The facts are that the AKC maybe be the big dog on the block in the near future. If this does happen, it will leave USA and the AWDF with thier thumbs you know where. Like it or not this seems to be the direction that we are going in.

With the events of 9/11 working dogs are more needed then ever. Thus this creates income for the AKC, so they more then likley will take over everything on the international scene. The hard-core working folk, if they do not want to be left behind will either have to get involved and educate, or go to DVG for schutzhund. Even our past USA Prez. wanted to be in the driver's chair for this. Look at this year's WDA National, it will offer a WPO championship. Then the AKC Schutzhund Invational Trial has gone on for a few years now, so what does that tell you. The change is going on before our eyes and it is only a matter of time before the smaller clubs will be left out in the cold. Sorry but this is the way I see it. Maybe I am not seeing clearly. If I am then do tell.

This is just so bad, if true.

But I'll tell you guys one thing-

The day I participate in an AKC event is the same day we'll be throwing snowballs in HELL.

Maybe this will drum up more interest in the DVG. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I do not know what kind of impact this will have on DVG if any.

While DVG may pick-up some of the top people that compete in USA, there remains alot of division amongst many of the USA/DVG membership. Alot of the people that I know in USA (some are just club people, some are top sport folk and some hold office) think DVG is a weak club that waters down the trials. We must remember that DVG was formed to get away from the USA folks, so I am not sure if there will be a big increase in membership in DVG; at least in the near future.

The problem is that USA is not strong enough to take a fight with the GSDCA or GSDCA WDA. USA while is a German Shepherd Dog Club is really nothing more then a schutzhund organization. We are not really a breeed club as our registration was nothing more then an extension of the AKC. And to top it off, most members never use the USA system as it requires alot more then the AKC, so thus we used the AKC.

Once the AKC gets thier working dog trials going or whatever they will call it and offers IPO3 titles, and I read only SV judges would be used, (this from a German Web Board) then it would be reason to think that the AKC will swipe out USA and the AWDF in short order.

I think there are members in office that are in USA that see this coming soon.

The past discussion has illuminated the reasons most Law Enforcement won't give a hoot about an AKC title. Most of the discussion has been centered on breed and it's standard or the ability of a show vs a working dog. Rarely is anything said about measuring the dog's ability to perform it's intended function. It's performance that counts. Rarely will someone die, because a sporting dog missed it's mark. We, in law enforcement have to train for reality. While I totally agree there should be a standard for police working dogs, it should come from the folks that use them. betterment of the breed is not an issue among us, our concern is betterment of training and utilizaion.

DFrost

The WDA uses only SV Judges and has no stand alone registry, so the SV likes that too.

WDA JUDGES

Trial Judges

Thomas Mitchell, SV/Foreign Judge

David Landau, SV/Foreign Judge
Douglas Alexander, WDA Judge
Michael West, WDA / DPO Judge

Conformation Judges

Morton Goldfarb, SV Judge

Looks like they (with Alexander and West) using WDA judges as well.

Plus, is there not an issue as the standard is in conflict with the FCI standard????

When this topic came up on another list, this was and still is my reply.

The AKC has never, will never and won't change the way they do anything.
They are a money making "registry" that convinced America they are the
authority on dogs in America. They don't care about quality one bit, they
care about $$$$$$$$$!

If they really cared they would stop registering dogs from puppy mills,
shopping mall pet shops, etc...but they don't!

I'm soooo sad that my poor unregistered non-papered working Police and SAR
dogs across the country will never be "good" enough for them. I guess all
the work they've done over the years should be outshine by two puppy mill
bred dogs with AKC papers, bred to each other and the pups sold "with
papers" for $200 in the local paper. Give me a break.....the AKC doesn't
really care, know or want to see working dogs. They want to see "papered"
dogs get more titles so they can sell more puppies to the unknowing public
and make more money off the papers and registry of the pups........
end of story...I'm...don't know how this happened... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> with Van on his last comments..

Thanks for the correction Sue, it seems the WDA is ramping this up rather quickly. They even have a helper cert program now. Its also convienient that they are holding their cahmpionship and WPO the same weekend as the USA GSDC, making it more difficult for level competition and widespread particiaption in an activity that relatively few fanciers spread over a huge country.
The AKC is all about $$$$$.
The AKC org could give $#!^ about:
1. The level/quality or training.
2. The Breeds they're supposedly supporting.
3. The American working dog people.
I'm with Josh and VC 100%.

John Haudenshield

Forgot to add,
if the GSDCA-WDA & the AKC is going to be the way of GSDs and Dog Sport in the US, I'll stick with DVG America and NVBK America.

What about the totally opposite option, instead of fleeing, what if all the GSD folks in USA joined WDA and basically took it over?? In case no one's noticed, many of the higher scoring competitors over the last five years in the WDA's World Qualification Trial have been crossover USA members. We outnumber "them" by far and could control the direction of the organization. Obviously, I'd rather see USA continue, but I can't help wondering if it's days are numbered.