Overcoming Attitude in new Schutz club? - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

MurderOfCrows · 09-19-2010, 02:07 AM

The husband and I went to the local Schutzhund club trial today -- getting up at 6:30 am to clean up, drive for an hour to get to the Ogden, UT field, and watch everything from Tracking through Obedience to Protection! I took over 1400 pictures, but I've really gotta weed the bad ones out. (Also, really need a telephoto lens something fierce.)

Anyway, most of our experiences with positive; this was a two club event and had people from both Wasatch Hundsport, which is based in Salt Lake and has the local dobe rescue chairperson as a member (Marsha Sheppard) and the Ogden/Northern valley Olympus Schutzhund club.

Most of the people there were friendly, talked to us, and I was very popular due to my camera; we had some folks up from Vegas to trial with us, and both asked for pictures with their dogs, and any that I'd gotten of them in action to be emailed to them. (One got his OB1, and the other got his dog's BH in the trials.) They, and a few others, were very nice.

And then there were the rednecks.

I sort of expected this-- but there was a pack of blue collar men who asked me a few questions and then began to deride me for my dog choice, why'd I chose a show line, anybody who told me i couldn't work a working line dog is stupid, you can't expect to do shutz with a show line dog, btw this breeder (Von Ryan?) is the only working line dobe to buy from any all other dogs are crap.

I'm really hoping these guys are Ogden based so I don't have to see them often down in Salt Lake. They were quite repulsive and very rude. When I countered with my research and my breeder's accomplishments (and that many of Michelle's dogs title in agilty, etc) they dismissed it and continued to tell me, basically, how stupid I was.

So, folks: How do you let the haters hate and resist the urge to rub bacon on their bite suit's crotch?

Fitz.kara · 09-19-2010, 02:36 AM

screw 'em.

seriously though, kill them with kindness.
it always works... then they feel like idiots when you are perfectly calm and they are being aholes for no reason.

MurderOfCrows · 09-19-2010, 02:48 AM

Being calm and logical, telling them my straightforward reasons for my choices got further derision. I don't think I'm going to be able to kill them with kindness as apparently they've already put me into 'woman' and 'doesn't know anything' categories in their little peashaped minds.

I do think I might pursue this for titling, though, just to shut them up about 'show lines'.

KenyaARaineCD · 09-19-2010, 03:05 AM

The way I handle it is to stand there with a polite smile on my face while thinking: "The only reason I'm not responding is because you don't matter to me, your opinions don't matter to me, and your dogs don't matter to me. I know what my goals are and I'm satisfied that I have made the best choices I could in order to attain my goals."

Then I look at my watch and tell the haters, "Oh my! Is that the time? I'm so sorry but I must go. Nice chatting with you." Then I walk away and get on with my life. I repeat as needed until they write me off as "that thar' dingbat who don't listen to no reason no how" and they let me alone.:biggrin:

Casandra · 09-19-2010, 05:02 AM

HAH! Von Ryan? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Rubbish and poppy cock! Just turn around and LAUGH at them next time. They've got the bargain basement dog, not you!

Just ignore them and have fun. A Dobe is a dobe and at least your's is well bred and from health tested and titled parents who have been temperament tested and bred with the ultimate care. They've got a poorly bred dog who will likely have dodgy temperament and poor health because it is from a BYB.

Von ryan luxus

Etc etc

Just smile and give a little chuckle, shake your head and walk away. You're there for your dog and yourself! Prove them wrong

Jonesy'sMom · 09-19-2010, 07:00 AM

Just because I lived near the Ogden area for 17 years, I must say...
I apologize for the ignorance in that part of the state, you see most of the people in that area are either illegals, rich folk, or rednecks farmer boys, then the select, very few, normal people lol....

