THE WORD OF DOG ( text )
Essays
Dogs In The World ( historically )
The Rare Breed Story ( a canine fable )
Other Text
Dog Directions ( mine )
Dogs in the World ( the big picture )
Let’s start with the big picture, the context. After all it’s been some time since the likely parasitic relationship between cave men and wolves somehow became something more. But ever since those first cave dwellers began to lure wolves with food, or that first injured wolf, or pack-less cub, was obliged to accept human help; man has been shaping the creation of dogs, consciously or otherwise, into what is now possibly the most physically divergent mammalian species on earth.
There is nothing quite like the relationship between man and dog. Chimpanzees, though smarter by most measure’s, have been proven to lag behind dogs in their ability to read hand signals and body language ( anybody got that study ) Horse people make claims that border on the absurd regarding their potential telekinesis, but by any measurable means there is no comparing with what humans and dogs can get done.
Given mankind’s largely tooth and nail existence for the vast majority of evolutionary time, I think it’s safe to say even semi-domesticated dogs were expected to pull their weight. The predominate factor in the shaping of all breeds, all over the world, for all but the most recent strobe light blink of modern history was work. They were expected to contribute in some tangible way to get fed. Over time that basic relationship, and the dogs that were a part of it, became specialized to a wide variety of tasks as a result of the selective breeding of man, and the selection pressures of the various environments he inhabited.
Which is not to say that there was not more to the relationship between man and dog than this pragmatic matter of survival. I fully expect that whatever instincts move us to love and make pets of the canine have always been there. I suspect that the most ”primitive” men developed bonds with their dogs that were not much different than those who work their dogs today; and I expect that the bonds transcended those pragmatic ends. Dogs, I suspect, have always found their way into the family unit to one degree or another.
Maybe ancient man evaluated the temperaments of a litter of pups much as we do. Perhaps they called them spirits; however that was said in a hundred different tongues. Perhaps they made jokes about missing the cave-wife after she exclaimed
“ There is not room enough for me and that damn wolf dog in this cave “
Some things have probably always been the same.
But as the industrial age arrived and spread from one country and continent to the next, the need for working dogs has likewise declined, and will continue to do so. Just as economic wealth and birth control has made it easier than ever for “advanced” nations to provide for their relatively few new humans. As a result pet’s, it seems to me, are increasingly called upon to satisfy the nurturing and rearing instincts previously occupied by an abundance of hungry children and grandchildren.
It’s no accident that dogs are clubbed to death in the streets of China, and eaten in much of Asia to this day. It’s no coincidence that dogs are generally disregarded in most parts of the world where humans still struggle to feed their own. The absurdity of notions such as “animal rights” is a by-product of the unnaturally barren state of industrialized nations and the relative ease with which they sustain themselves.
Dogs, purely as pets, is a relatively new idea. And make no mistake about it, the vast majority of all dogs in industrialized nations, if not the world as a whole, are pets. And the vast majority of pet owners are not vary discerning or knowledgeable about dogs. The pathetic pandora’s box of pure bred dogs today is more than anything a proof positive and a reflection of that reality.
Choosing A Breed
That’s the fun part really; I like it anyway. Which is why I’ve considered all of Dogdom and may continue to try different breeds, which is ultimately the only way to know them. I do believe it’s important to be clear about what one wants and doesn’t want in a dog however; and not to kid yourself about the basic nature of a breed. Often the tendency is to underestimate the heritable, the innate, behaviour of a breed and over estimate the influence the rearing will have.
“ It’s all in how you raise em”
Mmm……Not so much. I’m here to tell you there is no point in fighting up hill battles. Dogs at the end of the day are much simpler, more instinctively bound creatures than people want to believe; a denial projected perhaps ? Not to say that nurture cannot hold significant sway, in dogs, or elsewhere. But there is little to be gained in fighting Mother Nature, and much to benefit in putting her wind at your back.
Take a hard look at what a breed was originally created to do. They tend to fall into fairly basic categories like hunt, protect, herd, pull- very basic themes. The subtleties also are important to consider. For example, a dog bred to stretch a hog or fight it to the death trying and a dog bred to follow a scent, point, and retrieve a bird with a soft mouth are very different beasts- hunters though they may both be.
