jerry lee

Animal rights? Sorry, I don't see it as animal rights propaganda. I see it as telling it like it is.

The vid certainly has the "EEK" factor. The question asked, "what have we done too them'' is answered with one of the opening statements blaming shows for judging dog against dog instead of dog against standard. "Fashion is usurping "function" One shouldn't be able to pick a show dog from a working dog of the same breed just by looking at them, except maybe the working dogs coat wouldn't display the benefit of a regular bath & brush.

yep but only if the owner isnt a cliche member,when they are, then it isnt. What ever, The judge still signs the CC.

Judges sign the CC that in their opinion the exhibit is worthy of the title "Australian Champion" All the exhibitor can do is enter & turn up. The rest is out of their hands.

Or educated & intelligent.

35,000 maltese in S.A? What a surprise. Tell'em their dreamin'

This is the clique democratically elected by all full members that you're talking about? No, this the future clique who kid to you they will do the right thing by the membership & you never hear a sincere thought from them again. & of course there is the laxidasical syndrome of let someone else do the job that also allows it to happen. Once in it doesn't take long for them to toe the "us & them" line though. Like they say, the only person to ever go into parliament house with an honest intention was Guy Fawkes.

Disagreeing with a post isn't censorship jerry lee. Have you ever been on the committee of a breed club? 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing'. Attributed to Burke :) Attacking an opinion & attempting to disparage it because you don't agree with it is attempted censorship, same horse, different cart. If you actually did own maremmas & that was you honest opinion, it would be fair comment. But the wording suggested it was only malicious hyperbole. In my eyes, I saw evil....well maybe not exactly evil, but naughtiness none the less. So I spoke against it. Mr Burke should happy don't you think? Have I ever been on the committee of a breed club? Yes. It didn't take long to figure out all issues were well & truly sorted before any meetings were convened. Meetings were merely a vehicle to record the prearranged votes. The clique ruled...& still does as far as I know. I attended three meetings. Same old same old at each. I then served only as a volunteer if needed. HW, Uncomplimentary is not necessarily defamatory. It could be in relation to a matter published in a previous issue for e.g. Which is an actual example. It was a statement made by the president which I personally know of four members who disagreed with so strongly they all wrote in. I would image there were many more. None were published. Once upon a time there were many ''uncomplimentary" letters complaining about poor facilities, or suspect handling, suspect judging etc, etc. Not any more. Only thank you notes these days. Censorship rules when a clique rules.

I don't think its unfair to suggest that one person's (or even more than one persons') negative experiences shouldn't colour the entire debate JL. I also haven't had experiences that put me off club membership. All breed clubs elect their Committees. They are required to under ANKC regulations. If people care enough about how things are run, there are methods of changing them. Fact is most don't and they get the Committees they deserve as a result. You're struggling to get a turn out to a lot of AGMs. I enjoy the activities of the clubs I'm a member of. So do a lot of people. Sure some folk don't but they can change things if they choose to. It's the Marvin attitudes of some of those within the ANKC fold (and those swiping from outside) that put a lot of newbs off the purebred dog world. People should be given a balanced view and allowed to decide for themselves rather than deterred by a heap of negativity. Censorship of opinions, such as Steves, or indeed attacking the opinions with misquided hyperbole should not go unchallenged either HW. Try getting a true but uncomplementary missive printed in your state bodies journal & see how far you go. The three monkeys gig doesn't cut it in a democracy....or at least it shouldn't " If you always do what you have always done, You will always get what you have always got"

Please don't generalise Steve, a lot of breed clubs do their very best for their members. Even though we are a minority breed we run a very successful club and have a large membership. Not all breed clubs are the same, the fact that you had a negative experience with one club doesn't give you the right to tar all clubs with the same brush. Miranda Im not going to get into the crap here because I dont think its in the best interests of purebred dogs but my experience with breed clubs is not just about the ones I have been a member of and I get why some people don't have a great experience with them generally. Steve, just suppose I posted: 'I owned a couple of Maremmas and I'd rather own just about any other breed than ever go there again. Nasty temperament and where you see some of the worst traits in dogs' Would you not have replied requesting me not to generalise and tar all Maremmas with the same brush? And what would you think if I replied 'Steve I'm not going to get into the crap here because I don't think it's in the best interests of purebred dogs but my experience with Maremma is not just about the ones I've owned and I get why some people don't have a great experience with them generally' Need I say more? Anyway my apologies to all for going OT, I will now bow out of this thread :) The difference is Steve is speaking from personal experience while you are speaking as a person in denial. Oh dear it looks as if I'll have to bow in again :laugh: Of course I'm speaking from personal experience, I've been a general/committee member of breed clubs for nearly 40 years :) Which, in many cases, is the problem. Your club may just be the bestest little club on the planet. Obviously Steve didn't have the enlightening experience of membership. She must have been unforunate enough to experience the same despotic attitudes lots of other clubs display. As have I.

