So you think it doesn't matter

There is a web site started last year by a large group of TOP doberman breeders in the country who are very concerned about the direction the world is going but especially the DPCA.

It was started prior to the elections in hopes we could educate members on the importance of the standard and how it is slowly being erroded away -  http://2undoit.com/

If you have not read it you would certainly find it educational -

Two major things happened that finally woke folks up to the dangers we face ahead

First a rescued albino accidentley got sent an invite to the top twenty -  Albinos were banned from
all DPCA sanctioned events but since all manual updates and revisions are done by volunteers it got
lost in the shuffle.

Then the DPCA board instead of handling it internally went to AKC asking for a ruling and of course AKC who has absolutely NOTHING to do with our standard and DPCA events said no and the board caved.  Heck they wanted to splash pictures all over the DPCA web site like it was a wonderful first time event.  The sad thing is the dog did not win the top 20  she placed but the pictures that they wanted to splash on the web site would have made a loud and clear message that we approved of it.

The beautiful AKC Champion dog that actually won the entire year was forgotten.

It was pretty sad -  we worked hard to stop the damage but once out of the bag the damage is done.
The albino greeders immediately posted on just how great the albino is and what a great accomplishment.  Heck they will probably be selling albinos off that one picture for years to come.
That one picture will haunt us for years to come.

Albinos have been a plague since the late 1970's and in the 90's the big fight with AKC took place so anyone who has been around Dobermans since then certainly had to be aware of them.  JQP probably not so much because they usually just wake up one day and decide they want a doberman.

But if you show pictures and don't speak up the problem is JQP thinks they are OK.  It is like being between a rock and a hard place.  Unless of course, you believe in the breed standard and are willing to fight to uphold it. People see a picture - think wow that is different and suddenly want it.

It has nothing to do with being nice it has to do with fighting for the promotion of good breeding practices and when we appear to accept wrong we send that message loud and clear that it is not that important.  People don't stop and read about the problems with them and the albino folks got real smart and advertise them as "white" which is a color on the AKC color chart but it is not an approved Doberman color---- they are albino. 

The second picture at the top of the page is the puppy at UDC Natls last year presented with flopped ears and tails from one of the top breeders who has bought into the Euro fad of let's loose our right and lets put our breed at risk.

When we sit back and do not speak up about these wrongs then they become the norm and soon the Doberman is no more.

I seriously doubt that anyone would think roached backs and terrible conformation is a good thing in a purebred dog but that is the problem -------I doubt anyone says wow I want one just like that.

We can be nice to everyone or we can stand up for a standard.  I am very clear on where I stand.  I am sorry I don't like to  hurt anyone feelings and work very hard to be understanding but sometimes we make our bed and then we have to lie in it. 

We talk about education but what good does education do if we would rather be nice than honest and correct?  It is not that anyone is attacked but we must state facts or people get misled.  It is a very hard place to be in and today it seems folks would much rather be nice than stand up for our dogs and their standard.

I tell you had the original Doberman been left uncropped and undocked I doubt that they would have ever attracted such a large following and might have fallen into extinction early on.  Just one more hound looking dog.   Why do we want to go down a road that destroys the very standard that made our dogs possible???  If you go back and read the early founders of the breed here in America they spoke out about the importance of cropped and docked.  They were visionary or they realized the problems with the parts of Europe that had already banned it and they did not want it to happen here.

There is a country song - You either stand for something or you fall for anything.  It is happening today people don't want to stand up for right -

We must stand for our standard and we must speak up about the things that are wrong.  Somedays it feels like you fight alone and people sure don't seem to mind hurting your feelings and hurting our breed but don't want to speak out when something is wrong.  Sorry I don't get it.
Dobs4ever
Dogs under fire!

Is Registration Important - What registration is best

Around the world of the purebred dog that is much talk and discussion on registration.  It is part of the foundation that makes our Doberman possible.

