where have all the good, tough dogs gone? - Page 1

Show or working....these distinctions sometimes baffle me.  I don't know why some of you "guys" keep your dogs, be it for one or both of the abilities mentioned above.  However, for me the dogs are first a companion and a family member.  Wrapped into that description the dog should have certain attributes such as to protect the family when threathened and to be a to work on the field, be it KNPV or schutzhund...or even in the show ring.  Now I have a working line and with that I'm expecting a bit more from him as a protector vs a showline dog.  Not to say that both do not have or carry this trait.  You can have a poodle have this trait.  However, I have seen a lot of so call tough working line dogs that are not fearless! 

Today I witness a situation.  A bloodhound got loose from his home and wandered into my front yard.  He moved from garbage bin to garbage bin.  I took a shovel and banged it against the fence and startled him.  He jumped up and actually moved in on me.  Thorowing rocks at him and banging the shovel did not deter this dog.  He kept coming.  Even when he had the whole road and front to flee he had nothing to do with this.  He came forward barking and growling.....no fear.  You could see it in his eyes!  He did not fear for his live even when he had a chance to escape, but kept coming.  I have been around a lot of GSD's and Mal's and I can tell you 99% of them in this situation would run!  Don't forget, he is the neighbour's pet dog, in a strange yard, in an open environment...but showed no fear! 

Where has this trait gone?  I have seen this before in the very old GSD lines and once in a blue moon, with a pit bull.  But not in today's dogs!  Is working now only mean on the sport field or in the show ring?  Where have all the good ones gone.  Neither DDR, Czech, or WG lines, it doesn't matter.  Where?