If you had a Magic Wand.... - Page 17

Susie, I agree with a lot of your post. I didn't see it before responding.

Can someone name a few breeders in USA who are " doing it the right way" and why do you make that claim?

Don't highjack a thread make another. Your question is off topic

Please do not respond to this question here.

No problem, Jen, I guess we all know what we are talking about...

When I was in Indianapolis last year I watched the bitework with some American breeders.
I was bored, because there was nothing I had to do ( unlike at home ...), so I started to bet on the bitework as soon as the dog/handler teams entered the scene and started to heel to the blind, like "good dog", "will bite", "will run", "will do it´s work but not more", and so on.
I was right most of the time - no wonder - just experience - but the people around me didn´t understand how I was able to know. They even asked me for the numbers of the next lottery...

Knowledge = the result of experience
Experience = the result of training and comparing a lot of dogs

Everybody who thinks it´s not important to train ( and in the best case title ) is wrong.

It is very important to train . But to train in a faulty system imo is a waist of time . Even as far as a Bh I was at one not so long ago a friend of my entered It was a joke most of the dog didn't even look at the handler in the heel work. A lot of the off lead was crap even my friend was not that good. And guess what they all passed. And the system that leads people to there ipo faulty from the start so how can it be corect at the end. When people train to that system and train correctly put in the work and then u c someone stumble around the field imo that's what makes your ipo bh a joke and everyone know it happens all over the place

Yogi, it´s pretty simple - in case you want to see a dog able to pass the "minimum" - go for it.
In case you want to see a dog able to be ( and do ) better - search for it, but you need to have the ability to watch the dog ( in the best case personally, in the second best case via www. ).

In case the dog doesn´t trial at all you will never know - it´s not difficult to find good dogs, but without any tests ( and be it a more than simple BH ) you will never be able to compare any traits.

That said people have to KNOW, they have to LEARN, they have to COMPARE - all of this is only possible in case they get involved and train.

Most people I see train for IPO do it to get the best out of their dog and themselves just because they want to.

It is a journey shared with other trainers/decoys/experienced and inexperienced along with puppies started at a few mo to grow to be their best.

Its part of their chosen dog training lifestyle.

So many jealous haters.

Judges need to uphold the standard. Again, there is no perfect system. Judges need to fail those who deserve it. I am working with a lovely female right now who is purported to have an IPO1...she's capable, has nice drive and is a great dog- not faulting the dog whatsoever- but she doesn't know the material! Until you change human nature and make everyone honest and have unshakable morals, you will not have a perfect system. Such is life. All we can do is the best we can individually.

VK, over here a lot of people ( like me ) train and title their dogs just because it´s good for the dogs and for themselves. Only a small percentage of the titled dogs is used for breeding later on - in the best case training is fun, it´s good to know about the advantages and disadvantages of your own dog, and for the breeders it´s good to know, too.
We don´t think that every titled dog needs to be bred...

Any sport gives you the chance to at least compare your dog with others with a *hopefully* impartial/objective judge or even group of people who aren’t connected to you. The things we do in our back yard, or in a club, or with the people we “like” being around or are willing to pay to bring in for a seminar…are not objective and do not allow for a true objective evaluation of the dog. I know we all believe we’re objective, but human nature proves we’re not, so we need others to tell us things about our dogs. Your club…probably won’t do it, your training partners are probably also not going to do it.

One of the biggest things I see at IPO clubs…the best dog at the club, must be the best dog in the world. It’s amazing how when that dog goes up against others at a regional or national level…people’s perceptions about the dog and the handler/trainer change. They thought they were working with one of the greatest in the world…yet the dog can’t even podium at a regional of less than 10 dogs. I remember thinking the best dog at my club was amazing and how he must be comparable to the top level competition…then I watched him come in 40 something at nationals. Still a fantastic dog…but not of the same quality I believed before. I still see this all the time with helpers and club members. They show up, run their mouth about this dog and that dog…and don’t realize they just haven’t seen enough or compared enough. That’s what staying in your own back yard leads to…not comparing your dog to others. Police dog, PPD, or whatever else, doesn’t automatically make a great dog or even a breedworthy dog…in the same way that IPO1 doesn’t…but any sport out there at least provides you with a way to compare dogs to a certain standard (even if it’s lower than what most would like).

I have learned that any endeavor that involves a performance aspect attracts lesser beings on the sidelines that want to poo poo on those that put it out there for all to see.

Just the way it is, anyone involved in public performance learns this, the weaker souls never learn anything.

Don't go to your grave as a weak soul, give it a shot and dare to fail.

 

There is a kinship between the champ and the lowest level competitor. There is nothing shared between the champ and the gawking non competitor.