While AKC registration and pedigree does not guarantee the quality of the dog, certainly a  lack of one  indicates negligence on the part of the breeder as they did not care enough to even try to get quality to start with.

Starting here in American we have AKC - American Kennel Club that is the only official registry that means anything in America -

1.   It is the oldest registry dating back to 1884.  It was established as a way for breeders to verify and track the dogs they bred and to assure their bloodlines and show off their breeding stock.  Breeders had kept meticulous records up to this point of what they bred but communication was not what it is today so many of those records died with the breeder.

2.  Without a registry it would be impossible to know parentage, or linage and track and follow what it produces.  AKC developed, maintains and set the gold standard for purebred dogs in America.

3.  AKC sets  Show schedules, history, breed, and holds all breed standards.

4.  AKC set the rules and guidelines for a breed to become eligible for registration with AKC

5.  AKC has member clubs across the states to promote and hold dog shows and events under the AKC umbrella.

The purebred dog fancy is all about pride of accomplishment and AKC registraton -  Breeding always to better the breed that is our passion.

FCI - established in 1911 maintains Show schedules, history, breed in Europe and had 86 members countries who reg dogs under the FCI guidelines. 

CKC -  Canadian Kennel Club - is the approved club in Canada for registering and showing dog.

Kennel Club of G B - is the approved club in England

Australian Kennel Club - approved in Australia

These clubs share a common bond and have a reciprical reg agreement.  In other words a dog that is AKC reg automatically qualifies to be reg in any of the above registries and vice versa.
This is crucial when considering importing.

What I call sub registries:

UKC - United kennel Club - again a long standing club that was primarily designed for the sporting dogs to hold field trials.  They do have their own registry and if you dogs line is registred with them - the like AKC puppies can be UKC registered.  It does not mean that they will qualify for AKC registration however.  But UKC has a strong reputation for setting standards and guidelines.  AKC dogs can qualify for UKC registration but UKC reg dogs do not qualify for reg in AKC.  

UDC - United Doberman Club - founded in 1990 when AKC and the DPCA did away with the working dog sports - some DPCA breeders broke away and formed the UDC.  They require any dog that participates in their venues to be either AKC, FCI or one of the above approved reg. 

IABCA -  International All Breed Kennel Club -  is not actually a club as it does  not have member clubs.  It was started here over 25 years ago and until just a couple years ago held shows under the guidance and rules of Union Cynologie International which conducts shows with Euro style of judging.  This is a German Based organization with ties to dog organizations around the world.  A dog must be reg through one of the approved registries to qualify to show in this venue.

In the past few years there are some very unscrupulous clubs that have popped up as a way for people who made a big mistake and got an unregistered dog to reg their dog.  Their biggest failing is they do not require valid registration from any of the above clubs to become reg in their registry.  Send money and a picture and if your dog somewhat resembles the breed you are trying to reg - it is reg.  It is a meaningless registration because they are not recognized by any of the official registeries.

Reputable breeders who breed to improve the breed would never have one of their dogs reg with one of these registeries.   If you care about a breed, want to breed the best, and work to improve the breed then you certainly want to start with a registry that is approved and recognized around the world because of its long standing history and integrity. 

How could anyone be reputable if they breed dogs that meet no standard, are not recognized by the parent club such as DPCA and are usually of very poor quality and conformation?  If anything goes then why not get a mutt???  If quality does not matter to anyone why even try to claim a dog is a certain breed when it lacks approved registration?

All dogs carrying these registries are from BYB.

Some of those fly by night cubs are CKC - very clever scam artist to come up with a name that mimicks the CKC - Canadian Kennel Club which is a reputable club.

NKC -  Natioanl Kennel Club
APR -  American Pet Registry
APRI- American Pet Registry Inc
WWKC- World Wide Kennel Club
Dog Registry of America

I am sure there are others but I hope you get the idea.  If you want to claim a slim hope of having quality then I am sure you would want to start with the Registration of the dog.  Any breeder breeding less than the best is surely in it for the money and I can't tell you how often I have had someone call me and the first thing they want to know is are the dogs AKC reg.  This tell me some one got scammed along the way by buying a dog from and unscrupulous registry and then finding out they could not do anything with it.