Another thing to consider is that breeder’s priorities and standards vary wildly. There is not a breed in the world in which all examples are the same; there are different lines, and even within those, temperaments from any given litter can vary dramatically. All breeds contain a few stars, and many more losers.
Generalizations are just that but here is one we can make with certainty. There is not an AKC recognized breed that has not been physically and temperamentally compromised as a whole for the work it was intended. In fact most breeds in the AKC if they have been bred for anything, have likely been bred in deference to the show rings misguided notions, or a pet market that does not need or even want the instincts that originally defined the breed.
In an effort to provide a more useful way to define a breed, I’ve come up with my own system composed of a series of characteristics and a numeric score from one to ten, by which various breeds can be more easily compared one to another. All the breeds I work with have been rated; you can click on the links below to see those.
What follows is a list of the ten characteristics I’ve chosen and a brief definition of the terms.
Temperament: The basic nature of a dog in the broadest strokes; as such we can forget about numbers and write poetry, have a little fun with it.
Intelligence: Difficult to quantify even in dogs; there have been studies done, but they are much debated. It’s difficult to structure a test that separates “intelligence” from temperamental sensibilities like “biddability” or “independence,“ Turns out, even in dogs, intelligence is a tricky matter.
Biddability: Often confused with intelligence, this is the genetic desire to please the owner, obey, etc. A biddable dog is programmed to be tuned to it’s human person, essentially a yes man, which may or may not reflect its innate intelligence.
Independence: The genetic tendency to think independently and behave accordingly, for all practical terms the opposite of bid-able….and generally associated with disobedient. Many folks invested in breeds that tend to be that way, livestock guardians for example, will argue that they were selectively “bred” for independence because they had to think for themselves. Perhaps… I would argue that independent is the nature of the wolf and as such the default setting of any “breed” or group of dogs which has not been bred otherwise. I.E. it is not “natural” for any creature to put your interests ahead of its own. So we might just as easily call “independent” the default canine setting.
Gravity: The degree or tendency of a dog/breed to stay near its owner. A trait that often correlates with bid-ability
Roaming: The tendency to wander/explore alone. The opposite of gravity, a trait that tends to correlate with independence.
Prey drive: animal aggression, the instinct to hunt/kill other animals
Dog aggression: The instinct to fight dogs specifically, and not necessarily the same thing as prey-drive.
Human aggression: Suspicion of strangers, and or inclination to defend persons and property. Ultimately the willingness to stand up to man.
Drive: the need to do something, energy level.
It’s also worth mentioning that there exists a sort of one-up-manship amongst breeders, particularly where the breed in question may be formidable I.E.
“ Not for everyone”.
Often times breeders make a big show of stating all the dangers, pit falls, reasons you should not own these breeds…. on their web sites, where their peers can read it. So as they certainly can claim the moral high ground many “responsible” breeders seem to vie for. They are not just selling puppies, nooooo. Whether they actually let any of that rhetoric slow their hands reaching for the cash is another matter entirely, and beside the point anyway. Just know that the truth of a breed is often shaded one way or another for various reasons, by various persons, at various times.
The breed descriptions themselves do tend to shine, usually cause they’re written by people selling. But if you’ve ever read a bunch one after the next you will see they start to sound…. very much alike. Which is perhaps reasonable, because at the end of the day, they are all…….dawgs. And people in dogs do tend to make more of the differences than those not likewise obsessed.
At the same time the official printed propaganda leaves quite a bit to be desired in terms of useful information. I.E. An Akita may be described as “independent” but that does not quite prepare you for a dog that will never put what you want ahead of what it wants. If you’re losing livestock to predators you may need livestock guardians. But most of those dogs, due to their “ Independent “ nature, come with considerable downsides. As do many specialized working breeds, despite the often vague, sugar coated, breed descriptions. A Fila Brasileiro for example may be described as
“ naturally protective”
when one could also fairly describe them as the most man aggressive dogs in the world…..but one never reads that.
