I really like what happened with the Jack Russel Terrier. The working russel breeders took back their breed and left the AKC with the "parson russel terrier."

I've been thinking about the clamor between show and working, politics in SV, DVG, FCI, and AKC, and I wonder why there isn't a better registry/club out there dedicated to at least splitting the breed in the US and maybe even around the world. Right now, I see three possibilities: 1) American Trotting Shepherd, German Highlines Shepherd, and 3) German Shepherd Dog (true working lines). I think it's hopeless to try and convince the other parties that their type of GSD is better than the others so in the interests of ALL, there SHOULD be a split, two way or three way or even more. Show people will be happy on both sides of the show coin and the workers can, in the "breed charter" or whatnot, proclaim that ANY GSD registered in an all-breed or show-oriented registry is no longer a GSD. I personally would vote for open stud books all around to (hopefully) prevent genetic bottlenecking and maybe even improve work instinct by the insertion of mal or dutch or other blood.

Okay yeah, we can all stop laughing now, we all know that'll never happen, flawed plan or not. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Will you are so right about

 Quote:

although you might be surprised by his behavior during an actual attack

I guessed wrong with my last 2 dogs. My Akita, I thought would protect without fail. He failed at doing real protection work. My friendly pitbull, I thought wouldn't bite anything. I can't remember him as much as barking at a stranger. I had someone break into my house in 1988 and my pit charge the guy and clamped on his leg. I got in my wheelchair and called the police. They got here in 2 or 3 minutes but wouldn't go near the guy until I pulled my dog off.

The watch-work among most Akita people I know is that if you're buying a dog expressly for doing man-work, then you should get a Rottweiler or Malinois -- Akitas (I have one & know many) are often too independent to be reliable in protection work (they're actually more of a "hound type" hunting dog than a true guardian breed)...

That being said, though, my father & son Standard Dachshunds (!) once attacked an intruder when I was home alone as a 6th grader & managed to draw some serious blood while driving him off our property over the back fence, so there's alot to be said for that old saying, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the FIGHT in the dog" (and needless to say, they had zero training in man-work).

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


Candi, what are you talking about? You lost me. . .

First we're talking about show lines, then Akita's being hunting breeds and a cute story about a weiner dog?? Did I miss something?

Ha-ha, there's a reason you don't see alot of Akitas excelling in Schutzhund <:-)

Huh? Are you crazy?

Will & Robert, do you feel that an "excellent" PPD dog (as you would define it) would also be an excellent sport (ASR, PSA)dog?

Yes.

OOOOOOOO Define excellent for me. I am curious on this.

Werent Akitas originaly bred for fighting? They are protective of their "place".
Well it was show GSD thread anyway. Sorry.