How to become a breed and the importance of a breed standard

Due to all the misunderstanding of my strong stance on the Doberman Pinscher as cropped and docked breed I want to post some of the info on how a dog becomes a recognized breed in AKC in the hopes that it would help everyone understand how important a Breed standard is to any breed. 

At this time AKC recognizes approximately 175 breeds as PUREBRED.  The road is a long one to achieve this most important status.  While there are over 400 breeds recognized around the world in different breed clubs I want to just address AKC registration which does recognize certain approved outside registeries as acceptable for AKC registration.

Most people today want AKC registration - WHY?  It set the standard for purebred in the USA for each breed by requiring certain guidelines before registering a dog as AKC registered.

Seems to me if we want that registration to valid our dog we would want our dogs to follow the guidelines.  Believe you me out in public I have seen some pretty ugly Dobermans bred by BYB - roached, low tail set (which means the croup is not correct), snipey heads, cow hocked etc.  Why AKC reg does not guarantee any of these things the breeders who support their particlular breed and who show in order to maintain a breed standard hold themselves to a higher plane than just AKC reg - we support all that AKC stands for - The protection of the breed and to strive to meet the recognized breed standard as required for AKC registration as a purebred dog.

The first thing a breed has to do to be able to apply for registraton is to have a BREED STANDARD.  It is not at the whim of anyone and everyone to do their own thing.  The Natioanl breed club is responsible for writing the standard and then maintaining that standard - and this is where the breeder really picks up the sword and goes to battle -  We pour blood sweat and tears in our programs as we try to produce the "Ideal" of our standard.  We have done this for hundreds of years without government intervention.  We brought about dog shows to showcase our efforts and to promote our breed.

Without the strigent requirements for registration and the breed standards to point the way there would be no purebred dogs.  You can't honestly have it your want and maintain the purebred dog.  It just doesn't fit as the minute you throw out one part of the standard then the rest becomes far less important and that is exactly what PETA and HSUS are hoping we do - by eliminating the right to crop and dock our breed they have undermined the standard and the entire purpose of the dog fancy.  If the AR groups succeed in getting our standard changed then they just took a giant step forward in eliminating the purebred dog world.  Don't be fooled - it is not about c/d.

I hope by reading the requirements to become a recognized Purebred dog you will have a better understanding the of part the Breed standard plays and why it is so important to maintain those standards as set down in the beginning.  We must not allow the AR groups to influence the government and destroy any breed.

The breed clubs in other countries changed their standard and now they have Dog Wardens who are the "guardians" of dog breed.  Their system has become very political and riddled with unscrupulous individuals who care little for any standard.  A system that allows breeders to work freely to pursue the art of purebred dogs is the best system to uphold what we have today.  While it might not be perfect is it far superior to having someone dictate to you what you can or can't do.

This info is from the AKC web site http://akc.org

What Does it Take to be an AKC Registered Breed?

Facts and Stats
The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, and currently registers 164 breeds, representing a wide variety of sizes, colors, coats, temperaments and heritages. The Bluetick Coonhound, Boykin Spaniel and Redbone Coonhound are the newest breeds, accepted December 30, 2009. The next breeds in line for full recognition by AKC are the Icelandic Sheepdog, Cane Corso and Leonberger. The three will be eligible for AKC registration on June 1, 2010 and for competition in the Herding and Working Groups on June 30, 2010.

A dog that has full registration with the AKC is eligible to participate in many of the more than 20,000 events offered by the AKC and its affiliated clubs each year (some events are breed-specific).