The spin on any given breed is a reality unto itself. But it’s particularly heavy on the rare breeds, where the lack of first hand experience, lends it more plausibility. There are good books out there about the basic differences in dog breeds, and the canine family tree ( love some references for the link page here ) you can get the basics anywhere. You can get the romantic, poetic, possibly fictional stuff from other web sites. Therefore I find it more useful to try and tell people what they might not otherwise hear about a given breed. When you have done your reading and you’re all fired up about your breed of choice, call me. I’ll tell ya what they don’t, even if I’m selling em.
Perhaps the most important thing is to be honest about what you’re looking for in a dog. Whether it’s a guardian, something you need to do a job, or a companion. Whether it’s a lawn ornament, conversation starter, chick magnet, or some combination there in. Whether it’s a matter of such profound personal significance that one couldn’t find the words. Or whether it’s something you never gave much thought to. Ultimately it’s nobody’s business but yours, so there should be no need to kid yourself….right ?
The question is what do you need from your breed?
What do you want from your breed?
What don’t you want from your breed?
What are you willing to sacrifice to have a given breed?
And might you not be better off with a mix more suited to your specific wants and needs ?
If your needs are not that specialized ( most people’s really are not ) and a healthy dog is high on your “want” list, you may do well to consider a cross. Countless people shell out big money every day for “pure bred” dogs that are more likely to be disasters in terms of health and vet bills, than a mixed breed, or even a mutt.
The statistics are in within the scientific community, and they don’t bode well for an extremely high percentage of purebred dogs. (Love some references/data here…. jemima…. where for art thou ) Most people, regardless of what breed they ultimately select, get emotionally attached. If the dog develops problems they often feel compelled to donate to their veterinarian’s children’s college funds sums that could have replaced the dogs several times over. Just one of many things for the tenderhearted to bare in mind when considering the options.
Choosing A Breeder
Again this is for the general public, those not already immersed in dogs. Deciding whom your going to buy your pup from is perhaps the most important, and often times most difficult, aspect of acquiring a dog as even the dumbest humans are capable of far greater artifice than the smartest canines.
Consider this: all it has ever taken to become a “breeder” is the possession of two dogs at one time. With the advent of artificial insemination, the requirements were halved. There is no formal education or innate intelligence test. No degree, no apprenticeship, no regulation, no exam, no license; no requirement what so ever. So as you can imagine there’s quite a range of knowledge, experience, intellect, commitment, resources, motivation, etc. In the diverse and generally pathetic world of “dog breeders”. I.E. any dumb ass can breed dogs.
But all to often the public makes their decision armed with precious little knowledge. As such, they are easily impressed, and easily deceived. It never ceases to amaze me how people will make such a big decision as to which dog to own and from whom to buy it with so little understanding.
The thing to remember is that dog may be a part of your family for over a decade. Most people when purchasing a car will ask a mechanic to look it over if they are not qualified to do so themselves, but a dog breeder can sell lemons indefinitely. The following is intended to provide a helpful overview, and hopefully educate the buyer to some greater extant. No sweeping statements can be made without exception, but I’ll make a few just the same, cause I’m not running for office.
One
With the possible exception of fine Art I’ve personally not been involved in any endeavor where the posers and deceit where as thick as in dog breeding. I’ve often wondered why it’s so, and can only conclude it has to do with the ignorance and gullibility of the buyers. In other words bullshit and posture sells a lot of dogs, as it does art.
Two
The majority of dog people are not people people. That may be the single truest statement on this website, and I may be no exception. Given that you’d think they might relate to each other at least, turns out…. not so much. There is very little love lost amongst most dog breeders, and much bad mouthing between them ( hear me roar ) So you might want to ask people to support any form of slander with evidence, or at the very least, reason.
Three
The vast majority of all breeders and breedings are motivated primarily by money; and the vast majority of all claims are to the contrary. Many in dogs will deny this, arguing everyone knows there’s no real money to be made, especially if you don’t cut corners. Which is, I think, generally true. But, I think it does not prove that people are not after money, so much as that those that do breed, compete viciously for a scant supply there of.
