What exactly is "soft" ? - Page 2

Handler soft does not always mean soft dog. Handler hard ( takes a very hard correction without batting an eye ) does not necessarily mean hard dog. Often the two go hand and hand but one does not always equal the other. A dog that is not a pleaser, very independant, high pray drive may take huge corrections just to get their attention. However they may not truley be a hard dog, one that takes on the world or has quick recovery time to opposition. To put it simply there are dogs that can take a correction that would stop a bull, but they are not always hard dogs in the true sense of hardness. There are dogs that are very handler soft, very submissive to handler but will fool you when the rubber hits the road. As a general rule though the two often go hand in hand.

Triodegirl he sounds like my kind of dog. It is hard for me when a dog is in gear all the time. I am having a hard time keeping up with this puppy but she is young so she should be active. I think hard would also apply to other aspects of the dogs temperment besides correction as olskoolgsds is saying above "one that takes on the world or has quick recovery time to opposition." In other words the ability to withstand bad experiences without lasting effects. But your dog(s) sound great to me!!

olskoolgsds in on the mark again. My first competition dog was extremely handler soft, If I looked at her cross eyed she would hit the deck. We did very well in competition. Titled in three different sport venues and competed at both the regional and national level. I am forever greatful for being able to own this dog. She forced me to learn how to do things different. Showed me how to use my brain and not just brawn. I think she taught me more than I ever taught her. Miss you Bretta.

Myself I do not like a handler soft dog as what would happen if I was attacked my a loud aggressive person and my dog was intimindiated? As many people do I imprint my pups from birth to loud and unusal noises and have never had a pup fail the gunshot test.

DesertRangers, too bad I didn't know you 6 or 7 years ago or I would have PAID you to take the Tazmanian Devil off my hands. At 10 weeks old the first time I tried to correct him he bit me. When I tried to correct him for biting, he bit me even harder. Brought the dog to a trainer who said he was an over-the-top alpha male and I best get contol of him and fast. I fought with that dog for 5 years until my ex finally agreed to take him. Saw TAZ this morning and he still has the same defiant look in his eyes. Not the kind of dog you want living in your house--at least I don't. I think that dog would die before he would ever submit to anyone. Maybe I should give Mr Whisper a call :-)