Do you ever feel bad for some breeds...

My brainless show bred dog would like to thank you for the insult.
His name is Kito, and he was bred to show. Unfortunately, the woman who owned him got cancer, and was unable to keep him, and that's when we came along.
As far as him still doing his job, well, shibas are hunters--rodent hunters to be exact. Not much of a market for that in my backyard, but you can bet when there's a chipmunk or a mole--he will dig and stand by that hole until it comes out:p

Anyway, he doesn't care what anyone thinks, he knows he's the best!!!!!!:D

As far as the original topic goes, yes, I feel bad for certain breeds, and for me those seem to be ones like pugs or bulldogs that are prone to the breathing problems. I would love to have a pug or a bulldog, but I couldn't. I think it would upset me to hear them wheezing like that.

Personally I think there is some merit to the idea that there's differences between show dogs and working dogs. It's probably not a coincidence that most of the working ranch/farm dogs seem to be either Border Collies, Australian Shepherds or Australian Cattle Dogs, not Collies or Shelties. I wouldn't however take it anywhere near the extreme that Cali states it. Oz is from a show dog breeder and he's as smart as a whip. I get comments from his agility trainers, about his smartness and asking me if he's from working stock. I've no doubt I could train him to do whatever was necessary on a farm. The caveat though is that we'd both have to be taking a midday nap. :) I don't see the drive and energy in him that I would expect from a working dog, which is great in my mind. He's a suburban dog. I couldn't live with him, if he had that level of drive. Most of us would probably be driven insane by actual working dogs.

I do get a lil' concerned though, when the main focus of Collie breeders seems to be how their head looks. I think if we really want to see more focus put on ability not just looks, the show format needs to be changed. Maybe it needs to be more like a beauty pageant, where there's a talent section. :) So dogs would get so many points for looks and structure, but then also points for demonstrating their ability to perform their actual function, like herding. It'd make dog shows more fun to watch IMO. Ah well, just a thought.

Par...

I consider myself pretty Pro-Mutt because of this issue, but there are many breeds that I think are just beautiful. I was saddened when I saw my parents Corgi struggling to get up, though--she's got hip problems. Apparently she's doing better with glucosamine, but I doubt her problems ever go away completely.

What bugs me regarding show dogs is that I've sometimes wondered if some owners don't really think of them as companions, but as trophies. I am NOT talking about anyone on PetTalk, but people I've seen on television, etc. (Like the Weimeraner owners in Best In Show! :) ) I hope I'm wrong and that these people have just had their "show faces" on.

That Whippet in the picture above is just gorgeous, for example, but it's back looks a little sloped to me. Do they have the same issues as GSDs?

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Originally posted by cali
show bred labs drive me up the wall, those dogs are so fippin fat and bulky they they would have a heart attack if they had to do actual work.

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Before you bash a breed, actually learn more about the breed, so you know what you are talking about.

There are different types of Labradors- English and American. American labs tend to me a little smaller and more lean. English labs are larger than American and WAY more stocky and bulky and their heads are very "blocky" compaired to American labs. Labradors are SUPPOSED to be fairly chunky and bulky with a nice block head- that is a perfect Lab, not a little itty bitty slim jim that looks like a black, yellow, or chocolate whippet. Have you ever touched a "fat bulky ready to have a heart attack" Lab? That "fat and bulky" lab is 95% muscle, to help them run 150 yards to retrieve game, and 5% fat to keep them warm in the 20 degree water. They are "fat and bulky" for a reason. Now the owner who gives their lab 5 buckets of food a day, so the Labs stomach is swaying on the ground- that is another story. Just about every single show lab is used in the field, either doing actual hunting or field trials. Labs were first and formost bred to be used in the field, not in the ring, so of course Labs in the ring will be found in the field. If you go to every single Lab breeder website you will see that their lab puppies have been introduced to water, gunfire, live birds, and started work in the field- even the ones that are ment to go in the show ring. Labradors' drive to hunt and work will never be taken over to look prissy in the ring. Every single Labrador has the drive to hunt and work- in or out of the ring.

Interesting question. Simply stated, yes, I do feel bad for some breeds. I worked at a vet hospital for a little over a year, and literally all the dogs that came in with problems were pure-bred dogs.
If you think about it, a lot of pure-bred dogs came about by people breeding "genetic mutations". Seems to me that a mutation shouldn't be encouraged at the suffering of the animals. Pugs and english bulldogs, and well, any smashed-in-face animal are an excellent examples. Now, don't think I'm bashing pure-bred dogs, I just feel sorry for the ones that have genetically chronic problems. I saw a lot at the hospital, and some things so sad I'll never forget. :(

