the work vs. show debate goes beyond the type of dogs we discuss here most of the time...


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Excellent article, Chris!!

Two very good quotes from that article:

"Lesson One in the world of dogs is that if you put anything above breeding for utility, you will start to lose working abilities."

"A serious breeder takes the work of their dogs seriously, and a serious breeder will work their dogs at least a few times just to make sure they have the drive, the size and the temperament to actually do the job."

The fellow that wrote this article gets it. Too bad no one in the AKC establishment will ever read this fine article. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

That is a very good article.

As someone that has owned and bred both show dogs and working dogs this is an excellent article!

I've read this before and couldn't agree more. Having shown, among other terriers, Bull Terriers in the breed ring back in the 80s, I can honestly say, That is the least trainable breed I've ever worked with. That large head sure isn't brains. I've also read Terriermen and Terriers, amongst many terrier books that say the same thing. A Working Lakeland Terrier is an amaizing, and beautiful dog. They aren't even close to the show Lakeland. JRTs are going down the tube fast since recognition by AKC, but there is still a large group in the states and abroad that are breeding worker to worker. Even the JRTCA seems to be geting more larger dogs in their breed ring. Border Terriers were, not to long ago, one of the top workers in Great Britain. Now it's one of the most popular pets there. I could go on about most any breed but that wont change a thing. The Border Collie Club of America is trying. If a Border Collie obtains an AKC show championship, it will now be dropped from the Border Collie Club Of America registration. Good luck to them in keeping an honest dog.

Bob, I was waiting to hear from you on this subject,thanks

Great article. And I think working-line breeders need to think about some of these things too. I hear people all the time say they like a certain GSD because it has a big blocky head, or because it's a certain color. And these are working dog people. As the article said: in working dogs, utility is beauty. That big ol' head just looks cool.

i may be pretty new to this, but i think there's another thing working people need to keep in mind, too (schutzhund in particular - that's what i have experience with) :

breeding for the ultra-high prey drive monsters that can't even sit still for basic obedience might be a bit of a departure from the original ideal as well.

just my opinion.

(if anybody asks, i'll be over there in the corner, waiting for my whoopin'...)

Chris, I have a Prey gator. Yes it can be a challange to train OB, but then again you can always tone down the prey a little but its a real pain in the BUTT if they lack prey Drive.

Sometimes I think I have a GSD/Mal cross. Heaven forbid such a thing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Owning two quivering bundles of prey drive, I can attest to the pains of generally living with them - good house dogs they are *not*.

And Ob training is not as much fun with them sometimes. Training the long down becomes an ordeal.

But as Butch said, training dogs with low prey drive can be a severe pain. The dogs with ultra high prey will at least calm a bit with maturity ( I am *SOOOO* hoping that proves true in my case )