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Hello,
Here in the states, there are only a few people working the amstaffs. There are more working APBTs. (By the way, I don't consider it a working dog until the dog is titled). I have friends in Germany, that have titled numerous Amstaffs in Schutzhund. Now, there are so many breed bans overseas, that few are working APBTs or Amstaffs. Most of the people still working them overseas, are doing it "underground".
The problem here in the states, is everybody says that they are working their dogs in Schutzhund, PSA or other sport. However, most never title their dogs, and it is just a ploy to sell their dogs. I know people with bull breeds that say they have been doing Schutzhund for years, but have never titled a dog or entered a trial. People are just down right lazy. They would rather talk dogs that work dogs.

I think it is great to see people working their amstaffs!
To many breeders breed dogs to look good,but the dogs often lack in character..
I thought that the amstaff was forbidden in Germany,but i was told by a friend of mine that lives there,that they only are forbidden in different parts of Germany.
Sorry to hear.Some people talk but some people WALK. = )
I ,hope at least,to get my dog titeled IPO 1.
He will then be the first amstaff in Sweden to get that title.We are training at a place for Germna shepherd owners.
They dont mind.But,they are very careful about who they let in the training group.Wich is good,we dont want macho-guys coming to do bitework.
I have not started the bitework yet.My dog has to be very good in the obedience first.

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(By the way, I don't consider it a working dog until the dog is titled).

that's interesting. i consider a working dog, not one with a sport title, but one that has an actual job (police patrol dog, police narc dog, police explosives dog, guard dog, seeing eye dog, therapy dog, etc. none of these jobs require a sport title).

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that's interesting. i consider a working dog, not one with a sport title, but one that has an actual job (police patrol dog, police narc dog, police explosives dog, guard dog, seeing eye dog, therapy dog, etc. none of these jobs require a sport title).

Have to agree with Tim on this one in the sence that a working dog is a dog that as the name sames .....works. This can be in all sorts of fields. There are many breeds of dogs that fall under the catergory "working dogs" not just the sheps.An untitled dog can work just as well as an untitled dog. Dogs that "work" can be help aid dogs for handicapt people, blind institute dogs, hunting dogs that work daily with the handler etc.Many good working dogs are also what we call upcoming working dogs with a high drive. Yes,of course once they come into a certain work section they can get titles in security, police, military and pass exams etc with the handler and get certificates.Sport dogs get titled too but this doesnt make them any better than the untitled dogs as they can do the work just as well. I think a good working dog is one that carrys out its function well that its asigned too and whether it has a title or not is irelevant. Its also great to see new breeds coming into the sport and working sector too such as the amstaff, dobers, rotti's etc.............gives the gsd and mals some competition <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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An untitled dog can work just as well as an untitled dog.

typo sorry should read "An untitled dog can work just as well as a titled dog."

And that is no lie, sometimes even better <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I agree. I have mals in the sport and i just love being around their high work drive but more important is that both they and I enjoy what we are doing.......a title is maybe nice but its not important to me at all. I think there is too much "push" these days from achievment orientated handlers especially in the sport in gaining titles. (Each to his own and I have no problem with someone who does it is their choice, its just not my first priority)Thats maybe why the dogs that work everyday for a profession do their work and yes better in many cases, they are encouraged to go out do the work they love the most with enthousiasm. Who wants the title? The handler. I bet if u asked the dog he wouldnt care what he had as long as he could do his job well.

"I bet if u asked the dog he wouldnt care what he had as long as he could do his job well. "

I agree with you = )

I also agree that there are a lot of "real" jobs out there for working dogs. Both Tim and Hillary make good points. However, when discussing the bull breeds, a few things come up.
I don't believe in pits or amstaffs being sold or bred as "guard dogs". Their reputation is bad enough already. Also, they are not used by the police for patrol dogs, but are used for narcotic detection and bomb work. Many have therapy dog titles, and are used in hospitals and nursing homes. There are a few that do search and rescue. You still have to be certified for these things, or for S&R, belong to a S&R group. So they still have to have credentials.
My whole point, is there are a lot of people saying they work their dogs, but don't. They get one picure of their dog biting a puppy sleeve or suit, and try to tell everyone they have working dogs.
I think one of the problems with working dogs in this country, is that many people say they have working dogs and they don't.