On Sunday, August 15th, some steps were made by the GSDL and their Working Dog Group, towards joint fulfilment of plans to follow the SV model of GSD breed assessment and improvement.

Through a White Rose SC initiative, a GSD Breed Council Breed Survey was carried out through assessments by UK judge and surveyer Terry Hannan, and with the assistance of Sue Belfield in the organisation of the event.

GSD Breed Assessments are carried out to assess physical construction, character and temprament of individual dogs. Placings as at a breed show are not sought, only a grading as to how that individual dog measures up to the WUSV Breed Standard.

White Rose members Gail Hodgson with Argonne Edmond Dante (Dog) and Mary Wellwood with Cedar v. Annacarton (Bitch) both achieved Class 1 assessments at the event.

Both Gail and Mary hoped to enter the forthcoming British Sieger Show. Entry into the Working Dog Class of that event requires that dogs entered hold working qualifications and have undergone a Breed Assessment. As both already hold schutzhund qualifications through White Rose SC, the breed assessment was still a necessity.

Sue Belfield commented afterwards "Both are quite nice specimens of the breed and it will be a pleasure to see them compete in the ring with the breed show dogs."

as we are now seeing an increase in members to the Working Dog Group by the show fraternity attempting to gain SchH qualifications, so a 'returned compliment' has begun where working dog owners are more willing to put their dogs under the surveyer's eye.