Internationally, there are approximately 400 breeds that are listed with registry organizations in other countries. The AKC, however, does not register all of these breeds, either because there are too few dogs (of that breed) in this country or there is too little interest among owners of these breeds to obtain AKC registered status. Because the AKC is a "club of clubs," owners of a particular breed, wishing to have that breed registered, must establish an organized National Breed Club.
AKC Foundation Stock Service

Breeds that wish to begin the road to full AKC recognition must be recorded with an accepted registry (maintained by the national breed club or the optional AKC Foundation Stock Service). The AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) is the AKC's recording service for purebred breeds that are not yet eligible for AKC registration. Currently, there are 65 breeds in the FSS, but acceptance into the program does not ultimately guarantee full AKC registration.

To be considered for listing as an FSS breed, the Breed Club must send in a written request, along with additional documentation such as a written history and a written breed standard. Photographs are also required at the time of application. Once all information is presented to the Staff Executive Committee, a decision is made to allow or deny each request.

Miscellaneous Class

The recognition process begins with a written request to compete in the Miscellaneous Class from the National Breed Club. To be eligible for consideration to become an AKC recognized breed, the following general criteria must be met:

A demonstrated following and interest (minimum of 100 active household members) in the breed (in the form of a National Breed Club).

A sufficient population in this country (minimum of 300-400 dogs), with a three-generation pedigree. Dogs in that pedigree must all be of the same breed.

Geographic distribution of the dogs and people (located in 20 or more states).

AKC must review and approve the club's breed standard as well as the club's constitution and by-laws. Breed observations must be completed by AKC Field Staff.

If a substantial nationwide interest and activity in the breed is demonstrated and the above criteria met, the information is presented to the AKC Board of Directors for consideration to compete in the Miscellaneous Class.

Eleven breeds are currently eligible to compete in the Miscellaneous Class: American English Foxhound, Cane Corso, Cesky Terrier, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Finnish Lapphund, Icelandic Sheepdog, Leonberger, Norwegian Lundehund, Russell Terrier, Treeing Walker Coonhound, Xoloitzcuintli

Moving from Miscellaneous Class to Full AKC Registration

While there is no established "quota" or timetable for adding new breeds, dogs typically compete in the Miscellaneous Class for one to three years. At the end of the first year, AKC contacts the National Breed Club for updates on the number of dogs and litters recorded, and the number of dogs who have entered events since being eligible to compete in the Miscellaneous Class. Finally, the club must have held matches, local and national breed specialty shows, judges' workshops and breed seminars.

When all criteria are met, the information is presented to the Board of Directors for full recognition.   http://www.akc.org/press_center/facts_stats.cfm?page=8

UP with designer dogs down with Breed Standards

I sit here sadly shaking my head as we come closer and closer to the fall of breed standards around the world.  It also amazes me that most of the people who feel it does not matter are not breeders, have never shown a dog in anything, do not understand the importance of breed standards and apparently don't even realize that the  reason they love the Doberman is because for over 100 years breeders have presented the dog at it most noble appearance (after all we all LOVE beauty) and a cropped and docked doberman is certainly breath taking.  I guarantee you if they were drawn to the hound look they would have chosen a hound breed.  Looks matter.

But if the standard falls then Designer Dogs will rule at best - the dog fancy will fall, no dog shows, won't need a lot of fancy dog equipment, won't have any clue as to what the dog will look like when it grows up and will not have a clue as to what might be lurking in the temperament.  Can't follow the history of the pedigree because who keeps detailed records of mutts???

I was told the other day that NO ONE owns a look!!  NOT me and not Herr Dobermann.  Has our world really become that dumb about what a purebred dog is about???  Do we really believe that we want and can have a specific breed if there is not standard that stands???

While PETA and HSUS have convinced a large part of the world that cropping and docking should be banned their ultimate purpose goes far deeper than that.

I look at Crufts - the oldest dogs show and ask who the heck is in charge - certainly not people who love purebred dogs.  and JQP is so uneducated about dog breeding as to think there are no consequences to these drastic changes.  They told me that in the same breath that they were complaining about the long wait they were having to get their new puppy imported in because they wanted a c/d puppy and wanted to show in a country that does not allow c/d and bans them from showing.  UNEDUCATED yet telling me I don't own a look.

