Dog Breeds: Old vs New, Working vs Show- with many pictures

[enola]

I quit breeding Australian Shepherds because they are a herding breed. 95% of the people that contacted me looking for a companion, lived in an apartment and wanted female blue Merle that had lots of "chrome". And the real killer? She HAD to have two blue eyes. they are not looking for a companion, they are looking for a status symbol.

 

[collie1470]

No, I mean a purebred dog, bred for it's job, is meant to do that job, not be a lap pet. There have been dogs bred for companionship for hundreds if not thousands of years.

I'm not talking breeder vs. rescue, or even mixes....since the thread was just about differences in purebred lines. I agree with rescue first....but, if people would get breeds that suit their situations, then a lot less dogs would end up in shelters in the first place. Look at what breeds are most common in shelters....the majority are high energy, high drive breeds that people got and couldn't handle. That, and chihuahuas, which are so overbred (people wanting extreme sizes and all).

 

[collie1470]

Look at the Xoloitzcuintli. Their job was to keep their humans warm at night (plus the cultural idea that they'd help chase off evil spirits). They were literally bred to cuddle.

 

[collie1470]

Yet, people want to get a hunting dog for a pet, or a herding dog for a pet, etc. Those dogs need work, or they find ways to entertain themselves, usually to the distress of their owners.

 

[collie1470]

Amazingly, those higher maintenance breeds (due to drive and energy level) are the most common pets....because they look good.

 

[collie1470]

But, to touch on rescuing, I still feel choosing the right breed or mix for your situation is important. For example, if you want just a calm, cuddly, pet.....a border collie/husky mix is probably a bad idea, though the dog would likely look gorgeous.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Look at the Xoloitzcuintli. Their job was to keep their humans warm at night (plus the cultural idea that they'd help chase off evil spirits). They were literally bred to cuddle.

The xolo was also used for meat and religious purposes if I remember correctly. Most of the companion dog breeds from long ago were status symbols of the noble/wealthy/elite. (Even today, look at how many celebrities have exotic pets or 20,000 dollar chihuahuas). Commoners were not allowed to own these breeds at all in some places, like China. Heck, "commoners" in China still are not allowed to have dogs in many places!

I think dogs should be bred with a working purpose. Even in a litter of working pups, not all of them will be fit for the job. These can be people's companions. Or for companions, people can have strays.

If you're breeding a dog for no/low work drive, you are breeding a dog to just lie around and basically do nothing. A dog like that would not be happy or healthy and I doubt it would make the owner happy either.

I didn't mean to start a debate on rescue or breeding as both are important. I am just saying breeding a dog "to be a companion" or do nothing is not smart, IMO.

On another note, apparently a number of people have begun breeding border collies strictly for agility- or trying to. From what I have read they're producing pretty terrible dogs most of the time.

 

[collie1470]

Not all are fit for the job the breed was bred for, but the majority will still have the basic characteristics to do that job. Only the best are picked for canine jobs, but the others from their lines will still be far higher drive than the average person can handle.

 

[collie1470]

And yes, but they were also considered "healing" dogs, because lying with one when you were sick would keep you from getting chilled, which could be detrimental to the health of an already sick person...that's why the hairless variety was prized over the coated one....the lack of coat allows more body heat radiation.

 

[collie1470]

And I agree that dogs should be bred for work. But, way more people want dogs than can deal with those dogs, even the "pet quality" (which is non-breeding, non-show quality, really) dogs.