MY INSIGHT IN TO THE GSDCA

About 8 months ago, I resigned my membership of the German Shepherd Dog Club of SA after careful consideration of the direction which the GSD fraternity has taken during my active breed involvement which spans over fifty years. It was not a decision which was taken lightly, and I will try to elaborate my reasons by highlighting what I see as the major downfalls of any Club affiliated with the GSDCA.

By including this unashamedly on my kennel website, I am sure it will save much rumour and innuendo (for which the dog scene is renowned).

This paragraph is not in any way to be interpreted as a brag, but I have started this article with these facts to emphasise that I have some knowledge of breeding/exhibiting/handling of GSDs at an elite level. I owned and handled the third placed puppy bitch at the third National in 1974 and handled 10^th place LSC Open dog 50 years later in 2024. Along the journey, greatly assisted by my partner of 35 years, Vonpeta Kennels has produced 7 National class winners including the Gold Medal winning bitch in 2008 and a National Breeder’s trophy in 2015. Along the way we have bred fifty-two animals who have been graded Excellent and 56 Australian Champions,3 Supreme Champions and 2 Grand Champions. In amongst all this there have been 90 A stamps and 97 Z stamps and the 52 Excellent animals have amassed more than 150 Excellent gradings. There have been very few “one hit wonders”!

DISRESPECT

One of the major impediments to the growth and acceptance of the GSDCA is that for the last 50 years they have, in my opinion, never respected Dogs Australia (formerly ANKC) and as a result, I have seen very few times where they have worked with DA rather they try to seek exception to any rules/regulation which they perceive does not suit the GSD. The GSDCA seem to adopt the attitude that “we are German Shepherds first and the canine fraternity will fit in with us.” The real situation is that the GSD is merely another breed within the World canine structure and as such the GSD does not deserve any better consideration than any other breed. Try telling that to the GSDCA management of the last 30 years.

The greatest disrespect that has been shown and continues to be shown to DA is the number of the GSD fraternity who seek to judge single breed. In other words, we have no interest whatsoever in any other breed or the general canine World. Imagine the chaos if every DA member only wanted to become licenced for their breed. The conformation show system just could not operate.

As a general statement, I have met very few senior members of influence who show any respect for DA shows and systems. I often wonder how this attitude has retarded the growth of the GSD fraternity.

A & Z BREED IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

The GSDCA should be congratulated for introducing this scheme but if it were a true “breed improvement scheme” it would be open to all pedigree GSD owners. Maybe a small premium on top of the normal fee but don’t they want to improve all GSDs or only those owned by affiliated members?

The scheme is badly in need of fine tuning to stop breeders only submitting X-rays which their vet thinks will pass. Also, the scheme for recording failed animals under 12 months is simply not working and devalues the scheme immensely.

BREED SURVEY SCHEME

I am old enough to remember when BS first started. Most of the original surveyors were/are highly regarded breeders with practical experience. The system had a two-tier grading system and, as a general statement, significant crowds of members attended survey to learn and there was a genuine desire from breeders to achieve Class 1 status. The single grading system all but killed the survey system.

The system is doomed as very soon, the GSDCA will not have surveyors with sufficient practical knowledge. It will be like sitting a driving test in a manual car under a person who has only ever driven an automatic. The longer the GSDCA survives the lower the standard of surveyors will become. In fact, the rumour mill abounds with stories about making exceptions for people with outstanding general knowledge to undertake breed surveyor training. Surely it is a job for persons with high level breeding experience.

I have not actively breed surveyed for years but I did allow one of my dogs to undergo survey about a year ago. On that occasion there was a panel of four surveyors as some were ineligible because they had animals entered. I had bred more excellent graded animals than the total bred by the panel. Seemed a bit silly to me.

If the scheme is to survive, a solid campaign is required to recruit successful breeders and surely there must be an education scheme for existing surveyors to keep their knowledge current. Even a testing scheme may be appropriate.

The scheme currently achieves truly little as many breeders breed from failed animals and humans being humans, I understand that is very likely. So, my question is why not offer breed survey to all GSDs and have a grading system, Class1 and 2 as previous and 3 is not a failure but offers strong breed advice. Only 1 and 2 would be eligible for excellent grading. Also why is membership of GSDCA required and why could it not be offered to every pedigree shepherd owner with a small premium (not the absolutely prohibitive current cost for non-members). Does the GSDCA really want to improve the breed or merely create an elite group within its ranks?

Currently 80% of whelps in Australia come from breeders not associated with the GSDCA so surely it would be better to offer survey to all GSDs and have some knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the new pups.

GSDCA STRUCTURE

The GSDCA has, in my opinion, never really been a national body. It has merely been an extension of the GSDCV. I find many similarities (for all you Aussie Rules followers) to the AFL which has proven by its very behaviour that it has only been a name change for the old VFL The other States get a raw deal with finals always played in Victoria, only two teams eligible for special treatment Anzac Day etc. etc. Same deal in the GSDCA with Victoria controlling national voting with the heavy loading of voting via an archaic constitution.

When the GSDCA was formed some 65 years ago, I have no doubt that its relevance for the breed in Australia was mammoth and there have been several breed improvement schemes introduced and it is fair to say that in those early years, the breed thrived, and the fraternity was blessed with many knowledgeable and committed breeders.

Clubs have a ridiculous voting system where all members get a vote on both obedience and breed matters despite many members having no practical experience in either discipline. A two-tiered membership model is required. One for breeders and one for obedience with the proviso being that double membership can be accommodated by defining the requirement for both.

