The greatest award I have ever been given was to be elected by the membership to judge intersex at this year’s National.  As the Education chairperson I read, reread and teach the Standard of our Breed constantly.  When judging this year each animal was compared against the standard and placed accordingly.  Many love to see the handlers and dogs racing around the ring a break neck speed and the larger the animal, the longer the legs and the greater distance they can cover.  Is this correct? Absolutely not!  I was elected by the members to judge dogs and not act like a RINGMASTER.

 

While judging I attempted to give each dog and handler equal opportunity to present their animal to the best of their ability.  Because of the limited amount of time allotted to the judging of intersex only those dogs that were selected as top in their respected groups were really asked to work extensively.  The handlers who presented their dogs on loose leads were rewarded as the dogs did not forge and distort themselves when moving along the white wall.

 

The thank all of the exhibitors for permitting me to examine the animals without double handling them through the loose lead temperament test.  Although it may have not been obvious to the spectators we did have some dogs and bitches that were not quite as sure of themselves and these animals were placed at the rear of the lines.

 

Written critiques were available for all entries and I maintained the original of the 2 part carbon sets.  I hope the owners would are interested in them.  Notations are made for missing teeth, excessive spacing between teeth, worn incisors,  extra teeth  etc.  Notations were made for strong and or soft ears, etc.  I thank my scribe Bob Grady for underlining the descriptions for each dog as I called out the description for him.  I apologize if we missed circling some of the comments but we were under strict time constraints.

 

I believe that Saturday should be reserved for Specials only.  We lost 2 hours because of special presentations that could have easily been done on Friday.  The dogs were only judged for 8 hours-4 hours for dogs 8-12(dog photos 12-12:30) and 4 hours for bitches 2-6. (Bitch photos 6:30-7PM) The victory passes were limited to only a few minutes as photos had to be taken and dinner was at 8PM.

 

General overview:

Size is becoming a real problem, not only height at the withers but excessive length of body.  Bitches 22-24 inches  males 24-26”. Quite a few of the animals exhibited looseness of the elbows.  Temperaments were very good with the exception of a few animals that acted anxious and let me know they really did not want to be there.  These animals were placed at the end of each group.

 

I would rate the top 7 males Select, all other males were rated Excellent with the exception of the 10 dogs whose characters were less than correct.

I rated 10 females Select and all other females were rated Excellent with the   exception of 7 whose characters were less that correct.

 

Most eyes were dark to medium brown and blended well with the facial colorations.

Ears were strong with very few exceptions.

Complete dentition in all but 3 of the animals.  I noticed several of the animals had too much spacing between the teeth and the teeth did not appear to be large and strong.

Conditioning was lacking in some of the animals and their top lines were not as strong as I would like to see.  Some of this is again due to the excessive length of loins.

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GRAND VICTOR  BEST OF BREED

425-Diesel 2 1/2 year old

A confident noble dog of exceptional structure.  Complete dentition, scissors bite dark almond eye.  A richly pigmented dog with a correct double coat.  Normal size and normal proportions, substantial strong bones. He is a well developed young dog.  He carried a strong topline at any speed, his back is firm and straight and is of normal  length, a slightly steep croup, correct tail set.

He stands correctly in front and rear and has good pasterns and good feet.

His elbows are tight and his rear ligaments are very strong, he is sound both coming and going.

The outstanding feature of this young animal is his excellent front reach and rear drive moving closely to the ground at all speeds with no wasted motion.  He traveled very close to the ground. Handled to perfection by George Berstler, always presented on a loose lead which permitted him to move smoothly at all times.

 

466 Joshua- 3 years’ old-Confident noble appearance.  A very strong masculine head complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond eye. A black and tan male with a correct coat. This male was in excellent condition, normal size and proportions, substantial strong bone, a firm straight back, normal croup and correct tail set. Stands correctly in front with good feet and pasterns. He correctly single tracks with very good rear ligaments and tight elbows. Very good front reach and rear drive.

He appeared to be working very hard at times but the expertise of the handler Jim Moses made him settle down and work as a German Shepherd should.

 

470 Aregon- 2 years old - Confident, noble youngster with a very strong head complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eyes.  Rich pigment, correct double coat. A very large dog with normal proportions (length to height), substantial male with large bones, well developed musculature. He has a firm straight back, somewhat short croup with a correctly laid on tail.  He stands correctly in front with good feet and pasterns.  Very good rear ligamentation, tight elbows. Very good front reach and rear drive, sound coming and going.

He is a very stylish animal with a beautiful coat and in excellent condition.  He traveled close to the ground and was presented perfectly by Scott Yergin.

