Re: [pyrnet] Working Show Dogs, was pet store puppies

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/12/01 2:02:24 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
dsmith@iolinc.net writes:


> Are we starting to see "working type"
> verses "show type" in Pyrs?  It does state in the GPCA code of ethics, not
> to separate working stock from show stock.
>     Anyone else's thoughts?


There are those who say we do, but they only think that and have no evidence 
of same.   We are a show kennel for 28 years.  We have also placed dogs in 
close to 100 working homes over the years with great success.  The latest 
went just a few months and is doing very well.  There are individual dogs 
that have some problems but that is true in either a working bred situation 
or otherwise.  IMHO, most problems with the dogs are caused by folks 
themselves, either the breeder, or owner getting the dog confused or not 
having the ability to place the dog in the working situation properly.  We 
have to understand the way it was.  Young dogs come up under the older dogs.  
They learned naturally and were disciplined to learn by the older dogs.  Not 
much of that these days, so the working dog owner needs to have a clue what 
to do.  The breed is one of the oldest breeds and is likely a direct 
descendant of the original working flock dogs when nomadic man was taking the 
first domestic sheep and the great migrations began.  That was about 7 to 9 K 
years ago.  These instincts are very ancient and totally part of the fabric 
of the breed.  IMHO, it will not breed out easily at all.  I believe we would 
have to change the breed substantially to achieve this.  We see the same in 
all its cousins i.e. the Kusavz, Tatra Mountain dog, Akbash dog, Marmemma, 
etc.  Very old, from the original dogs that very early man used to guard its 
flocks.

The one area I have concerns on one "type" Vs another is coat.  We are 
breeding coats that are very poor working coats, just to groom them.  It 
would be nice if some judges would jump on this and penalize them and let the 
exhibitors know what they are doing.  These coats would not hold up in the 
field and would quickly bring the dogs down with mats, tangles, etc., not to 
mention the hot spots that would occur.  So from that perspective, I agree 
that it is a problem.

Also if we continue to breed dogs with genetic problems by "looking the other 
way" we will have more eye problems, dwarfs (some looking almost normal), 
epilepsy, Lux Patella, all will eventually stop the working of the breed.  
That is not a show characteristic, but likely perpetuated by  breeders that 
have no or little appreciation of the unique characteristics of the breed 
that includes it phenotype (all aspects of its phenotype) have a very 
functional reason.  Despite those who say it is only beauty there is a real 
working reason for each.  The result just happens to be the lovely dog we all 
love so much and take great pride in same.  
There are those who disagree with me, so I am sure they can have their say.  

Joe