Also I'd say screw them, looking at Casandra's link I'd say that they got screwed not you, just remember any dog can work whether show or working... Don't let them discourage you... That neck of the woods you really got to be tough back they talk **** you talk **** or belittle them... The only way your going to earn respect (in Odgen area that is)

But MoC good luck on your SchH adventure with the little one

BriannShell · 09-19-2010, 07:12 AM

Success is the sweetest revenge

Brazen · 09-19-2010, 07:22 AM

What a coincidence!! Our club is having our annual Schutzhund trial this weekend too. Sorry you had to be bombarded by nonsense from people who have nothing but air between their ears. It is true that any dog can work and once you got your fabulous dog titled, you can then strut around and belittle their crappy dogs instead! :tongue22:

Oddly enough, our judge, who is from Colorado, upon seeing my Dobe, told us about one particular trial she judged with a Dobe who did excellent work on the field and got his SchH3 that day. When it was all over, the owner said to her that he is the only AKC Champion who has a SchH3 title as well in America.

Who said show dogs can't do Schutzhund? Huh? Huh? Huh? Lol....

zeus and me · 09-19-2010, 08:08 AM

brazen.....is your judge ann chaffin? If it is ask her if her nick name is PB......ROTFL! we had a great time with her at our trial.

as for the trash talk........well.....I work a all show line dobe in the sport. whne people ask me his lines I just say he is all show and drop it. the proof is in the pudding so to speak. but the bottom line is my dog and I love the sport and it shows in our work. we love it! we work it! and we advance! might be true that working lines work better? im not sure........scutzhund is a team work sport you and your dog and in all things effort and training pay off. we may never be THE BEST! but we will be the BEST we can be. I do it because I enjoy it.......many do it to win it ......my dog is my family house pet..not a hard core only work dog. I wouldnt trade him for any of those dogs! he is my buddy my pal..... he lays next to my children.......he is family.... and will always be a family dog first and a working dog second. this is what I tell those who wonder why we do what we do....lol! and when my show line house pet scores better then there's....I just smile

Brazen · 09-19-2010, 08:22 AM

No, our judge is Carol. Sorry, I forgot her last name. She's a 70 year old lady with lots of spunk! She will be retiring from judging this year.

TucsonDobieOwner · 09-19-2010, 09:38 AM

Don't mention your pup is from Show lines until he/she is evaluated.

That's what I did! I was confident enough in my ability to raise an outgoing confident dog.
I got some very snarky comments here on DT about my choice of breeders in relation to using the pup for sport. It taught me to just smile and let the dog speak for me. Two days ago we started our first private Schutzhund lesson with a great trainer who is close friends of Michael Ellis, he told me that he has only seen two Dobes in our area that he felt had any real sport potential, a fellow club member's Dobe out of serious working lines and my naughty boy... Ahhh! It was the perfect time to tell him Teufel was out of all Euro Show lines. He looked stunned and actually made me repeat it... LOL.
So all I can say is smile nod your head and stick it out anyway. If you want to be involved in Schutzhund in your area you will probably want to suck it up and wait for your baby to prove them stupid.

txsaphire · 09-19-2010, 09:59 AM

I haven't mentioned this here before, but I've been attending a Schutzhund club with Sabrina since May, and she's also a Foxfire dog. We still do rally every week but let me tell you, my all show line, pampered and spoiled to the hilt, diva princess has the most fun on the field! We're not doing bitework, just obedience for now, and will soon start tracking.
Hopefully, someday she can get her BH.

She'll do anything I ask of her, indoor obedience or outdoors, but the gleam in her eye and the smile on her face when we're on the field says it all. She LOVES it!

So to the naysayers that tell you it can't be done, just tell them what Ray Carlisle and others told me, as long as your dog is having fun, that's what it's all about!

Christina&Crew · 09-19-2010, 11:16 AM

I work in a club of all GSDs and one lady who has dobermans. The lady who has dobermans has never been rude to me about me having a dog that is ''half show, half working'' but the comments she makes about people who have show dogs speak for themselves. I don't take it personally; after all, I already work with a bunch of people who think dobes are pussies.

