Well said Lynda, and congrats on the GREAT WEEKEND Morgan and His Angels Precious, OFA Princess, CGC, TDI, GSDCA Health Award "RAW" fed, No Vaccinations --- On Sun, 4/19/09, Falkrigia@xxxxxxx <Falkrigia@xxxxxxx> wrote: From: Falkrigia@xxxxxxx <Falkrigia@xxxxxxx> Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: American Bred Working Dogs To: VDanhoffer@xxxxxxx, showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Sunday, April 19, 2009, 11:27 PM Just to add a bit to Barbie's post..........Sami wanted a job from the time she was just a baby - as much so as any german -line dog I've ever owned. She was just totally driven to find something productive to do and we will be forever grateful for Barbie and Scott putting that incredible drive and enegry to work in SAR. At the time we agreed to let Sami become theirs, I was training several dogs for titles already as well as the conformation showing and this demanding, energetic, fearless little black and red tempest was always wanting more-more-more. :-) They were the perfect answer to her needs. I think oftentimes many of our american bred puppies exhibit glimpses of that desire and drive and we just fail to encourage it or channel it - in fact we often stifle it by failing to understand it or over-correcting the pup who's always 'into everyting' until it just gives up and becomes another round peg in another round hole. The best working dogs are never the pegs that fit easily into the holes. They are always the ones wanting ........more, more, more, .... the ones wanting to shape the hole to their needs instead of vice-versa. :-) I think if we looked for the ability in our american-bred dogs - and RECOGNIZED it in time to encourage its development, we wouldn't have the stereotyped situation that we have today. It's not that they 'can't' work. Sometimes they can't, yes. But oftentimes they just don't know how to make us understand how much they want to. So, maybe we just need to cherish the 'wild one' or encourage the 'mischief-maker' or revel in the puppy who always tests us and the boundaries we set for him and allow them to show us where their drives can lead them. lynda Check out our websites for constantly updated info and pictures www.falkrigiashepherds.com www.thecraftywoodchuck.com Last Hope Safe Haven GSD Rescue - BOD Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue - Training Director ************** Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================