[Ann Felske-Jackman]

I would tend to agree with Skip on this one. Once we breed working traits out, I feel they are very hard to get back. It is easier to choose the best looking of the working dogs and build the conformation to where we want it.

We ourselves tend to make choices based on working characteristics first, using only those individuals who also have very good conformation. Many of our co-owners on the other hand lean toward prodcuing beautiful conformation dogs who are reasonably eager to work. Often times, we're using the same core lines to achieve our goals, just taking them in different directions. Eventually, we can then put these pedigrees back together, hoping to occasionally get the best of both worlds (note that I'm saying occasionally, as the reality is that the more traits we try to perfect, the more difficult time we will have perfecting ANY of them).