I have to admit, though... I'm reeeeally looking forward to trial time and hopefully coming home with a higher score than all of them!

MurderOfCrows · 09-19-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casandra

HAH! Von Ryan? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Rubbish and poppy cock! Just turn around and LAUGH at them next time. They've got the bargain basement dog, not you!

Just ignore them and have fun. A Dobe is a dobe and at least your's is well bred and from health tested and titled parents who have been temperament tested and bred with the ultimate care. They've got a poorly bred dog who will likely have dodgy temperament and poor health because it is from a BYB.

Von ryan luxus

Etc etc

Just smile and give a little chuckle, shake your head and walk away. You're there for your dog and yourself! Prove them wrong

Yeah, I thought that was the case -- I was thinking, "Didn't we just have a thread about him? Wasn't he a Puppy Mill breeder?"

Like I said: rednecks. The guy in question owned GSDs and would 'only own a dobe out of Von Ryan' and I just went "Eh, okay, whatever" and eventually walked away from him deal with the nice older couple who both got TR1 on their dogs today who I know ARE in the Wasatch Hundsport and are quite nice.

We'll see how the group shakes out-- I liked most of the people I met and their dogs, but some were just icky rednecks who just wanted to grunt and scratch themselves and drink Budweiser at the event.

sonterra2002 · 09-19-2010, 01:22 PM

to the OP,

That is an attitude you will find throughout the entire time you own and work dobes. You can't change it, unless you have an amazing dobermann. So let it roll off of your back.

I will tell you this... most of those people that you think are being @ssholes, are trying to help. For as much as everyone would like to believe that any dog anywhere can not only work, but excel, in protection sports it just isn't true. Most people want you to succeed and if you start out at a disadvantage, you are far more likely to get discouraged and quit. I am speaking from experience when I tell you that it is heartbreaking and frustrating to watch others excel while your dog is stuck in remedial.

So do not judge others too harshly when you hear this. It is repeated because for the most part it is true (not the part about ryan lexus dobes tho).

Your best reaction is to put your head down and work you butt off and hopefully prove them wrong.

Tamara McIntosh

sonterra2002 · 09-19-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christina&Crew

I work in a club of all GSDs and one lady who has dobermans. The lady who has dobermans has never been rude to me about me having a dog that is ''half show, half working'' but the comments she makes about people who have show dogs speak for themselves. I don't take it personally; after all, I already work with a bunch of people who think dobes are pussies.

I have to admit, though... I'm reeeeally looking forward to trial time and hopefully coming home with a higher score than all of them!

You had better get up awfully early and get your nose to the grindstone if you want to out score Lianne.

Tamara McIntosh

MurderOfCrows · 09-19-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonterra2002

to the OP,

That is an attitude you will find throughout the entire time you own and work dobes. You can't change it, unless you have an amazing dobermann. So let it roll off of your back.

I will tell you this... most of those people that you think are being @ssholes, are trying to help. For as much as everyone would like to believe that any dog anywhere can not only work, but excel, in protection sports it just isn't true. Most people want you to succeed and if you start out at a disadvantage, you are far more likely to get discouraged and quit. I am speaking from experience when I tell you that it is heartbreaking and frustrating to watch others excel while your dog is stuck in remedial.

So do not judge others too harshly when you hear this. It is repeated because for the most part it is true (not the part about ryan lexus dobes tho).

Your best reaction is to put your head down and work you butt off and hopefully prove them wrong.

Tamara McIntosh

I hate to tell you this, but they didn't want to help. They wanted to belittle a new comer and shoo them away from a club that had become woman-dominated, from what I saw. These men didn't praise the dogs that succeeded unless they were owned by men or working lines. They didn't like the 'show line' dogs working in there, and they didn't like the women there.

Jonesy'sMom · 09-19-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurderOfCrows

I hate to tell you this, but they didn't want to help. They wanted to belittle a new comer and shoo them away from a club that had become woman-dominated, from what I saw. These men didn't praise the dogs that succeeded unless they were owned by men or working lines. They didn't like the 'show line' dogs working in there, and they didn't like the women there.

