[ SHOWGSD-L ] Fw: Re: Not a country, but a style
- From: "Norma Ramey" <gsdramey@xxxxxxx>
- To: "showgsd-l" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 09:01:30 -0500
Ah, read the outstanding words from Kathy carefully, the old saying -
"Experience is the best teacher" rings true for real with our GSD work/play!
I did a lot of rescue work and a bunch of all kinds of training as well!
In all the years, I was able to turn many around to be what they should be
and not overly aggressive or overly shy or whatever. Seriously, there were
really only TWO dogs I could not change within a week of living with ME.
Odd as it may seem, one was an Australian Shepherd and the other was an
American Bulldog (Pit, if you may)! As Kathy says, I agree that through
time it is "environment" that counts and follow through stuff to mold the
dog
to what YOU want! I was amazed at a situation with 2 puppies - one, an
English Pointer and the other a GSD. I raised Pointers for a while. It was
so interesting to see these two bitches interact. When about 4 or 5 mos. I
had them out with 3 of my adult GSDs as we were rounding up cows that
had broken thru my neighbor's fence. After we herded them back into the
pasture and I mended the fence, on the way back to our own property, the
Pointer stopped and stood at a perfect point toward a dense bit of brush.
Seriously, the young GSD pup backed up a little and stood at a perfect
honor point. Yep, a covey of quail flew out of that heavy wooded section.
When they were around a year old, I let a lady "borrow" the GSD as there
had been robberies in her neighborhood. Her sister tested the pup by
sneaking around the yard - the dog stood in the middle of the kitchen and
POINTED to the back where the lady was! The Pointer, helped with a
bunch of herding work as did the GSD - together. It was so neat and did
prove so many things about the smarts, associations etc. of these splendid
4 legged furry kids. Hope this isn't too long -- Norma no L
----- Original Message -----
From: <Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx>
To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 7:50 AM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Not a country, but a style
I think it's two separate subjects. It's important not to get "over
dogged" on either side of the pond. There's no way, without a LOT of
kennel
help or a huge family, a dozen dogs will be worked to their potential.
Like
it or not, for the benefit of the dogs, less really is more.
As far as littermates, when keeping more than one beyond 8-10 weeks, they
DO need to be separated and they DO need daily, consistent, critical
one-on-one time, or else they form a pack and their people may or may not
be
included or even needed for mental stimulation. That's why I'll never sell
2
puppies from the same litter and prefer, at a minimum, a year's age
difference
between dogs for a companion family. That's also why I place a lot of
very finish-able dogs at 8 weeks. IMO they are far better off laying on
some
child's bed that sitting in a run "growing out".
I really don't see the spookiness at shows that others seem to see, but
if/when I do see some, it's usually a youngster coming from a situation
where
I know there are a lot of dogs. These dogs just don't do well kept
constantly in runs. (And the longer I am around dogs, the more weight I put
on
environment and not so much genetics). That's why I have house dogs and not
dogs warehoused in runs constantly. Sure, I pass on exciting youngsters,
and
it's hard. Early socialization is critical and as soon as puppies can
toddle, I am taking them away from their box, individually, and they have
new
experiences daily, one-on-one, not as a pack.
As far as "correct" temperament, well I don't know that everyone will ever
agree. I think there are shades of correct. What I might want for a dog
to compete with might be too much dog for a young family and probably not
enough dog for someone else.
We have in the North East/Mid-Atlantic area several kennels selling imports
or first generation czech or "working line" German dogs. Now, I have no
idea if they really are, let's take them at their word. What I do know is
I get a lot of calls from people who have spent a lot of money, not only on
the original purchase price but later for a series of trainers and they
can't handle their dog (and somebody is going to get hurt). I'm sure the
puppy starts out cute but then during adolescence the trouble starts. Some
dogs are just too hard and sharp for a family, yet these breeders seem to
want
to capitalize of the "badder is better" theme.
John Q. public with a family doesn't NEED a border patrol dog. A dog
without an "off switch" is a real pain in the ass to live with and not
correct
by anyone's definition/standard.
So...I want a dog who is really into their people with an "off switch". I
don't want to have to throw a ball every night for hours before I can sit
down to dinner or a dog who wants to torment the UPS man just for fun.
There's a happy medium between Golden Retriever temperament and an horse's
a*s. I want mine to be a Golden Retriever with children though and they
are:)
By the same token, don't come in uninvited <G>.
Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC
Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions
visit http://www.pinehillgsds.com/
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