Dog Directions
Where am I going with this ?
To some extant that remains to be seen, even by me. I’ve been at the helm of enough creative endeavors by now to know that the ending need not be scripted for the journey to begin. As it did a decade before I got around to a web site.
The educational curve never stops, the sifting through breeds, the searching and breeding for the best examples of a breed, or a cross, continue. The rearing and observation is ongoing. To what degree exceptional individual dogs trump plans, or expectations of the breeds themselves, remains to be seen. To what extent unexpected results lay their own plans is also a matter time alone can tell.
The underlying philosophy, however, is not likely to change. I consider myself a student of nature; and nature, in my estimation, is ruthlessly competitive. I believe the brutal ethos of survival of the fittest produces beauty, produces worth.
This is where I must part ways with many good people in dogs, life, and politics. It’s not about how we might like things to be, it’s about how things are. When we loose sight of that and remove the selection pressures that cull the stupid, the physically unsound, the temperamentally unstable, we reap the garbage that idealism and compassion can sow. A fact not limited to canine breeding.
I try not to worry to much about what I might like to produce that it clouds my ability to see what I have produced. Ideas, visions, and dreams are essential to inspiration and I have mine, believe that. But they are somewhat irrelevant in a what have we done lately sorta way.
I’ve spent years considering various breeds. Years more trying to find the best examples I could of the breeds I ultimately chose to own in journeys that have taken me around our country and much of the world. Undoubtedly I will spend years more trying to breed worthy purebreds, because that will forever be the foundation; the corner stones. But, if I’m honest, the variations and subtle differences on a common theme is not what fascinates me most. Maintaining, even ” improving”, existing breeds is only so interesting.
What fascinates me is creating my own ideal dog. What fascinates me is the possibilities. The most difficult part then is narrowing them to a manageable number, and a couple basic directions for crosses. The last decade has been spent arriving at that. Four breeds: the Dogo, Boerboel, Kangal, Dane.
And two basic strains…two primary and somewhat opposing directions. One my ideal farm dog, the other my ideal road dog.
And yet the major lessons thus far learned are clear
1. Virtually no breed exists as it should ( and some, like the Dane, have been destroyed ), so the challenge is finding/breeding the best examples of a given breed. Or at least one expressing the traits you seek.
2. The individual chosen to represent a breed is perhaps more important than the breed itself, particularly where non specialized dogs are needed.
Given that reality a good working Rott might well replace a lessor Boerboel or visa versa. A stellar example of one breed of livestock guardian might easily replace a lessor example of another, etc. All of which I say to preface the reality, as I see it today, ten years into breeding, that where I can find stellar examples of any number of breeds that bring to the table what I want…. I think I’ll not worry too much about breed.
All the breeds I work with due share some common ground. They are all typically over a hundred pounds, they are all expected to protect and or defend persons property and or stock. Watchdogs in a word.
The Dogo: might be expected to hunt, but there are far more guarding walled compounds in Argentina.
The Boerboel: if it is not a worthy watchdog, is not really a boerboel
The Kangal: will take just as naturally to defending it’s territory bereft of stock, it’s people, for lack of sheep.
The Dane: is a bit of a tragedy as a breed, but once upon a time they would have been well up to the task; and I hope to create something Dane-like that’s up to it again.
They are all famously good family dogs, all, good with children; devoted to their people. The essential qualities I seek; stability, intelligence, good nerve, courage these remain the same, these qualities we can’t have too much of. These qualities make good pets as well as guardians.
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