the problem is not the dogs, its the buyers..
basically, yes. This goes for BYB, Show & Working dogs, in the sense that
if a buyer refuses to purchase untested dogs, whether it's health tested or titled in certain areas, then the breeder would have to change their ways. I held my standards high when I was looking for a puppy but I didn't know enough at that time about pedigree research. It may or may not have made any difference in my choice but both parents passed every health test, both had titles front and back in what mattered to me. Conformation titles meant little to me because if they proved on the field they could do the work, that meant they had to be put together well physically.
if a buyer refuses to purchase untested dogs, whether it's health tested or titled in certain areas, then the breeder would have to change their ways.
Going back to this - if a trend starts in the show ring that you don't like - let's say the GSD down in the rear so bad it can barely stand up - change breeds or quit showing, but don't breed dogs to win in the show ring that you don't agree with! If that means becoming a quality pet breeder without show CH's, keep your head up, advertise exactly why you don't have AKC CHs in your program, and trial your dogs in obedience, rally, nose work or something else to prove they would make great companions. And to go another step, let the judges and AKC know you won't breed crippled dogs and if enough quit showing then things *might* change. LOL, but I doubt it. It's a vicious circle. I'm speaking of physical problems in this case where I hold judges pinning the most exaggerated dogs over normal dogs responsible for breeders aiming at more exaggerations.
What I'm reading is we should be looking for PROOF in CGC and pass or high grade in WAE or ATT, as the starting point
For a buyer, yes, a starting point, A CGC is wonderful, but I'd never buy a puppy from a line of dogs that that's all the titles they have. CGCA & CGCU involve more steady temperament as does the ATT and then WAE adds the steadiness of a dog under gunfire and threat by a stranger. My dog passed her CGC and CGCA at about 10 months old and just as everyone was done and we were all high-5-ing each other a man walked by on the street and Asha exploded barking and lunging on the leash. The judge rolled her eyes, but the paperwork was done and I did get my titles. Just saying how these titles are good, but not always 100% proof of a solid temperament.
Can one search pedigrees on Dobequest or elsewhere for that as a starting point on calm confident guardian temperament?
Again, the article as I read it is talking about things that titles don't reflect! So no, titles can't tell you if the dog has a reactive temperament on daily walks, or at the ring-side, or tears up and eats toys, or whines incessantly on the long down. ((again, using my dog as an example we passed our BH - a temperament test on steroids - but her long down was spent whining at a volume heard across the miles. Point off, but she didn't move from her down-stay, the judge comments afterward were strong about it for sure.)) I only can suggest now to ask breeders about dogs quirks and personalities at home and pray for honesty.
What titles DO say, is that the dog is trainable to the point where it can respect the job at hand and probably takes joy in working with its owner/handler, which is extremely high on my list.
Also remember that Dobequest is a pedigree database with information only entered by DPCA members. As discussed elsewhere, it's not easy to become a member so without asking a member to do it for you, you can't enter information on your own dog. Thus, Dobequest is a very incomplete resource. AKC website is hard to navigate, but you can look up Points Progression on a registered name and it will list current titles and if the dog as partial points or qualifying runs to a new title.
longevity either as LC on Dobequest or if missing (since not everyone updates that promptly)- look up the line for COD and age. Where can you get that, independent of breeder self reporting?
Every resource I have found is self-reporting. Most CODs are not listed, but more and more, I think breeders are realizing that we are looking at this and will pointedly ask if it's not listed.
Look at who is winning at AWDF or UDC or UKC trials?
Trial results are a place to start, but for working Dobes getting through even club level IGP is helpful. There are so few trialing and most owners in working sports are into sports, not breeding. So especially good bitches may not be used. Also it takes years to get to high levels and bitches ideally need to be bred by age 3 or 4 for health reasons, so there's that. And if you don't plan to do bite sports, these dogs will have a lot more energy that has to be accounted for. Which leads right back to the article of having drive without anxiety. So we've gone full circle again.
I was trying to keep her slow in danger zones but she had a mind of her own and no *'s to give. 