Another anomaly which the current membership provides is that GSDC members, who are not members of the State body affiliated with DA can vote on issues which involve championship shows run under the rules of DA. An example of this anomaly was the AZ for intermediate and above where some of the members voting would not even have been members of the State body affiliated with DA. That must be the only occasion in DA history where non-DA members were able to vote on a solely DA issue.

The GSDCA appears to blindly follow the “German model” which everyone knows is failing. It seems to me that the almighty dollar has now overtaken the integrity of the once well-respected SV judges and what we see in Germany is very disturbing. Why do we now have the mammoth over angulation, long hocks, and long tails (just to mention a few). In Australia, these problems are rife with some enthusiasts even guilty of saying “some over angulation is sexy.” Please spare me! If anyone in Australia thinks that the breed is better in Australia than say 30 years ago, they are extremely poor judges.

WHY SERIOUS CHANGE IS NEEDED

I remember when we would gather around after open dog and listen intently to senior respected judges. We would wait expectantly and go home with fresh enthusiasm of how we were going to improve our kennel. Times change. We had no internet, computers, mobile phones limited success with AI etc. etc. The major change that has happened is that the GSDCA clubs are now dealing with a different generation of young people and have done extraordinarily little, if anything, to address the problem of falling membership. Their defence has been every breed is losing numbers we are no different!

Every sport or universal activity that I can think of has had to change to survive in an ever-changing environment. These changes inevitably revolve around appealing to a younger generation. The GSDCA seems to believe that it is not different, and meaningful change will not be necessary.

I can think of several sports/activities which were “dead in the water” until extraordinary changes were introduced. These changes rocked “the establishment” of these traditional organisations to the core but the changes breathed new life into dying organisations. NSW Racing was on a downhill spiral of mammoth proportions until the chairperson V’Landys took on the establishment and through significant programming changes made the racetrack the place to be seen for young people. The Melbourne Cup is now seriously being challenged as the number one race in Australia as The Everest gains greater momentum every year. NSW Racing did not throw out the old established race programs but added races and trendy venues and backed that up with clever advertising. Young people now account for 50% of NSW race crowds.

If we look at AFL football, the game has changed significantly. If the management of the GSDCA was running AFL, I contend that we would still be king-hitting players behind play, shirt fronting and bumping opponents on the head and finding the resulting concussions amusing. The AFL had to address these issues otherwise today’s parents would be very unlikely to allow their youngster to start the sport and it would have died.

The best analogy that I can provide is that our hobby of showing/breeding/trialling GSDs is the sport of cricket. Test cricket has been played for over one hundred years very much like our GSD activity. If Kerry Packer had not got involved and “taken on the establishment,” it is highly unlikely that the limited overs games would have come to cricket. Test cricket was “dying on the vine” but the establishment did not abandon test cricket, it merely added limited over cricket which has a huge following particularly from young people. They still play test cricket and through those who follow the limited over games, test cricket has gained a new audience. Young people are taking up cricket as an active game but invariably it is in the limited over arena. However, we are now seeing some graduate to the test arena. It is more than coincidence that one of the latest additions to Australia’s test cricket team came up through the ranks of limited over cricket.

The specialist showing that we undertake is the “test cricket of GSD showing” and like the sport of test cricket it has insufficient drawing power for young people. We do not have to cancel specialist showing but we need to add activity involving showing that is more likely to appeal to young people. If they get “hooked” on that new activity, then maybe they will graduate to our traditional specialist shows. Some of the activities that I have suggested but invariably fall on “deaf ears” are:

Fun Days where non-qualified judges (long standing breeders perhaps) judge a show with no critiques. Quick fire 1,2,3, then best dog best bitch and BOB. Computer generated place cards no sashes trophies and extremely limited expenses. Show done and dusted quickly!

Fun Days where both varieties compete in same classes. Quick fire 1,2,3, best dog best bitch and BOB. Again, place cards and show over quickly.

Excellent awards can become very boring after your first (personal opinion). Why not have a graded title award or call it what you like when an animal reaches 5 10 and 20 Excellents.

At some Members Comps break the Open Class in to Open 1 Open2 and Open 3. First class for any animals that have not previously been awarded an excellent, second class for animals with 1-5 Excellents and the third class for animals that have won more than five. All three winners eligible for best dog/bitch

In the lunch break at members comps collect a $2 entry fee from anyone who will enter their animal in a property class judging for best head, best coat, and best gait. Non-qualified mystery judge only announced after everyone has paid. Again, certificate for winners (little expense)

Fun Day with a show conducted like a tennis tournament dogs and bitches both varieties all in together. Only split in two for under twelve months and over twelve months. Random draw on the day. Two in the ring with winner through to next round.

I do not necessarily think that the above suggestions will save the breed, and I am sure that if people think out the square, there could be far more and better new options.

CLOSING STATEMENT

Before all the nay-sayers jump online and say get yourself elected. What have you ever done to help? That is never going to happen, and I will never be a member again. My partner Jane is a life member of the GSDC of SA and was a long-term treasurer for the GSDCA. During this time, I was working over one hundred hours a week and anyone who has been part of a diligent committee knows that is not possible without support from within the family. I know that during that time I provided that support.

My business experience tells me that any person/organisation that keeps doing the same thing expecting a different result is on the path to destruction. Sadly, I have no confidence that any significant changes will happen and if the GSDCA does survive despite inept management, it will be a small elitist group only for the wealthy.

The above has been prepared with interest of the German Shepherd breed to which Jane and I have committed a large part of our lives.

Peter Damarell
VONPETA GERMAN SHEPHERD KENNELS (Est 1973)

All content copyright © 2025