| Couldn't agree with this more!! "Type" is nice, but without health and temperament, why bother?!
I'm still floored by what I saw in NH a few summers ago........there was a large AKC show and Herding Instinct Tests were being offered. Take the word Shepherd and break it down: Shep herd (Sheep herding). So it's kinda obvious from this dog's name what it was bred to do.
My Rotts took the HIGHEST MARKS OF THE DAY for herding. This against "typical" herding breeds. What I found to be particularly sad were American Shepherds (don't even THINK of calling them German Shepherds, they're far too bastardized for that) who hid in the corner and peed......afraid of the sheep. Totally disgusting.
It is sad what is produced for the show ring, and how far it deviates from the intended purpose of the dog.
To quote a 1930's ADRK book: "Do not chase Siegers" Ah yes, back in the days when Rotts were bred to be a truly working dog, and type was secondary to temperament, structure and health.
There are a few of us who still believe in the working Rott and breed for it...........  |