Re: [PyrNet-L] CHAT, EVENTS: PREAMBLE 2000 WORLD CONFERENCE

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/25/00 9:04:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time, mikej@alaweb.com 
writes:

<< A lot of people talk about improving the
 breed but yet they keep their dogs in the house and if they dont do what they
 want them to do they shut them up in a create.  Is that not like putting a 
person
 in jail.  Just wondering what it does to a dogs mind that for possibly 
thousands
 of years has roamed free.  Just wondering out loud here  "Is this good for 
the
 breed" or are we trying to change to breed to fit OUR needs...   >>

I will not take issue with you about some misguided efforts at "improving the 
breed", but I think your basis above for same is flawed.  Pyrs have not 
roamed free for thousands of years.  Hopefully they have not roamed free 
ever.  They have been domesticated possibly for thousands of years and have 
been "on guard" at assigned tasks.  When we domesticate the dog to our house 
and lifestyle we **might** cause problems, although a well bred dog will 
simply start guarding this house and the people in it.  So its job, if you 
will, goes on.

I just read that dogs are comfortable in their "den" and have an instinct for 
same.  It is not jail that most of us place our dogs, but a safe place to 
keep them out of harms way for may reasons.  Some of the reasons are travel 
in cars, keep them from misinterpreting others presence in the household, 
modifying young dogs behavior, medical reasons for their own good, etc.  
Many, maybe most, dogs will freely go to a crate left for them and are very 
comfortable.  It is their place, their "den" if you will.  It is possibly a 
mistake to take ideas about what a dog likes and project it to the dog.  They 
are very happy in controlled circumstances, and proper use of crates 
constitute same.  I stress the  word **proper** use of crates, because I am 
sure you can site some abusive use.  This is not crate problem, but problem 
with the owner and if it was not the crate, it would be something else. 

Joe