AWDF CH video link

[JanS]

Same with GSDs, the show dogs walk on their hocks.

Some of them are absolutely pathetic and look like they would be in pain to do what they were bred for - herding.

We have a ton of hunting dogs in this area and one guy I know from shows breeds nice working labs that actually have the hunt instinct bred in. These days places like TSA uses a lot of GSPs for drug and explosives detection. I asked the head of the canine team at MSP if they use Dobermans or any of the other working breeds anymore and he said they don't because they're too intimidating. So what, they aren't there to make friends.

 

[Rits]

I would rather see 50 of them having fun at club level than 5 of them winning at mix breed nationals because that's the only way we'll preserve the working line.

Same! Now that we're involved in the sport I see a lot of comments snuffing dogs who are working at club level (or even snuffing dobes in IGP vs PSA) and I can't help but shake my head. We are our own worst enemies and will kill our breeds. What good is it to have superstars you can count on one hand while you watch the rest of the breed die!

I will say, at smaller shows (not Westminster) there are GSD's shown and win that can do both. Same with dobermans. Usually its showlines that can work and not the other way around...We have a showline GSD in club that is doing super. Mals on the other hand, yuck. If I wanted a dog of that caliber I would take the working line over the show any day. Huge divide. I just wish the working mal breeders could decide if they want them to be small and agile or big lol.

 

[BGpa]

Some of them are absolutely pathetic and look like they would be in pain to do what they were bred for - herding.

We have a ton of hunting dogs in this area and one guy I know from shows breeds nice working labs that actually have the hunt instinct bred in. These days places like TSA uses a lot of GSPs for drug and explosives detection. I asked the head of the canine team at MSP if they use Dobermans or any of the other working breeds anymore and he said they don't because they're too intimidating. So what, they aren't there to make friends.

"Too intimidating"- how about that!

I recall "big scary black dog privilege" was a positive meme-thing there for awhile on GenZ social media influencer places...

And Frenchies.
Whats next, I wonder?

Dogs as Fashion accessories.
It cracks me up.

 

[BGpa]

I mean, falling short in their scores compared to other breeds. If working breeders are giving up/not focusing on conformation in favor of better working ability, shouldn't we have dogs just as good as other breeds in their scoring for protection? The reverse are those that focus on conformation only lose working ability. If you focus on conformation only while losing the working ability, I'd hope you would have stellar specimens in conformation. I only mention it because you mentioned how the doberman isn't holding up to other breeds in scoring. If you aren't breeding for conformation and are entirely focusing on all working ethic, you would think we'd be just as good. And then thats where I wonder if the lesser score is just how its always going to be for the breed. We shouldn't worry that we don't score as high as the Maliniois...Where we trade up for high scores we in return get a breed that is able to do it's job effectively enough and live in the home, be around the public with no worries, and around the family. A protection dog that can remain at man's side and not be difficult to manage. Dobes seem to score high in tracking and relatively high in obedience. High protection scores are impressive but I feel like the obedience score can sometimes then be lacking. I'm really impressed when a dog is high in both.


that is if the doberman finds it a believable attack Thats what makes the breed so great to have around in public and around family. They are great at analyzing that situation where I feel if you had a strong GSD do the WAE, they more than likely would go forward with an explosive bark for any sort of display of threat, believable or not.


I've heard the same. I've also heard too many people rush their dogs. Trying to trial when they are barely ready and not ready to handle that pressure, thinking they can clean any poor scores up later. Instead of training to trial and being ready above what you are trialing for. My training director said that national level dogs that do very well are average 5-8 years old. They bring their dogs out, BH then IGP1. Go home for however many weeks you are forced to wait, come back and do their 2, rinse and repeat for the 3. Less chance of burn out on the dog.


Yeah...dobermans seem to come built in with a permanent leak for their prey drive.

@Rits
I like your comment on the trade off in dobes; "sufficient protection for the home and family"

AND an off switch, for Cuddles on couch.

Pretty much the definition of dobe as "performance pet" with good drive, trained to home defense function imho.

Vs the extra 24/7 of a Mal, that wins IGP. But eats the couch, often.
-----
Got A question for ya
@Rits in re "Leak on prey drive?"
How so?

I see Bonnie getting a little bored with tug reward, or maybe its the basic task(s) we are always rehearsing ...
"off leash heel"...really?
(Insert dobe side-eye emoticon here)

PS: apololgies to mods for late reply and to @Ravenbird and @Rits for gnawing at it like an old bone dug uo, but this particular convo is so good I keep coming back to it.

 

[Rits]

"Leak on prey drive?"
How so?

The ol nose whistle coming out when in drive.