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- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!gatech!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!cleveland.Freenet.Edu!ce293
- From: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
- Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
- Subject: Re: On the breeds' original purposes
- Date: 22 Dec 1992 00:39:02 GMT
- Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
- Lines: 80
- Message-ID: <1h5o36INNo22@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
- References: <1h4omqINNhqt@CS.UTK.EDU>
- Reply-To: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
- NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu
-
-
- In a previous article, primeaux@carlsberg.cs.utk.edu (David Primeaux) says:
-
- >In this newsgroup I have frequently seen references to the original purposes
- >of various breeds. Usually these references are about hunting breeds and either
- >state or imply that to breed dog X which demonstrates poor Y instinct is bad since
- >to do such would "harm" the breed.
-
- I agree that it does harm the breed and my reasons will follow shortly.
-
- >
- >Toss up for discussion: Are the original purposes of the breed so sacrosanct
- >that they can not evolve to match today's purposes of the breed?
-
- And what might the modern purpose of a given breed be?
-
- I think that the problem comes when _all_ breeds end up with the same
- purpose and that purpose only. Too many breeds are left with no purpose
- other than as a fireside companion on the hearth of the home. If a person
- wants simple companionship, there are breeds very well-suited to provide
- that service alone. On the other hand, folks like Chris want a Labrador
- RETRIEVER and work to maintain that RETRIEVER instinct and ability in
- addition to their ability to be a companion to the hunter.
-
- My reasons for choosing the breeds that I did are because I desired dogs
- with the traditional abilities and instincts of my breeds. I wanted that
- terrier fire and gameness in my Airedale as a watchdog and guardian of
- myself and my belongings. I sought the level-headed intelligence and
- steadfastness of my Bouvier because I wanted those characteristics in
- another protector. I wanted their size to make a statement that would
- dissuade the threats of ne'er-do-wells without having to go to an attack
- dog. To not have gotten those traits associated with my breeds and their
- heritage would have negated their suitability for the work roles I desired
- them to perform.
-
- Admittedly, they are exemplary companions but if I had only wanted a
- companion, I could have saved myself a lot of money for dog food and gotten
- a Papillon or a Pekingese as they would make equally suitable companions.
- Too many people only want companionship from their dogs and try to water
- down a working ability that gets in the way of companionship.
-
- >
- >For the record: I do not believe they are, but I am interested in hearing
- >other perspectives -- particularly those which go beyond "but where do you
- >then draw the line on allowing change in breed specification?"
- >
- >Since I own dalmatians, I offer a (rhetorical) followup question: If my
- >dalmatian is a wonderful example of the breed in every respect except that
- >she will not (or can't) run for long distances alongside a carriage (her breed's
- >original job), would breeding her harm the breed? Note that the question is
- >entirely rhetorical, since she is spayed.
- >
- Yes.
-
- The breed standard of the Dalmatian according to the American Kennel Club
- says that the breed "should be capable of great endurance, combined with a
- fair amount of speed." I don't know if coaching is the original purpose of
- the breed but it is what the fancy dictates as the purpose of the breed and
- chooses to emphasize. Therefore, a responsible breeder would do well by
- their chosen breed to not breed specimens that fail to support the standard of
- breed perfection.
-
- For the same reasons I think that it is irresponsible to breed Airedales
- with soft coats and no fire, Bouviers with no intellect or who display
- aggression, and German Shephers whose rumps are practically dragging the
- ground. It serves no purpose for the breeds. Until I can see that the
- modern purpose of a dog requires that they be incapable of work and that
- their form does not act as a partner to function, I will continue to
- support the breeding of dogs that can perform the tasks their makers set
- before them.
-
-
- >And a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukka, Best New Year to all!
- >david
- >primeaux@cs.utk.edu
- >
- >
- And Happy Holidays to One and All!
-
- Gail Brookhart
-