Well your are right I don't OWN much of anything anymore-  The government keeps eating away at our freedoms.  But breed clubs do and should own their breed standard as that is what purebred is all about.  The dog fancy has promoted it and upheld it for years until the term 'politically" correct became the new buzz word for spin it and lie and then once you have confused and misled everyone go ahead and do what you wanted to do anyway.

Think about these consequences:    Crufts -  has specific qualifications for dogs to meet in order to qualify as "good enough" to be invited to show at Crufts - BUT IF your dog is c/d it is then disqualified.  Way to go guys really smart thinking.

Consequences:   Has this or will it affect quality of the dogs being shown in this limited and restrictive venue???   I say yes as half the countries in the world can't send there best there to show because they are banned for trying to uphold their breed standard.

Consequences:  Will it have other far reaching affects - as quality goes down due to the shrinking gene pool to show from will health become more an issue as recessive genes begin compound so the breed in a limiting country will become more health ridden.   The very thing by the way they claim to be trying to eliminate.

Consequences:  Long unhealthy quarantines required for anyone wanting to import a puppy from a country that still allows freedom.

Consequences:  Then end of purebred dogs -  Do designer mutts rule???  I say NO!

Dobs4ever - Dogs Under Fire
This material is copywrited 2010  It may not be copied, redistritubted, or cross posted with out the written permission of Dobs4ever - Suzan Shipp - J Bar S Dobermans

DID SOMEONE SAY DOG PARTY?????

1. 
   
   

   QUESTION:    Ive been taking my dog for his daily walks to a local park, its a good size with a lake to walk round and childrens playing area, all round a nice place to go.
   Anyway, walking my dog on his longish line, hes been getting 'warned' by other dogs, almost bitten at times (he then flings himself backwards save getting caught) & I have no idea why. Hes actually started to react himself a little bit with the odd dog which I of course have been correcting with a firm NO! and a leash pop.
   Why is this happening?? its getting me worried. I let him approach the dogs so he can say his 'hellos' and 90% of them have been offlead this is why??   I let him go to them figuring they must be somewhat friendly, Dogs on lead I check with owners first. And these dogs that have been acting aggresively have all been from what I can tell older than my dog.. He has not been neutered.  A concerned owner

   
   Socializing with other dogs in my honest opinion is a totally misunderstood concept.  First and foremost with Doberman's, which are known for some dog aggression, I don't care if they play well with all the dogs in the neighborhood.  In fact I would personally prefer that my neighbors keep their dogs in their yard as I will mine.  But none the less today we do have dog parks - another bad idea for dominant breed dogs and certainly for any intact dog.
   
   So to answer the questions as posed above - a dog on leash is conceived as weak and therefore, becomes a target.  If you allow your dog to approach the other dog you are invading his space.  Dogs as well as people do not all like others invading their personal space.  To prevent this happening  reel your dog in when you see another dog approach and stomp your foot as you point your arm and say no back off. This will show your dog you are in control so no need for him to react and it tells the other dogs you don't need their help..  His job is to focus on you and continue walking.  Move calmly away.  If you are not comfortable with this then carry a big walking stick.
   
   Dogs running loose are a big problem.  Most attack stories we read about are because dogs were allowed to roam or run loose.  Dogs should always be under control whether at home in your yard or in a public area.  Intact dogs running loose is asking for a dog fight.
   
   I prefer my dogs play well at home with pack members but it is always supervised play.  I don't really care if they run and play with your dog.  They should be safe and manageable on lead if I approach someone with another dog on lead.  They should sit calmly and not approach the other dog at all.  That is about as social as I care for them to be.  If we are friends and you come over with you dog and we agree that under supervised conditions we will allow them to play together that is fine.  But I do not ever subject them to public free for all's.  Way too many untrained and unsocialized dogs and some real stupid peopl for me to have faith in that kind of program..
   
