[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: temperament-long-rambling
- From: Erynbrook1@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 11:51:04 EST
I'm not sure how to put this, but I would think (hope) that our specialty
judges at least can tell a dog's temperament by putting his/her hands on the
dog
and/or looking in his eyes (not staring). Most judges have their own way of
judging temperament. Some want a stronger temperament and character than many
dogs have. They settle for those that pass the temperament "evaluation." I
agree
that it should be done loose lead and away from the other dogs, because dogs
get security from other dogs and sometimes from the handler, especially if the
dog is owner handled. I am probably the only one on this list that has ever
owned a "spook," (or 2 <G>) The dog was totally fine stacked or on a tight
leash, or with the co-owner she lived with on the end of the lead. She would
have passed the loose lead test if her co-owner was on the other end of the
lead.
That was her security.
In judging temperament, you need to watch subtle body movements too. Haven't
you seen a dog on lead, bark and lunge and attack the "bad guy" almost pulling
the lead out of the handlers hand, and then have the handler give the dog
more lead and the dog either stays where it is, or goes just a step further? He
really doesn't want to get closer to the bad guy. He has an area of security
that he doesn't want to leave, be it 8 ft away or 3 ft or whatever. Different
dogs have different distances. Some dogs are secure anywhere. A lot of times,
they are what we make them, but they need the character to start with.
Our temperament evaluation is just the bare minimum of what we should expect
in a dog. I want a confident dog that is excellent with kids, accepting of
strangers, (but NOT necessarily friendly) and aggressive when needed. I don't
expect a puppy to be secure everywhere. They need to learn confidence. I hate
to
see puppies "evaluated" at all.
I see lots of golden retriever temperament in GSDs. Not bad temperament, but
not GSD temperament.
Seems to me that most of the temperament "evaluation" is for the
spectators/exhibitors. We are asking for some kind of justification of our
judges for
their placings. If we don't see the dog tremble or duck, then the judge must be
wrong with his evaluations?
JMO. Ready, aim, fire.
Nancie
Nancie
Front Range German Shepherd Rescue
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