No it’s not likely to make you rich and yes most real breeders got into it, and stay in it, because they are passionate about the dogs. But those breeders are a slim minority anyway. And there is Machiavellian competition for that that fickle trickle of puppy buyers between all ilk’s of “breeders.” The scant supply of green just means they get more creative, and oft times deceptive, to get their perceived share.
And the desire to find a means by which one person can claim they have better dogs than another is what drives most of the subcultures in dogs; from the show ring to the working events, to much of dog forum traffic. Most are looking to elevate the status of their dog, kennel or breed; if not denigrate the competition. And most of that behavior is about trying to increase their economic returns and or satisfy their inextricably tangled egos.
Four
Serious dog breeders think dog breeding is a lot more important than the rest of the world does.
Moving on with more politically incorrect generalizations. For clarity’s sake I will divide dog breeders into various categories and make generalizations about them all.
Show dog Breeders
Convenience breeders
Working dog Breeders
Know cross breeders
Factories and large-scale millers
Show dog breeders:
As far as I’m concerned these are generally not the cream of the genetic crop themselves; I find them a quirky self aggrandizing bunch and entirely ripe for satire. Well let me get off the fence… I don’t like em, so I’m biased. I can’t pretend to understand the motivation; I don’t have enough respect for the process.
Of course success in the show ring does not in and of itself pay off, it can be a very expensive and time consuming process if one is serious about it. Ribbons don’t put money in your pocket directly, they are more a less a marketing tool, if they pay at all. And, in my opinion, the show dog world is to some extent a pyramid scheme. Like all pyramid schemes it only functions so long as enough new people play along, and continue to ascribe monetary value where there is no real worth.
Many dog breeders of all ilk will have you believe money is hardly a factor. In fact I don’t know of any other money-producing endeavor (with the possible exception of organized religion) whose practitioners routinely claim such lofty motivation. Show breeders (amongst others) with precious few exception, will profess to be motivated entirely by a “love of breed,“ or a desire to improve it. But talk is cheap, next time any breeder tells you it’s not about money, or suggests that on their web site, suggest to them then that they should give you a dog…or reduce the price, see how that goes over.
The pyramid scheme is of course built on the ignorance of the public. And the arrogance of the show world serves that end by making Joe Public feel silly and not ask too many questions before he ponies up $2000 to the person who sounds like they know what they’re talking about. The truth is there’s a ton of bullbleep in all dog circles, but the show world and it’s strange denizens are, in my opinion, the worst. Their arrogance is only exceeded by their ignorance of basic biological and evolutionary principals.
Just the same when Joe public gets home, his neighbor seems right impressed with his new “show dog”, and often times Joe stumbles on a pencil and an envelope full of bills, does a little math, and the next thing you know a CONVENIENCE BREEDER is born
CONVENIENCE BREEDER (AKA “ backyard breeders”)
Convenience breeders, though very likely to be bad for any breed are only less tolerable to me than show breeders if they pretend to be something other than what they are. When they portend knowledge, or breeding ethics, they are insufferable; the worst. When they don’t— it’s a free country, they got some dogs, their breeding, let the buyer beware. Statistics say they won’t be breeding long anyway.
Most people use the term “backyard breeder,” and a backyard is a convenient breeding local to be sure, but I’ve never liked the term because it misses the point. It’s not about how much land a person has or how extensive their kennels are. It’s about breeding based on convenience and to what extent. Hence in my world, “backyard breeders” shall be referred to as
“Convenience breeders” And we can retire that useless term. But first you should hear the old truism.
“ The only thing any two breeders can agree on is that any third breeder is a ”back yard breeder”
That’s a good one to bear in mind if you’re going to ask breeders for their opinions of other breeders, they toss around a lot, but nobody ever defines it.
The convenience factor may be the simplest way to grade breeders of all ilk. Because convenience is a factor for all of us; and the degree to which it is, largely what separates us. True Convenience breeders don’t bother to educate themselves. Why would they, they have no intention of doing much searching, so knowledge is irrelevant anyway. As is testing, as is experience, or the quality of the dogs they happen to have.
