judge's critiques with attention and respect, along with several years' worth of USA nationals tapes. This thread denouncing USA's head of judges concerns me because it calls him both incompetent and having a lack of integrity. While I could care less whether he is personally incompetent or dishonest outside of Schutzhund, I now must ask how his incompetence and lack of integrity has affected his judging...does this mean that the scores he has given and will give should not be viewed with respect? Does this invalidate his critiques? Should I be worried that because he is USA's head judge, that his influence over other judges will affect their performance? This is a sport where another person's critique means everything; to call into question the competence and integrity of the leader of those that will be critiquing my performance in a sport I have grown to love and become obsessed with leads me to question how a man with these negative qualities can attain a position of leadership such as he holds. For those that know, can someone please answer my questions, so that I may decide whether I want to continue investing the incredible amount of time, money and effort it takes just to compete at the club level? This board has been a great resource for me, but now I am very confused....

This is a good post Scott. To make the statements that have been made, I would like to know what is behind them, as I feel there is something more to this whole thing then just a poor performance by this man. If this was the only point then that would be one thing, but there seems to be an underlining factor invovled. I feel that being these statements were made, all of the facts should be presented so that the membership and the governing bodies of USA can decide on what action should be taken for all accusations; otherwise one might judge just this man's poor performance, and not see the whole picture.

As you have stated Scott you are a new comer and this article (while very well may be facts) there is more that needs to be said.

I'm with Scott on this one. I have always had a problem dealing with any group activities. The politics have kept me and I'm sure many away from numerous activities.

What 1 person view's can be totally different view of another. We with little experience in the sport can only go on the words and actions of those we have come to trust.

I would like to see a open forum on this TOPIC.

Again, Like Scott and I'm sure many others, do we want to spend the time and money. Most likely we will but will it be worth it. I DON"T KNOW!
The people I've met so far have been fantastic, like my pup's training, only positive comments and actions.

I hope this all works out for the betterment of all Handlers and Trainers.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!

When this type of accusation has been made, the whole story should be told, the membership knows what to do with it, if anything.

It takes alot of guts for someone to make statements like the one's that Ed has made against a well liked person such as Mark Przybylski, and the positon he holds in USA. However, talking with others, the very fact that he gave a poor performance is not enough to make an accusation of a lack of integrity. (amongst other things) I and others have seen many poor performances from judges here and in Europe. Just to state these things is not enough; it sounds just like beef with two people and one is slandering the other.
While I doubt that this is the case, I would like to know what else is going on, as other's would too. I think that since this has been brought to light, ALL of the facts or any of the suspected acts Mr. Przybylski commited, should be stated so people get the right picture, and not the wrong.

I find this matter to be of importance to the sport, as he is the Head Judge, and being that this is on the Web for the world to read, plus in a German magazine it is imperitive that the USA membership knows what is what.

Issues like this are precisely the reason why I am no longer a member of United Schutzhund Clubs of America.

The DVG has provided a home for many, without the level of intrigue and political commentary that has become a permanent institution in the culture of USA.

Not that the DVG doesn't have it's own similar problems, but they are less, and not at the forefront of nearly every major event.

Schutzhund USA has failed miserably at representing the GSD breed. They have failed miserably at maintaining a level of profesionalism that one would expect from the largest protection sport association in the US. It is very sad to me, as I feel I have turned my back on the one club that will take the German Shepherd dog into the next century as a working service dog, but that is not going to be done within their present system and leadership.

Ed makes one very important point in his article, and this is one that young people like myself, and newbies coming into the sport should pay MUCH attention to. That point is made in the last three paragraphs of the article. The rest? Well. . .

Everything else, Scott and whoever, you have a taste of the environment of USA.

 Quote:

Originally posted by VanCamp:
Issues like this are precisely the reason why I am no longer a member of United Schutzhund Clubs of America.

Issues like WHAT?? So a judge shows up with a poorly prepared dog - big deal, get over it. How does this in any way, shape, or form affect the membership of USA???? It doesn't.

 Quote:

Originally posted by VanCamp:
Not that the DVG doesn't have it's own similar problems, but they are less, and not at the forefront of nearly every major event.

I'm taking this to mean that you feel there were "politics" involved in the running of the Nationals and that placings/scorings were somehow unduly influenced. I couldn't disagree more. Judging was tough, fair, and consistent, and the best dogs rose to the top.

 Quote:

Originally posted by VanCamp:
Everything else, Scott and whoever, you have a taste of the environment of USA.

What "environment"?? Ed's article was simply about the Nationals, which were well run, well organized, competitor friendly, and fair. Pretty darn good environment!

I was not there, but heard from two reliable people that there were a few "gifts" here and there that did effect the outcome. However as many have stated you cannot please everyone, and to think that this does not go on at the same level, in DVG or anywhere else for that matter, is not realistic. I have seen it is and heard of it in DVG. Granted DVG does not have the politics that USA does, but it is also not the size of USA. And really two's goals are different. I enjoy both.

At the end of the day, it is the judge's perception of the performance, and it may not be perfect, but it is what we have.

USA judges are still not as giving as alot of the SV judges, and while this poor showing may have been disgracefull to some, it is not the first poor showing that I have seen/heard of, (by a judge) and I doubt it will be the last.

The majority of judges world-wide are not great trainers; USA's judges program does not dictate that they have to be, they only have to be capable of putting a SCH FH on a dog, and KNOWING what a good performance is. Granted, somethings need to change in terms of what a dog must show, but this is the way it is.

I only saw one top performance that I thought should have been pointed a little harder, and that was Debbie Zappia's protection routine. Her dog slowed to almost nothing in the long bite and there was no deduction, but that is because the Europeans don't consider that faulty, while the American judges consistently hammer dogs for not running straight thru the helper. If anything, I thought Darryl Jones' protection and Ivan B's obedience were hit a tad hard, and nobody got any gifts in obedience, for sure!

I agree with lee here. Debbies dog was one of the dogs that was very correct but lacked power. It went thorugh the motions - but then again - the same can be said about Bastin.

I think what you also saw what was demonstrated at the WUSV in Steyr - there was a lot more emphasis on the correctness during the OB routine and the protection routine. In the protection, a dog that was powerful, but not as corrrect/was forging, etc. had points deducted. There were a few gifts given, but that in itself is a given at a major event.

In the protection work, I did see from a different angle on the bitework (full/ and 3/4 grips) as I was working on taking photos of the catches.