Changing Preferences (dogs/breeders/etc)

[Romy]

Conformation is important to me because it affects working ability. When I get my stag I'm going to look hard for good feet, nice layback on the shoulder, balanced angulation, non cowhocked, etc. That stuff matters regardless of whether my dog is a purpose bred mix or from top ranked show lines.

I like showing. It's fun, when Kaia gets her AKC CH I plan to dabble around until she has her GrCH and take her out for UKC, CKC, and IABCA titles too.

I also like hunting and want to put her on a lure and do coursing. They're really fun to run on rabbits and raccoons, and when we get a chance, coyotes.

Some day I'd love to hunt boar. There's a bunch of feral Russian boar out in Montesano, but I have no idea what I'm doing with that and how to start the dogs out without them getting mangled their first time.

[Flyinsbt]

I'm not voting, because I don't like banana cream pie.

And I'm not really open to suggestions, I tend to know what I want in a dog. And I want the full package. Staffords aren't really a "working" breed in the sense of having a genuine task that they can be bred for, though there are a number of sports they can participate in. And I like dogs that can do both conformation and participate in sports. Of the 2, I'm probably more interested in the sporting ability, since I'm more involved in that than I am conformation. I do want my dogs to look like Staffords. I'm also not interested in following trends in the show ring to have winning dogs. So I want them to look like my interpretation of the standard. And I'll show those dogs, and if they win, great, and if they don't, well it's just a dog show.

That said, I do tend to end up with dogs from conformation lines, because the dogs being bred for sport (in this country at least) tend to have structural issues, and in some cases, health issues. They're mostly being bred for flyball, and those breeders seem mostly interested in breeding for tons of drive with little other criteria. And no, not willing to compromise on that.

This is why I end up breeding my own dogs.

[Saeleofu]

Working ability and temperament are number one for me. They have to be. BUT, with my breed I can get everything I want wrapped up in one package, and that's what I got. Logan has points in both AKC and UKC conformation, rally and lure coursing titles, herding instinct, and he's a working service dog. I'm super, super proud of his UKC Total Dog award

[crazedACD]

It varies breed to breed with me. I believe, though, I wouldn't choose any breeder that strictly shows conformation and does nothing else. I would go with a breeder that does performance events/works their dogs and does not show conformation.

When I go to get my standard poodle, I will only look at breeders that work their dogs and select for drive. I find the show lines a bit 'duller' than what I would be looking for. Kelpies, I'm stuck with working breeders whether I like it or not (and I need to cross my fingers they are purebred). ACDs, it depends on type/lines for me.

My problem with NOT showing conformation is people that produce stuff like this:




And call them ACDs. And breed from them. I would bet my right arm they are crossbred, but they are nowhere close to being an acceptable ACD appearance-wise IMO.

[JessLough]

I don't really have a preference. I think it all depends on the breed, and what the dogs being bred are like.

Then again, hopeful-next-dog is a breed I'd never thought I'd chose... but I want a puppy from a certain dog because I like that dog, if that makes sense

[release the hounds]

I don't think conformation showing has done dogs any favors at all.

[Emily]

It just doesn't matter to me. I want the kind of dog that I want. I don't really care about success in the conformation ring. I only care about sound structure and reasonable breed type - I don't care if they have enough type to finish an AKC CH, I just want them to be recognizable as their breed.

I used to paint anybody that showed their breeding stock with the same broad brush but now that I actually know people who show, you realize they're as varied as any other group of people. There are people who realize that conformation is just another game to play with your dog, and not the end all be all of "preserving the breed". And then there are people who don't share such a reasonable attitude, LOL.

Unless I wanted a companion breed, I can't imagine I'll ever buy from a breeder who's primary/only interest is conformation. I just highly doubt the dogs would line up to be what I want.

I don't really buy that conformation showing necessary promotes sound structure either. That depends on the venue and the judge. I have seen dogs with extreme type and poor soundness defeat dogs that were much sounder but less extreme. There are also some breeds where I simply don't like the show type, even when it's not extreme. Aussies come to mind - I don't like the blocky-headed dogs with perfectly set ears, they just seem overdone to me. (I see this in a lot of breeds, they trend toward a generic "show dog" head piece, heavy-boned with an almost overly soft expression. It happens in Cardigans too.) Beautiful dogs but not what I think of when I think of an Aussie. But that doesn't make them bad dogs or bad Aussies, just not what I want.

I have no problem going to a working-only breeder. I just also select working breeders who aim to produce dogs that can not only work, but have sound bodies and minds. I used to insist that if a breeder bred for work, sound minds and bodies would follow, but unfortunately, that's not always true. I can think of working BCs with horrible, weak angles that make me cringe when they jump, and with some super freaky temperaments. But they can and do move stock successfully everyday - and that's fine, for them, but it's not what I want in a dog.

I've learned not to draw arbitrary lines in the sand anymore. Just get me the dog I want, LOL. Said dog isn't likely to come from show heavy or show only lines but whatever.

[momto8]

While waiting for my beezer puppy over the last 3 yrs my main intrest in this breed is performance. My plan with my puppy all along was lure coursing, rally and showing. Showing is just going to be fun for us , hit show here and there.
I actually changed breeders, I love my first breeder and her bitch, but after her girl did not get preg yet again I decided with her blessing to look around. The litter I'm getting my boy from is all around great amazing coursing dogs, both great in the ring and dad even does rally. So in this breed I did and always will look for lines that can do it all!

[OwnedByBCs]

I show my dogs (obviously, we just finished up a long show weekend ) but next weekend they will be out working. I don't see why they're mutually exclusive- if you breed with working ability as a priority and also are careful about structure and breed type, you can choose the puppy that would be most suitable for the show ring. Of course, I'll admit, that is not the best way to get a *top* show dog, but for me, I enjoy showing so much that winning isn't that important.

Of course there are some lines that are bred exclusively for show and probably won't be super talented working dogs, and there will be lines exclusively bred for working that would never finish championships. But I still maintain that there are some breeders that DO want to produce dogs who are successful in both.

[Upendi&Mina]

I chose banana cream pie because I don't think their mutually exclusive either. Cara is obviously a working bred dog who could never finish her CH, however there are some lines that can do it all. There will be a primarily show bred girlie who will be joining us shortly and I plan to try her on sheep.