to be honest I really dont care if I insulted show bred dogs, I am against showing and I will NEVER agree with it. I have seen and know many show bred dogs first hand, as well as their working counterparts and every single one of the working counterparts are better then the show versians. I have no doubt that show bred dogs can work, but they can NOT work to the working dog standerd, that is what people delude themselves into thinking, as for the intelligance issue, that was my moms comment, I do have a show bred dog, Blair is totally show bred. oh he learns fast, but when it comes to figering things out fr himself he is as useless as it gets. I also do know plenty of other show bred dogs, that I do like, but when it comes to intelligance the working counter parts are smarter. lots of show dogs compete in AKC and other KCs feild, herding, etc.. events, and they do well.. they are also competing against other show bred dogs, try sticking them in a real trial with a bunch of working bred dogs, and most will fail miserably. their ARE plenty of top working trainers who have taken on show dogs and they were not able to get the show dogs very far. by the way obediance titles are NOT working titles, and I dont consider KC working titles to have any merit whatsoever. for example top BC herding trainers have taken on barbie collies and no amount of training was able to get them past nursery in an ISDS herding trial. meanwhile their working bred border collie puppys were already good enugh to compete in open. face it, the show breed and the working breed of ANY breed are completly different, both in looks or ability.

by the way yellowlablover I HAVE done plenty of research on labs. I am hardly making things up out of the blue.

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Originally posted by cali
by the way yellowlablover I HAVE done plenty of research on labs. I am hardly making things up out of the blue.

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Congrats. http://www.goosemoose.com/rfc/Smileys/classic/party.gif Here is a cookie http://www.goosemoose.com/rfc/Smiley...sic/cookie.gif. :)

I feel sorry for a couple of breeds, mainly ones with really short leggies, it has to be so hard to walk and run, it looks so silly to see them running around zippy.

Also, ones with long hair that covers their eyes- how can they see, LOL!? I also feel bad for breeds with really thick hair, kept in hot climates, where they have to be so hot- the same for short haired dogs kept in cold climates. When we were in Texas I saw an Alaskan Malamute, it was over 100F outside, I felt so bad for the dog. :(

I'm not really going to go into every specific of this whole issue, because as I first stated there are parts I agree with. What I will never agree with or understand is the lumping together of a group or breed or species etc. etc. and making some broad generalizing judgement on the entire group.

The bottom line and my point is, you may very well not care in the least if you insult show-bred dogs, because you see it as stating a "fact" about them. But how others see it is you are calling their beloved children 'brainless' and 'lesser.' The fact is you could have stated that you preferred working bred dogs over show-bred without then flinging an insult out that touches so many, thus hurting the PEOPLE who have these dogs.

I'd really try to further explain, but I don't think it is going to get me anywhere but frustrated. It is nearly impossible to argue with someone who has closed their mind to anyone's viewpoint but their own.

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Originally posted by YellowLabLover
I feel sorry for a couple of breeds, mainly ones with really short leggies, it has to be so hard to walk and run, it looks so silly to see them running around zippy.

Also, ones with long hair that covers their eyes- how can they see, LOL!? I also feel bad for breeds with really thick hair, kept in hot climates, where they have to be so hot- the same for short haired dogs kept in cold climates. When we were in Texas I saw an Alaskan Malamute, it was over 100F outside, I felt so bad for the dog. :(

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I dunno.. some of those low-riders can run like hell! LoL You should see Charlie and CHloe when they're down in the wash off leash... ZZZZZZOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!! LOL :D

I used to feel sorry for the huskies, etc here in AZ, until I became a groomer. Then I learned that a dog's coat acts like an insulator. Keeps them cool in summer, warm in winter. It's the thick coated breeds that get shaved down that I feel sorry for. No protection from buggies, the sun, stuff like that.

About this whole show bred/vs whatever.... I don't think it's right for anyone to knock a type of dog for ANY reason. We all have our preferences. I, for one, don't like cockers. (No offense! :) ) But I would never tell anyone their cocker is stupid, or bad, or shouldn't be bred. EVER! That would be like telling someone who's child is a model that it's wrong. It's insulting, and rather misinformed. To make a generalisation like "show bred dogs are bad" is wrong, and to a lot of people, very hurtful. It would be like someone with show dogs saying "mutts are wrong, they do nothing to improve any breed". There are bad breeders and good breeders, in and out of the show ring. I don't think the subject should have even come up, knowing it would upset a LOT of people on PT who do not deserve to be put down like that.

A little common courtesy, if you would! :p

Well said heinz57. I think you put into words better what I was trying to say :o

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Originally posted by heinz57_79
I dunno.. some of those low-riders can run like hell! LoL You should see Charlie and CHloe when they're down in the wash off leash... ZZZZZZOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!! LOL :D

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Aww, that would be so cute to see. I wish I could see that. I bet they are fast little boogers. :p

If Charlie didn't have ADD he'd be great at herding and/or agility. So would Chloe cuz she can JUMP! The dog park is fun too... when you get a line of pups running Charlie is right there with all the JRTs and italian greyhounds, holding his own! LoL

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Originally posted by YellowLabLover
When we were in Texas I saw an Alaskan Malamute, it was over 100F outside, I felt so bad for the dog. :(

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Having huskies and all, I talked to my vet about that. Their undercoat works both ways...it traps the heat or the cold in. They can actually do fine in hot weather.