Please don't generalise Steve, a lot of breed clubs do their very best for their members. Even though we are a minority breed we run a very successful club and have a large membership. Not all breed clubs are the same, the fact that you had a negative experience with one club doesn't give you the right to tar all clubs with the same brush. Miranda Im not going to get into the crap here because I dont think its in the best interests of purebred dogs but my experience with breed clubs is not just about the ones I have been a member of and I get why some people don't have a great experience with them generally. Steve, just suppose I posted: 'I owned a couple of Maremmas and I'd rather own just about any other breed than ever go there again. Nasty temperament and where you see some of the worst traits in dogs' Would you not have replied requesting me not to generalise and tar all Maremmas with the same brush? And what would you think if I replied 'Steve I'm not going to get into the crap here because I don't think it's in the best interests of purebred dogs but my experience with Maremma is not just about the ones I've owned and I get why some people don't have a great experience with them generally' Need I say more? Anyway my apologies to all for going OT, I will now bow out of this thread :) The difference is Steve is speaking from personal experience while you are speaking as a person in denial. It's not just dog clubs that suffer the little empire builders syndrome, it happens in all types of clubs, not to be confused with only clubs of any particular persuasion.

I can see how non terrier people would think that. Terriers are fiesty. That is what makes them terriers. Which appeals to those who want a sturdy little dog with a bit of get up & go However, I was interested as to why Sheridan thinks as she does. There appears to be a lot of negativity about Sheridans posts. & a comment for comments sake. Maltese aren't terriers. Just for anyone who may have been wondering.

I'm going to reply just this once more, because it's extremely unfair to the OP by going so off the original topic. My goodness, jerry lee, please read the words that I have written again. Did you actually digest any of it? You're preaching to the converted. I KNOW how good Staffords can be at agility! lol Jeebus. I wasn't trying to prove nor disprove anyones point, particularly your point in regard to the Staffords ability to take part in agility. In fact, if anything, I was agreeing with you on that point.... So why the heck you're telling me about construction and conformation, Lord only knows....! Obviously what I typed went straight over your head. I'm simply stating that in THIS case, the Stafford is not necessarily the best breed for the requirements of the OP's daughter. But they will make that decision themselves, no matter what you, I or anyone else says. Let that be enough, that you've given them information about the Staffords abilities. Hopefully you're confident enough in your own knowledge to let what others think of the breed to let it go :) Read HW's reply. I wasn't preaching to the converted, I was trying to explain why I was hanging in. As for whether the breed would would suit the purpose? We have to agree to disagree. HW, For what it's worth I thank you for your upfront reply & say the same. Let's just agree to disagree & move on.

Particularly the terrier breeds. Terriers are just too much hard work for most people. Just curious. Can you eloborate on why you say terrier breeds are to much hard work? Most terriers are very low maintenance, so I'm assuming you mean temperament wise. High prey drive & hyperactive..... that sort of thing? Since the taildocking laws were introduced there has been a drop off in some the previously docked breeds such as rotties & dobes....the O.E.S is pretty rare sight these days as well. High travel costs & entry fees are hitting country shows pretty hard. The smart ones seem to be gravitating toward three shows on the one w/e as a way of attracting entries. Which is a good plan, it makes the trip worthwhile. As for breed clubs, the feifdoms that develop within some clubs is responsible in no small way for the fall off in memberships.

Tessies Tracy. Great vids. Helped me prove my point, again, whether you meant to or not. Thanks for that. I never reply to the "what breed should I get for a pet'' threads by recommending staffies. ( I am a staffy person & happily so ) old school I guess) This was an exception due to the variety of challenges. & the suggestion by a previous poster that I follow up on. I thought then as I think now the staffy is a good choice to get the jobs required done. Firstly, as I stated earlier, it is my experience a staffy introduced as puppy will bond with whatever other animals are already there. Secondly, it is a doggy home with a definate goal for the dog & I figured with the subsequent early training the dog would bond with the young girl & be easily managed by her because of the regular training. When I had plans for agility the dog had to reach a certain level of obedience before the club would allow it to start agility training. Next, believing in the puppy bonding I mentioned earlier I don't believe there would be an issue with the three dogs living together. The reason I kept on is more to do with the ridiculous reasons given why the breed isn't suitable for agility. Because they are three times heavier than other breeds of a comparable height... Their constuction is all wrong, because their toes point slighty out at rest their pasterns wont stand up to the jumping & landing. Their chest are too wide or too narrow, I'm not sure which it was, both are equally ridiculous anyhow, to manage the beam. The jumps are too high for them. Well the vids have conclusively dispelled all those misnomers. I obtained my first staffy in 1985. He lived with my one rottie first & then a second later, without any trouble. In fact he & my rottie male were inseparable. The rotty died in 1996, the staffy a year later. my other rotty a year after that. I had a break from dogs for a while & have been back with staffies since 1999. I do get a little annoyed when I read misinformation offered as fact by those with no experience of this wonderful breed. They didn't become the most popular terrier in the country without good reason.