Now that I've been added to the GSP-L list, I am understanding your topic a bit more. 

 

I don't believe that individual mentoring of juniors needs to go through me.  If you have a junior in your area that needs help, would like to have a mentor, someone to travel with, etc...I believe you should move full speed ahead to help them out.  There's no need to go through me.  If you know someone in your area seeking a mentor but you don't feel up to the job then certainly you can contact me or give my information to the junior and I will find someone to help them out.

 

I would hope that in your mentoring that you would encourage the junior to become a GSPCA junior member.  Although we do not treat non-member juniors any differently at Nationals, there are many advantages to being junior members.  There's lots of information on the GSPCA Juniors page.

 

I would also like to elaborate on Andi's reply about the breeder helping or mentoring their puppy buyers.  As the Futurity Manager, I run across a surprising number of new puppy owners that have very little, to no interaction, with their breeders after the initial purchase of their pup.  So many are totally lost when it comes to paying their forfeits and understanding what and why they are sending money.  They only know the breeder said they had to do it as part of the purchase agreement.  I do my best to encourage them to reconnect with their breeders so they can have the necessary help to learn about making entries for shows and especially the National which is sometimes overwhelming to a newcomer.  As breeders, we need to take an additional step to be sure our puppy owners have the available information and guidance to pursue any venue that is out there for their GSP. 

 

I'm also the secretary of the local GSP Club.  You would be shocked by the number of people who contact me trying to figure out how to get started in a hunt test. I would agree there is a need for "go to person".

 

Maybe we could add a page on the website to guide newcomers. Instead of listing a bunch of people, we should just have one person listed that is like the Mentor Chairman.  Breeders could volunteer to be mentors for their area.  Newcomers could contact the Mentor Chairman and the Chairman could direct them to a breeder/mentor in their area.  Also, I know AKC has information on their website pertaining to getting started in hunt tests, agility, obedience, etc.  maybe we could add a link to those AKC pages to help get these people moving in the right directions.

 

These are just some ideas to your discussion.  If someone feels this is an area that GSPCA should pursue they should write to their Director and ask that it been introduced into discussion at the June Board meeting. 

 

Holly Faught