[BostonRott]

"Top working dog" means nothing, but is only defined by the person with whom you're speaking. Many high scoring dogs are considered "prey monsters" who are not "real." Many of the truly serious dogs don't always score high in protection points b/c of being dirty. So what is the criteria? This is something you must decide for yourself.

Breed testing.....well, I used to think that all breed tests were great. Now that I've seen so many of the games that go on, I would say: know the judge and the hosting club. There are some breed tests that I put very little faith in, others that I know are completely above-board.

If you're looking to get a dog for the work, you should also strongly consider health. Now, within a certain US club, many feel that health testing is simply a PITA that must be done to meet breeding regulations. No attention is paid to cardiac status within the line, longevity of the line, etc. If you're going to invest a lot of time and effort in a dog, don't you want a dog with sound health and hopefully a long career?

Ask about hips, elbows, and hearts. Find out what the parents and grand-parents died of, and how old they were when they died. Find out what the heretibility of the final disorder is.

Going back to the working question, look at the offspring out of a dog. Are they also titling? Are they in homes where they will be worked?

Some people like a highly reactive dog, as they tend to be flashy crowd-pleasers. Others like a dog who is much more staid in it's work.

You need to decide what YOU want in your dog, and then start searching that out. Collecting public opinions of vague superlatives won't get you very far.