They breed what they can get with as little money and effort as possible. They breed what they have because……….it’s what they have. And many of them, in their travels, pick up some rhetoric from other breeders and spout it out like parrots to the public who all to often can’t tell the difference anyway. What’s worse many have fairly shiny web sites, which early in the days of the net anyway, seemed to impress the not so discerning public to no end. Now everybody has a web site and it doesn’t take much reading by a knowledgeable dog person to see that the vast majority of the web sites belong to convenience breeders.
WORKING DOG BREEDERS
This is the group I personally respect most, though in the strictest sense, at the time of writing, I do not qualify to be considered one. But I do have the where-with-all to find them, and the good sense to give their dogs precedence in my travels.
These are people who are breeding nothing but proven working animals to proven working animals. That is the criteria and should have been so for generations. These animals are born and bred to do something. For me the given task is less important than breeding for the ability to do something….anything. Not look a certain way. Not to compile ribbons or bows. “ Conformation” is only there, if it’s there at all, because form has followed function. And these folks are at best a tiny minority, at worst…. an endangered species. Many have little interest in dealing with the public at large. Some avoid the pet owners, and the show world, to some degree, and often at their economic peril, because they believe that those groups inevitably ruin the working dogs.
Which brings me to those who claim, “ Total package”. Those are people who claim to work and show their dogs. It’s a nice idea, good marketing to be sure; but most of the real working dog people I know would hesitate to honor a show dog with their spit, much less get caught trotting around a ring. In America anyway the two worlds are starkly polarized. If you can find someone that truly commands respect in both those worlds (as opposed to some someone claiming both and likely respected by neither) tip your hat to em, and give their dogs a good look. Chances are however, it’s an empty claim.
And the world of “working dogs” is not immune to empty claims. The term is fast becoming rhetorical, it’s used so often and so loosely in some circles, and rarely proven in any meaningful sense in most. Again, as in show dogs do not be shy about wanting to see proof of any claim with your own eyes. Do not be made to feel silly for wanting to understand in plain terms the merits of a given dogs “working” credentials. See the dogs “work” or witness for yourself a “working event” and decide for yourself what it’s worth and what it’s not.
BAND DOGS/ DESIGNER DOGS/KNOW CROSS BREEDERS
These are all folks trying to fill the void left by the decay of purebred dogs, myself included. Granted the distinctly different subcultures surrounding say “ designer dogs” with their little old ladies, shitzypoos, goldendoodles and endless hypoallergenic and or purse size crosses. As opposed to say…. Bandogs with it’s decidedly Knucklehead jena se qua and their largely pitbull x neo x mastiff crosses bred almost exclusively to protect humans from humans, is so drastically different, it’s fairly amusing to mention them on the same page much less in the same breath. But the common denominator is the same.
Hybrid vigor aka Heterosis
And hybrid vigor is a reality. No one in commercial animal husbandry will deny it. No scientist worth his salt will contradict it. For overall health and vigor it’s hard to get more bang for your genetic buck then a cross.
But, bare in mind, whether a breeder stops there. Or a breeder crosses back and gets a 75% 25% cross, or takes two different f1 crosses or gets a dog composed of 25% of four breeds, or breeds f1’s 2’s 3’s or even breeds tightly for a few generations. They have likely not created a “New Breed” by any meaningful definition of the word. And I would say that most claims to that affect should be considered a red flag. It usually speaks to ignorance or marketing, or both.
The sheer numbers of dogs desirable in any worthwhile attempt at creating the foundation of something one could reasonably call a “breed” is beyond most men’s resources. Which is not to say that some recognized “breeds” of today were not started with insufficient foundation, cause many were. But that curse haunts every such breed in direct proportion to it’s lack of numbers to this day.
It is and odd thing that no sooner have some of these cross breeders realized some benefits from the fresh blood, and some distance on the inbreeding, that they set about trying to consistently reproduce the new mix, or “NEW BREED” as if the pay off of a good cross had not been enough somehow. Many set off, back down the road they just got off, and begin to tightly line breed their crosses in the name of “consistency.”
I think it not unreasonable to ask any cross breeder to document the pedigree of their crosses. And I would be wary of those who are hesitant to produce that information regardless of the justification of “secret recipes” or such. One knows and keeps records or one doesn’t. One will share that information or one won’t.