   So socializing my dogs with other dogs is not a big part of my program.  To me it means we attend classes with dogs on leash and my dog learns how to properly behave in those situations.  When we go to dog shows I expect the dog to stay with me and not pay attention to other dogs.  So it is important that the dog not see all dogs a potential playmates because that can get everyone in trouble.
   
   Keep your dog on leash, under control displaying good manners.  Do not allow a dog to approach other dogs except in controlled situations.  Dogs like people do not like anyone to just invade their space.  Could be why they are called MAN's BEST FRIEND NOT   DOGS BEST FRIEND!!!
   
   Copyright © 2010 Suzan Shipp. All rights reserved. Revised: ALL PICTURES AND CONTENT ON THIS BLOG ARE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF Suzan Shipp/J Bar S Dobermans and may not be used or copied without express permission from the owner. Copyrighted 2010 

Has Crufts has made health testing the laughing stock

The talk of the town is the Crufts dog show and all the breeds that have been DQ's from the event as well as the 15 breeds that are under fire right now.

Crufts obviously thinks it has taken a major step forward in moving pedigreed dogs to a better place BUT HAVE they???

First  you can't always see genetics with the naked eye.  Most serious diseases that plague all animals and humans are usually no known until they appear or rear their ugly head sometime during the lifespan.  It is precious few we have an absolute DNA test for whereby we can eliminated it over time from a gene pool.

So whose kidding who???   A ring side vet check in no way can determine the health of a dog.  If it would then we can eliminate all the costly health testing test we do and just run our dog up to the local vet and have him look in the eyes, listen to the heart and lungs and say all looks good.  It is a bandaid at best.  That is why vets promote annual vet checks - things come up.

But to DQ a dog for possible razor burns -  What does that have to do with genetics, improving the quality of dogs showing, improve the dogs being selected for breeding or is it a ploy by the AR groups to once again hoodwink them into believing all breeders are bad and all purebred dogs are bad???

It is not secret to the outside world that the AR groups have heavily influenced and infiltrated the dog world in Europe and that they were successful in banning cropping and docking over 20 years ago.  Perhaps they made better progress over there because they are not as well informed and educated over there - Honestly I don't know.

But I know this is nothing but a witch hunt and personally I think Crufts has a lot of egg on their face.

Dobs4ever - Dogs under fire!

1. http://jbarsdobies.com Blog: http://dobes4ever.blogspot.com/
   Copyright © 2010 Suzan Shipp. All rights reserved. Revised: ALL PICTURES AND CONTENT ON THIS BLOG ARE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF Suzan Shipp/J Bar S Dobermans and may not be used or copied without express permission from the owner. Copyrigted 2010

Dog Show Fancy - Sport or Cult

The other day someone who just bought a pet from a BYB made the comment about dogs show people being a cult.  Let's look at the definition of "cult"

1.

a particular system of religious worship, especially withreference to its rites and ceremonies.

2.

an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing,especially as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

3.

the object of such devotion.

4.

a group or sect bound together by veneration of the samething, person, ideal, etc.

5.

Sociology . a group having a sacred ideology and a set ofrites centering around their sacred symbols.  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult

I say if the shoe fits then wear it -  We are definitely a group bound together by veneration of something, an ideal - that centers around the sacred standard of the Doberman Pinscher and the standard describes our "Ideal". 

Dog showing is both a sport and a cult - just as football enthusiast are nuts about their teams and have games and tailgating to promote and enjoy their sport so does the dog show fancy have events, trails and shows to celebrate our accomplishments.  

This make the very nature of the BYB an insult to all that has gone before.  With no effort, no desire to produce the best, no understanding of the needs of the dogs they enjoy the freedom to breed less than stellar dogs and then when things go wrong they blame all breeders.

The very nature of the purebred  dog world sets it apart from the heinz 57 variety of dog that just breeds at will in the streets where they are allowed to roam.  Purebred dogs are special by design and purpose.  If you don't want to joint the "cult" then don't breed.