Sealed and Delivered - Page 3

Unless you are creating art, function always precedes form. Function creates form, for a living creature. If you think it could or should ever go the other way, well, you're wrong, IMO. Even people breeding just for form are breeding for function, they just aren't breeding for a useful function. This is why one of the common criticisms leveled at showline breeders is that they are breeding animals whose primary function is to trot around a ring and be posed. Notice, I did not say ALL showline breeders, or even breeders of a particular type of animal. Any time you prioritize form over function, you are going to run into problems in health, structure, and temperament. I think that knowledgeable breeders try to be aware of that and mitigate those potential problems while staying within standard.

Edit: And before anyone starts getting upset, I LOVE a good-looking dog. I love them enough to be very critical of them and their breeding.

The bull dog and peke are prime examples of form disregarding function. They have plenty of problems in health and structure.

FUNCTION
 

The OP asked to pick ONE, not both!  Of course both are of equal importance, but if you had to only pick one, the OP asked to pick one.

... And, it went bumpity, bump-bump

Only for the report: Form AND function from me.
I still want to own a dog able to work AND looking like a German Shepherd.

If one is serious about producing a specific breed of dog, then one cannot make this decision. Both function and form are important.

If I were required to choose one I would have to choose function - but with a close eye on form.

If on only breeds for function, a new breed will be created, as it will not have the form of a GSD.
Our breed's functional abilities are limited by the breed standard.

A specific breed isn't limited to bloodlines, its also about fitting into the breed standard.
The breed standard must be adhered too or another breed will be formed in a few generations.

Hence this is a Catch 22 choice.



 

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