DVG America: the Time is at Hand
Almost forty years ago a group of prominent competitors, estranged from USCA for long forgotten reasons, sought out support from the DVG in Germany, resulting in the establishment of LV/DVG America, an American "Landesverbands" or DVG region for the United States and Canada. This was prior to the advent of the internet in an era when one hesitated to make a long distance phone call because of the expense, when sources of information were limited primarily to Schutzhund USA and Dog Sports, a new publication by former Schutzhund USA editor Mike McKown. We were enthusiastic, idealistic and incredibly naïve, looked up to Germany as on an enormous pedestal, as the epicenter of the canine universe, the originating source of serious working dogs and training expertise. We were oblivious to vibrant police dog cultures in the Netherlands, France and Belgium. In our world view all police dogs were German, we were unaware that the Belgians had dogs on the street before Germany, that the Malinois had come into existence a decade before von Stephanitz established the German Shepherd. An attempt to establish an American venue, NASA (Originally North American Schutzhund Association), had faltered and was even then fading away. Glossary
In our minds real Schutzhund was German Schutzhund, and to be taken seriously you needed to establish a German connection, an extended hand offering guidance and credibility. Since USCA was entangled with the SV, and in time would discover that they had inadvertently sold their soul, the next best option was the DVG, the most prominent of several German all-breed national training venues. By becoming adopted Germans, or at least honorary grandchildren, there was access to German judges and your Schutzhund titles could be inscribed for all time on sacred soil, in the DVG office in Germany. Somehow in some mysterious way you became legitimate, part of the heritage.
A generation later we find that our world has changed in many and diverse ways. Schutzhund has been rebranded as IPO and prospered in the rest of Europe, beyond Germany. As a consequence there are innumerable judges in Belgium, the Netherlands, the Nordic nations and elsewhere, well qualified men and women, fluent in English, quite willing to come to America. English is much more commonly spoken in Europe. Travel is much more convenient and affordable. The internet binds together like minded trainers and breeders regardless of physical distance or intervening oceans.
Most importantly we have come to know that the validity of working titles cannot be given by conniving Eurocrats or anybody else, that validly can only be a consequence of respect, the product of a rigorous program for training and qualifying judges, a rock solid foundation of integrity and honesty. We have come to know that it is not what haughty Europeans think, it is what we know, what comes from within. Ultimately titles are respected and valid according to each nation's credibility, diligence and integrity; they simply cannot be validated or denigrated by others. This is, by the way, a principle which reveals SV IPO titles as the least credible and honorable in the entire world in light of how freely they are given away unearned to unworthy SV show dogs.
In the beginning we knew nothing, not even what we did not know. There was so much to learn, so many subtle insights and skills to master. Innumerable Europeans—judges, breeders, competitors, trainers—unstintingly shared their knowledge, and in that era formal Euro connections were fundamental in building these personal ties, making these connections. While we continue to need and value these personal relationships we no longer benefit from a subservient colonial status, no longer need to tolerate the exploitation of overweening European bureaucrats.
Over a generation there was much to learn, and we did learn. We should be grateful and appreciative, just as we are to our parents and perhaps grandparents. And just as in the normal course of family life we in time move on to establish our own homes and families it is necessary and appropriate that, in order to become mature, strong and self-reliant, we move on from these European roots, establish stand-alone American institutions, just as exist in every other nation. Reluctance to leave, to cling to childish relationships, limits our horizons. We have learned much over forty years, the rest we must work out for ourselves.
The circumstances that dictated a childlike relationship with Europe a generation ago are no longer pertinent; it is time to establish a more mature peer relationship. We have established programs for judges and many serve us well. We can easily arrange for well qualified judges from many diverse nations for ourselves, with no need of bureaucratic interference. Indeed, especially in Germany, the precipitous decline of late has produced an overabundance of experienced judges.
It is time to for all of us, USCA and DVG alike, to break free of colonial dependence and stand on our own.
There is one very important distinction between USCA and DVG: USCA is technically and legally a standalone American entity, albeit with onerous and unfortunate dependent relationships with the SV and WUSV. DVG American is not a stand-alone American organization at all; it is a subdivision of a larger German entity on American soil with primary allegiance legally, morally and practically to Germany rather than America. DVG trials are illicit German trials on American soil. This is contrary to century old FCI tradition and regulation and is a sword of Damocles over the head. This has been condoned, swept under the carpet, for forty years. This may have been tolerated in the beginning, but it is not appropriate now, and recent developments in regards to the AWDF are likely to shine a bright light that will, eventually, bring repercussions.
By separating, hopefully on good terms, from the DVG in Germany these US clubs will immediately emerge from a debilitating quasi legal status as legitimate players on American sport fields. If disadvantageous USCA entanglements with the SV persist, if they fail to throw off their mill stone, this new entity with an appropriate American name will become increasingly attractive as a truly all breed, all American option, free of inappropriate European entanglement, especially the ongoing cost and shame of promoting degenerate show dogs.
I fervently hope that USCA breaks free of these onerous SV entanglements, in which case a new era of cooperation, even merger, would become possible. If they do not there might well in time well be a migration of USCA clubs disillusioned with their onerous, dependent, money sucking colonial status.
These DVG clubs have everything to gain and nothing to lose; their time is at hand.