| Being a person who loves to work their dogs, I think the tails will definitely have benefits: more balanced movement and better stopping from high speeds, as well as better ability to "steer" around turns at high speeds (i.e. the blind search).
In talking with people who have imported tailed pups, they ALL say that the tail makes it far easier to read the dog, and they all do love their tailed pups. I know of several who were planning to dock the tails and then decided not to, one of whom is VERY into AKC conformation and is a prominant handler.
I agree very much with Dianne, that it will be the pet pups who are hardest to place, and I know that sales and breeding have dropped dramatically in Germany for this reason. It's to the point over there where if you aren't breeding a "big name show dog" you have a harder time placing pups. I do wonder though as people get used to the tails, if this will all turn around.
As to the reasons for the LG starting, there are many ADRK members over here, and this would give people the opportunity to earn titles (including breed tests and Körungs) that would be recognized in Germany.
Nancy, very interesting point about the BYB's and millers leaving tails on to promote their "German dogs." Guess we'll just have to do even more education on all that a well bred dog is and "comes with" including his Ahnentafel (pedigree) and scorebook. ;-)  |