Sitemaps

Why are people saying that dogs need titles2007-11-25 2:55:43

I have no use for show dogs and I believe that dogs should NOT be bred just because they win show titles (with the possible exception being some of the toy dogs who were meant as companions). But even then, they still should be temperament tested and that sort of thing. When you breed for looks and show and not for working ability, you invariably lose proper temperament. The German shepherd is a great example. Instead of noble and courageous working dogs who can work and guard a flock and be trustworthy with the kids, we have a bunch of slant backed fear biters who can barely hobble around the show ring. What a disgrace.

Edit: the other thing is that agility/obedience/Schutzhund/ *insert sport here* title also say is that the breeder is spending a lot of time with the dogs in training and socializing, not just keeping them in a kennel looking pretty all day (as happens pretty frequently in the show world). When I see working dog titles like Schutzhund and Earthdog, I see someone who at least puts some time and effort into their breed beyond letting them prance around a ring and spending a half hour under the blow dryer. Read the link below about what really makes a breed like the Saluki and the fallacy of just showing a dog to make it breed worthy.

---

Conformation is just one of requiremets for responsible breeding. The recommended health screenings are also requried to prove the dog is healthy throughout, including hips, elbows, thyroid, heart, and eyes. Plus for the specific breeds, there are recommended tests for that breed's genetic disorders.