why the disdain? - Page 1

Please correct me if I'm wrong.. not all GSDs can be great working dogs for whatever the reasons, so why are "companion" GSDs often viewed in a way that is "less than"? I think it's great that so many on here do interesting sports and are involved so deeply with your dogs and I like reading or looking at the posts. I just don't get the disdain that comes across for for those of us that have pets.

I don't think anyone necessarily looks down on them (or at least they shouldn't); it's when people start making excuses about the dogs to rationalize breeding them that the conflict starts.

Oh well, I guess for me the term "pet" or "companion" would mean no breeding, I guess everyone interprets things differently and I should probably try and get out of my own head, lol. I appreciate your answering the question, Jennifer

I appreciate you answering the question, Jennifer



HUH?  Did Jennifer PM you? The only response to your question is by Keith, and last time I looked, he hadn't had a sex-change operation! LOL!


Clee, the main reason is that the breed founder asked that his dog remain a working dog. For that reason, many feel that the breeding of GSDs JUST for pets is totally wrong. Yes, there is a market for pets, but pet quality pups occur in ALL litters.


The American GSDs especially are just trained to run around in circles and win ribbons. Very, very few of them even have obedience titles, and Schutzhund titles are all but non-existent.

Here's what Max said: "Make sure my shepherd dog remains a working dog, for I have struggled all my life long for that aim"

 
 . ....

Well, the thing that annoys me is that people, many on here, seem to think Schutzhund is the end to all.  If your dog doesn't do Schutzhund, he isn't breedworthy. If you don't train or title dogs in Schutzhund, you don't know how to train dogs....that's the view many on here seem to portray....if they don't believe that, then they have fooled me.  There are many other types of work that show a dogs working ability, many other aspects to train for, or train period as not every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants a Shepherd and wants to do Schutzhund for their pets. I'm not saying that "Tom" should breed his pet Shepherd because it would make pretty puppies, when Tom hasn't worked his dog in any aspect, or done x rays or health tests, he shouldn't......It's just those things annoy me at times though.

Uh, I think the OP's name is Jennifer and she was signing her post.

I personaly plan to start breeding.  I think most on here recognize that the German Shepherd is a versatile breed and that you do not have to excel at just schutzhund to demonstrate that your dog has the ability to work.  From what I have learned so far regardless if the dog has achieved a you want to try your best to better the breed.  Most of the breeders that I have spoken to or gathered from their websites the most import goal of their breeding program is WORKABILITY!

"Well, the thing that annoys me is that people, many on here, seem to think Schutzhund is the end to all.  If your dog doesn't do Schutzhund, he isn't breedworthy."

I'm sure it may seem that way at times.  Schutzhund provides the opportunity to test a dog's working ability and a venue for that dog to be assessed by a (hopefully) impartial third party.  Yes, there are other training methodologies, titles and venues; shutzhund is simply the most prevalent.  The danger in discounting schutzhund or any other test as a minimum requirement for breeding is that it gives many people the excuse they're looking for to do little or no training and to self-assess their own breeding stock and that is a very slippery slope.

My dogs are all my companions, titled or not;-)

The disdain, as Keith said, is in rationalizing the breeding of animals who are not really of breeding quality. 

Thank you again Keith, I thought the comma prior to my name made that clear, lol! GSDguy08, I can see where you are coming from. Sunsilver, I understand your point but my question is this... " Is my dog not working to some degree when he is my companion, coming with me on my jobs and everywhere I go?" It is not a formal training or job but I believe my boy has always felt useful in our family. I know people think no formal job = couch potato. While I do not think my dog has the same energy level that some speak of on here, he is always up for anything, he requires physical and mental stimulation otherwise he'd be an irritating pain in the butt, lol. I do think it could be an interesting topic to discuss and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only "pet" person that has felt this way. Thanks for playing along, Jennifer <--- (my name) =D