NASS commentary - Page 6

Hundguy (Dennis), okay I must have been wrong about the actual name of the "rocket bitch", the sable female who went first in the bitework (it was very hard to read the numbers).  But I stand by my evaluation of her speed and hardness.  She truly looked like a rocket on the long bite (all I saw was a grey streak until she hit the helper).  So you are the owner of this super performing bitch. What is her full name and breeding?  Did you do the training for this exceptional bitch? Were you the breeder?  Congrats for owning such a remarkable bitch. Her speed and bite were awesome.  A big surprise for everyone.  A true crowd pleaser. Complete and total soundness and courage in this bitch.

And congrats to the owner of V-4 Santo Neuen Welt for the excellent job training and showing this beautiful, correct stallion male.  A truly great accomplishment to be proud of.

Also, it's easy for folks who haven't trained and competed at the highest levels to be armchair critics and scornful of any lack of total ferocity or correct procedure during the bitework. If you want a dog that eats the handler, buy a "gangster dog" like Ufo Fiemereck, but be prepared for the problems with the outs, and the serious legal liabilities that come with these dogs who do not make good family pets.  I was impressed with the overall sound, calm temperament of the working males and females.  It was sane and these GSDs would likely make ideal family pets.  Isn't this what a correct GSD is supposed to be, a good worker and an ideal family companion? Almost every single dog at the NASS looked like a GSD is supposed to, acted like a GSD is supposed to and moved like a GSD is supposed to.  Even the GSDs in the last few places were very nice looking, worthy dogs that the owners should be very proud of.

Any GSD with correct temperament can fail the bitework at any time without being a spook, or having weak nerves due to many possible reasons, training being the main one. Travel can make some not feel well just like people.  A spook has that buggy eyed look and flips its eyes from side to side and drops the tail and crouches.  I saw no spooks at the show.  I will predict that almost every dog that failed the bitework will probably do just fine at other shows down the line.   To catagorize a dog that has a bad day as a breeding leper is a big mistake.

OK, I was wrong, the name of the "Rocket Bitch" at the 2007 NASS is Jenna vom Johnson-Haus owned and trained by Dennis Johnson (hundguy).  Here is a video of her doing her thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbppxGXu2JAay

Preston your link didn't work.  Try this Jenna

Love this video of her!

MI GSD, thanks for the correct video link.

As for VA7 Saro aus Agrigento, Sch 3, KK1.  He had a far outreaching sidegait and very good bitework.  What's not to like!  A very attractive male stallion. 

I'm pretty sure that at the Nationals once the helpers are selected, no competitors are allowed to practice with the selected helpers. And since the helpers are preselected now, there is no opportunity to practice with the trial helpers.

Any thoughts on Liedo?

Liedo was as usual superb and is a very worthy dog. He has proved his excellence so many times I just sort of took it as a given. Any of the top ten male dogs could have gone VA1 on an other day.  The judge thought that Teejay looked best overall that day.  The quality was so consistently high it was hard to tell the difference in the working male class, at least for myself.

Thanks Preston IMO Liedo has the best movement ...