 

430 Marquis Stealing the Show - Oscar-sire of the Select 3 dog.  4 years old

Confident, noble expression.  Strong head with compete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eye.  Black and tan pigmentation, with a correct coat.  He is a normal size dog of normal proportions with substantial strong bones, well developed musculature, a firm straight back, normal length croup with a correct tail set.

With good feet and pasterns, he stands correctly in front and rear.  Sound coming and going very good rear ligaments and tight elbows.  He has very good front reach and excellent rear drive.  Beautifully presented by Kent Boyles, he is truly a working animal in excellent physical condition.

 

429 Green Knight - 3 1/2 year old male Confident noble male with a strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond eye. Rich pigment and a correct coat.  He is a dog of normal size and proportions, substantial strong bones, well developed musculature.  Firm straight back, somewhat steep croup.  He stands correctly in front and rear, good pasterns and feet.  Very good rear ligaments, correct single tracking, tight elbows with excellent front reach and rear drive. A short coupled beautifully balanced young dog presented to perfection by Patty.

 

453 Rogue - 5year old male.  Confident, noble, very strong head, ears soft, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eye.  Richly pigmented with a correct coat. A normal to very large male with a somewhat stretched body.  Large bones, well-developed musculature, firm back with a very short croup correct tail set.  Stands correctly front and rear.  Good feet excellent pasterns.  Sound coming and going, tightly ligamented rear, tight elbows.  A balanced mover with very good front reach and rear drive. Mike Sherman did a great job presenting this male as I wanted to see him with all four feet traveling close to the ground and effortlessly working the entire ring.

 

442 Cooper - 3 year old male.  Excellent expression, confident, noble.  A strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eye.  Correct coat, adequate pigmentation.  A normal to very large male somewhat stretched.  Substantial, strong bones, well developed musculature.   A firm straight back, short croup, correct tail set.  Stands and moves correctly with very good rear ligamentation and tight elbows.  Good front reach and rear drive. JR did his usually mastery on this youngster presenting his as a German Shepherd should be as a working smooth moving animal.

 

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BITCHES

GRAND VICTRIX - BEST OF OPPOSITE SEX

368 HEINA - This young 2 1/2 year old female is as close to the written standard as any female I have ever judged.  A dark grey sable with excellent character-confident, noble and expressive.  She has a strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond eyes. Her pigment is excellent and her coat is correct.

Normal size, normal proportions, substantial strong bones and her body is well developed.  She moved with a firm straight back, has a croup of normal length and her tail is correctly laid on.

Her legs are strong and straight in front with excellent feet and pasterns and very dark nail color, she stands correctly in the rear and moves soundly both coming and going with firm ligamentation and tight elbows. Her movement is breathtaking with excellent front reach and rear drive.  She is a short coupled balanced female who gives the impression that she would be able to work all day. Liz did a magnificent job of always guiding her around the ring on a loose lead.  She never raced, always trotted; I believe she could easily perform any of the tasks for which the German Shepherd is bred.

 

524 Eve - 7 year old truly beautiful female in excellent condition. Confident, noble.  Black and rich tan pigmentation with a correct coat. A strong head, scissors bite with complete dentition.  Dark almond shaped eyes. Normal size, normal proportions, substantial strong well developed female with a normal croup and tail set. She stands correctly with straight strong legs, good pasterns and excellent feet.

Her rear ligamentation is very strong and elbows are tight.  She has very good front reach and rear drive. She is a very balanced mover, very free and easy and she travels close to the ground with no wasted effort. The more she worked the better she got.  She never stopped trotting and was always kept on a loose lead by George Berstler.

 

485 Madison - 6 years old and every bit as beautiful as she was when I gave her Winners Bitch 5 years ago from the 12-18 month class.  Although she has produced several litters her conditioning was excellent.  A confident, noble gal with a strong head, complete dentition, dark almond eyes.

Black and red tan pigmentation and a correct coat. She is a large female who is slightly stretched, substantial, and well developed, she carries a strong top line, lovely croup and tail set.  She stands correctly front and rear and has good feet and good pasterns.  Very good rear ligaments and tight elbows.

A ground covering gait with very good front reach and rear drive. When she first entered the ring I thought she would be my top female, she was however not as consistent as the two which were placed in front of her.  For her age she is magnificent and Scott Yergin did a fabulous job with her.

 

515 Four Star Review - 3 year old female Confident, noble, very strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eyes, richly pigmented with a correct coat.  She is a normal size female with normal proportions, slightly stretched.  Substantial in body with strong bones well developed musculature.  She carries a strong top line, very good croup and correct tail set.  She stands correctly in front with good feet and pasterns, stands correctly in rear. Sound coming and going with very good rear ligaments and tight elbows.  She has very good front reach and rear drive. She was presented smoothly and effortlessly by Rafael.