Man really does sound like you hit all the rednecks of Utah... Really is starting to sound like the people I grew up around.... :Face Palm:

Christina&Crew · 09-19-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonterra2002

You had better get up awfully early and get your nose to the grindstone if you want to out score Lianne.

Tamara McIntosh

I have a lot of respect for Lianne's knowledge and dedication, Tamara. As I do for everyone in the club, regardless of what they may or may not think of my dog.

Who gets into a competitive sport NOT wanting to win or at least be the absolute best that they can be?

Christina&Crew · 09-19-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonterra2002

to the OP,

That is an attitude you will find throughout the entire time you own and work dobes. You can't change it, unless you have an amazing dobermann. So let it roll off of your back.

I will tell you this... most of those people that you think are being @ssholes, are trying to help. For as much as everyone would like to believe that any dog anywhere can not only work, but excel, in protection sports it just isn't true. Most people want you to succeed and if you start out at a disadvantage, you are far more likely to get discouraged and quit. I am speaking from experience when I tell you that it is heartbreaking and frustrating to watch others excel while your dog is stuck in remedial.

So do not judge others too harshly when you hear this. It is repeated because for the most part it is true (not the part about ryan lexus dobes tho).

Your best reaction is to put your head down and work you butt off and hopefully prove them wrong.

Tamara McIntosh

I suppose no one said that in order to be helpful you have to be possessing of tact or compassion but it would sure be nice, especially to the people who aren't familiar with the bias that exists in the working world.

I don't think it's too much to ask for the people who are passing along the knowledge to be polite about it.

Pitts · 09-19-2010, 02:28 PM

murder,
they are just what you said, redneck a$$holes,
Just ignore them and walk away, If you do choose to comment, I personally would have simply stated, that While I do understand your choice in choosing a working line dog to work with as it will make it easier for you to be succesful, I personally like more of a challenge, and so I have a showline dog that I am going to work, as I feel it will be a great challenge and bring me much more satisfaction when we succeed, but hey guys thanks for offering your help and opinions, I will be sure and come ask you for help if I have any questions. and then just smile and walk away, laughing on the inside. LOL

Dobs4ever · 09-20-2010, 10:37 AM

Unfortunately you will find this everywhere - whether showing, working or obedience. While it is true you have a better chance if you go with a line bred specifically for your purpose it does not mean your dog can't do it. Just as there is a lot of good dogs out there that are championship quality, just not shown, there are lots of dogs that can work but are not ever trained to do it. It is everyone personal choice as we all like different things. I would probably have to tape my mouth shut to keep for saying something that would really rile them up. There is never a reason to put someone or their dog down just because you don't like the breeding. You could probably find 10 people quickly who don't like your breeding either.

dobe11 · 09-21-2010, 06:37 PM

Grow thicker skin because you'll need it. People are very passionate and can be pretty opinionated in the "working" realm.

Hey, even I heard something similar last weekend at training too and have a working bred doberman! BTW, we're the only dobe/handler team in a predominately GSD club so that explains a lot!

MurderOfCrows · 09-21-2010, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobe11

Grow thicker skin because you'll need it. People are very passionate and can be pretty opinionated in the "working" realm.

Hey, even I heard something similar last weekend at training too and have a working bred doberman! BTW, we're the only dobe/handler team in a predominately GSD club so that explains a lot!

I don't mind being opinionated. Hell, I'm one of the most opinionated people you'll meet.

I do mind dealing with uneducated bullies, and that's what these jerks were.

dobe11 · 09-21-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurderOfCrows

I don't mind being opinionated. Hell, I'm one of the most opinionated people you'll meet.

I do mind dealing with uneducated bullies, and that's what these jerks were.

Yes, they sound like jerks and rednecks. So continue to train and associate with the people that you respect.

We'll be here too!