If there is one thing I think any reasonable amount of crossing will make plain it’s that it’s not about some magic formula, or ratio of breeds. It’s about the QUALITY of the individual dogs chosen to represent the breeds. Hence any bandog person unwilling to speak plainly to the pedigree of the dog, in my opinion, has waved a red flag. And what it says is: any dumb ass that could mix the breeds I’ve mixed could get the same results. Which means there was no real effort put into using quality individuals in the first place.
FACTORIES AND LARGE SCALE MILLERS
These are true puppy factories, in the industrial farm model, mass production. We are talking a numbers game, numerous breeding bitches, often in tight confines, with numbers instead of names that live their whole lives in cages; producing litters all the while. Typically these are the miniatures, although it can and is done with any sized breed. And many of these operations are actually inspected by the U.S.D.A and given a stamp of approval. They tend to pop up in out of way parts, of out of the way states. They sell much of their wares through pet stores and or mail order arrangements; so bare that in mind if your considering putting your money there. Though many a backwoods mom and pop operation on only a smaller scale that can be found in every state, when it’s only about money, it shows. Most folks have an instinctual revulsion to these set ups that exceeds even the reaction to factory farming. In any event one should know that if you choose to give your money to a pet store or unknown mail order breeder you may well be supporting industrial pet farms.
7 Questions for the Breeder
What follows is a few questions I suggest asking your potential breeder, regardless as to what category they may or may not fall into, as a means to sifting.
1. Where did you get your dogs?
This seemingly simple question is really quite telling. One can make quite a few logical inferences with regard the answers to this question. How convenient was it? What sort of stock is it? Did they need to travel to do it?
2. How many dogs have you raised/owned that you did NOT breed? How many did you breed only once?
Boom. If they bred everything they got, they are either very VERY lucky, or it’s a convenience thing. Especially if you were not real impressed with the answers to question one. If everything that got bred got bred again, chances are they were not real selective either.
3. What sort of health testing do you do?
Boom….that costs money, and likely eliminates dogs.
Ask to see the results on paper; you might be amazed at how often these claims will remain unsupported. One will hear things like,
“O my vet looked at the hips and said they were great…so I didn’t bother sending them to OFA or Penn hip. “
Well the costs associated with sending an x-ray in to OFA or Penn hip to be certified and evaluated is next to nothing, relative the cost of getting the x-ray taken in the first place. Maybe an additional thirty dollars more on a two to four hundred-dollar investment. If they thought the process was worth doing, why would they not spend the extra chump change to provide the customer with the proof? If they have the proof why not post it on the web site for all to see?
4. What other sorts of temperament testing do you do.
The idea that a given breed, any breed, is automatically willing and able to do what it’s supposed to do is a bit of a fallacy. There are many dogs that don’t fulfill the billing of their breed. If someone tries to sell you on the idea that there’s no need to test their dogs…… that should tell you one of three things. They are ignorant, dishonest, or both. If they give you an honest answer, that should tell you something. If they don’t have any idea what you mean….that should tell you something.
5. What sort of experience do you have with other breeds?
Most half ways serious dog people have experience with several breeds, and often in other animal related areas besides canines. If all they know is one breed, how much really can they know?
6. What sort of proof, or documentation are you offering ?
If there claiming, “ show dog, champion lines” etc. Verify the organizations involved, there are ones that generate “champions” in a weekend. There are others that have respect in the world of show…. if that’s something your interested in, take the time to educate yourself regards the paper.
IF they are claiming “working dogs” ask if you can see the dogs at work. If they are claiming working titles ask to see them. And if your really hell bent on a working dog, go see some of the working events for yourself, decide, for yourself, what they are worth.
7. Can I see a copy of your sales/ warranty contract?
If there are contracts or guarantees read the fine print
If there are none, know that.
In short don’t be apologetic about wanting proof of any claim big or small. If someone takes offense that you don’t necessarily come to the table with absolute trust. Ask if they will accept your word as promise of payment for the pup till you have some cash, see how that goes over, maybe feign hurt feelings if the lack of faith is not only yours