  

477 Happy Says It All - A 2 ½ year old female- stunning in appearance, noble and very confident.  She has a strong head complete dentition, scissors bite.  Dark almond shaped eyes.  Her pigment is adequate and coat is correct. She is a large female, somewhat stretched.  She has medium bones, well developed musculature, back is firm and straight, her croup is normal and tail set is correct. She stands straight in front, her feet and pasterns are adequate, nail color is medium.  She stands correctly in the rear but rear ligaments are slightly loose, elbows are tight.  She has excellent front reach and rear drive. Her mom was my first American-Bred Female 5 years ago; she also was a great and very stylish animal.  Jerry did a great job of presenting her.

 

497 Heiress - 3 1/2 year old female who is very confident with noble expression.  Strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eyes.  Her pigment is adequate and coat is correct.

She is a large female with normal proportions.  Substantial, strong bones, well developed musculature, well balanced and in excellent physical condition. She stands correctly in front and rear.  Her pasterns are good with excellent feet. She is sound coming and going with very good rear ligamentation, tight elbows.  She has a firm straight back and good front reach and rear drive. Kent did a wonderful job with this true working animal.

 

507 Dancing Doll - 4 year old black and reddish tan female. A very confident gal. She has a strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eyes.  Her coat is correct. She is a larger stretched gal with a firm straight back.  Substantial, well developed female with good feet and pasterns.  She stands correctly front and rear, very good rear ligamention, tight elbows, correct single tracking, sound coming and going.  She has excellent front reach and rear drive. Jeff did a great job with her but moved her too fast at times.  She has lived up to her potential. 

 

480 Aramist Enchanted - 3 year old Very alert gal.    A strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eyes.  Upper middle size, somewhat stretched deep bodied a firm straight top line, normal crop and tail set.  She is richly pigmented with a correct coat.   She stands correctly front and rear, has adequate feet and pasterns.  Her rear ligaments are strong and elbows are tight, very sound coming and going...  She has excellent front reach and rear drive.  She is a very animated mover who was beautifully presented by Denise.  

 

494 Wonderland - Confident, noble, strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eyes.  She is richly pigmented with a correct coat.  Normal size, normal proportions, substantial, strong bones, well developed musculature, firm straight back, croup is somewhat short.  She stands correctly front and rear, clean coming and going.  Strong rear ligaments, tight elbows.  Excellent front reach but has a tendency to lift if not handled correctly, excellent rear drive. Ken and she made a great team and he did his best to keep her four feet on the ground. 

 

486 Sangria - 2 1/2 year old female - Confident, noble expression... Strong head, complete dentition, scissors bite, dark almond shaped eyes.  She has a richly pigmented correct coat.  Upper middle sized and somewhat stretched.  She is a substantial well developed gal with large bones.  She stands correctly front and rear.  She has good feet and good pasterns.  She is sound coming and going, very good rear ligamentation, tight elbows.  Excellent front reach and rear drive.  Top line could be stronger and her croup is somewhat short.  Patty did a great job with her.  She did however lack the conditioning to maintain her top position in the final group.  She is just a baby and I am sure will come together beautifully in the next year.

  

 

BEST PUPPY

16 Patrick - A very large somewhat stretched  6-9 puppy dog whose tail never stopped wagging.  Excellent temperament, very confident and somewhat vocal at times.  He is a balanced fluid mover who has exceptional side movement for his age. He had no wasted motion and kept his feet close to the ground. He is correct coming a going but at this age his hocks are slightly loose, his elbows are tight. Excellent front reach and rear drive. A masculine head, dark almond shaped eyes, excellent ear set.  High wither, strong top line and long well laid on croup.  Beautifully presented by Liz.

 

BEST OPPOSITE SEX PUPPY

201 Caterina - A  finished out 6-9 month female who is balanced and animated in her movement.  A here I am attitude, lovely expression, excellent head and ear set with dark almond shaped eyes.  A strong top line, excellent croup and tail set,  She has strong straight front legs, very good front reach and excellent rear drive.  She is clean coming and going with tight rear ligaments and short hocks.  Jim always presented her on a loose lead and she was in great condition

 

Thanks to all of the members for voting for me to judge the 2008  National Specialty in Beaumont Texas. Thanks to Nancy Nellis and her wonderful crew for a marvelous show. Thank you to all of the Stewards or your assistance in keeping the show moving smoothly (What would we do without you?), but especially to Bob Grady my able scribe. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL OWNERS FOR PERMITTING ME TO EVALUATE YOUR WONDERFUL ANIMALS.

 

Sincerely, 

Helen Gleason