Grr...some people

[Gempress]

I met a lady today who mentioned that she showed border collies in both conformation and obedience. I said that was quite an accomplishment, and that I was working on obedience training with Zeus. She asked me what kind of dog he was, and I said a blackmouth cur.

She said "Oh, a hound breed." *insert condescending smile here* "Don't waste your time, dear."



Waste my time?? Just because Zeus is a hound doesn't mean he can't learn anything! I think my puppy is doing very well, thank you very much! Is that a common attitude among dog trainers, or did I just happen to meet one of the narrow-sighted ones?

 

[Zoom]

Remember, she has border collies, who have an almost unnatural advantage in obedience...I think Zeus can do just fine. Probably won't out-do a BC, but just fine for you!

 

[aurorab]

Don't even worry about her. Some people just need to put others down to feel better about themselves. Small people/ Small mind. Plus I bet he doesn't care what she said, so don't let it upset you.
Just like people all dogs are different. Don't put a limit on you dog just b/c of his breed. He might just exceed everyone expectaions!
And even if that isn't his thing maybe he just better at something else.. like big kisses!

 

[oriondw]

She's right... He will never be able to do what a border collie or a lab does...


Take it as a compliment though, he has enough brains to think before doing stuff instead of doing anything unconditionally

 

[gaddylovesdogs]

Border collies are extremely intelligent dogs which is why they are popular in competitions, but I think it was rude and extremely stupid of that woman to say that Zeus can't do anything.

 

[Doberluv]

I think it's narrow minded to think that you can't accomplish much with a hound. If you work within the parameters of what he was bred for, take his natural drives, find what motivates him, (even though it may be more difficult...something will motivate ANY breed) be creative to work around obstacles, he'll learn just fine. People like that would just make me want to take up the challenge even more. Some dogs are indeed very well suited for obedience, ones that were bred to work alongside man, but when you think about, all domestic dogs are genetically wired to be with mankind. That's why they're domestic. Some people act like different breeds are some other specie. And that's not so. You may have to work a little harder and use some unconventional twists on some methods, but if you make it fun and worth HIS while, I bet you he'll come a long way. It sounds like you've already made leaps and bounds. Don't let anyone discourage you. He doesn't have to be a Border Collie or Lab. Set up some realistic goals and make a plan. When he reaches that, make a new set of goals. Just go from there. You go girl!

 

[Zoom]

Talk that lady into taking her BC's out tracking with you and see who wins. Different dogs for different purposes and one's not meant to be better than the rest.

 

[Doberluv]

Talk that lady into taking her BC's out tracking with you and see who wins. Different dogs for different purposes and one's not meant to be better than the rest.

Excellent! Yeah....ask her how her dog would measure up to a bloodhound finding a lost child or dead person hundreds of miles away who was carried off in a car.

 

[Ilovegoldens]

Personally.. Id take your dog over a BC any day... I have had them and although I agree they are great working dogs.. and intelligent.. but I have seen many intelligent dogs that are far from a B.C. Some dogs just have a knact for different things.. one of my goldens can find anything if you give her something to smell.. she's never been trained.. it's just her.. it works well when I need to track down Bailey if he wanders off the trail.. he'll always come.. but sometimes I tell Brooke "get Bailey" and she goes and gets him.. or takes me to him.. ... don't worry about her... some people have to make others feel small to make themselves feel big...

 

[Sunnypup]

Wow, does this sound like someone else we know or what Hounds are supposed to be the way they are. I wouldn't count on a bc to find my dinner for the night, or my lost child as someone else said. Daisy tracked Tim today. No joke. Sunny couldn't do that if his life depended on it...okay MAYBE then, but seriously. AAAANNND Zeus is doing well in obediance, you said so yourself! Daisy has managed to catch up to Sunny in 90% of what he knows, and took less time to do it. Some people just feel the need to put others down. It's not much of a competition if EVERY dog there is a superbley trained bc now is it? Zeus just may show them up, given time and practice. That's not what you're in it for anyway! Stupid people. Give Zeus a big ol' hug, and if you see that lady again, ask her how she thinks her dogs would do in a tracking competition, then look at her and say, oh, you have border collies, poor thing, don't waste your time

 

[bubbatd]

This reminds me of many years ago when I went to our Golden Retriever annual awards dinner.... I had shown briefly years before but was the first one for recognition for a Therapy Award... when they mentioned the awards, a lady behind me said " oh please, lets get to the real stuff !" Yes, she bred and showed wonderful Goldens, but for her to put me and my Golden down really pissed me off !!! This is a club to recognize All accomplishments of the breed. Since then, they've been kinder. Though she now is nicer and kinder, I still remember and won't forget her " Snob" attitude.

 

[Doberluv]

That's incredible. People are jelous or something...feel insecure, like it was said. What a snooty witch.

The jerk I was hanging out with but never again, (who's mean to his dogs) said one time, while watching Lyric in the grass, "You're going to have trouble with Lyric when he gets a little older." He said this when Lyric was playing in the yard recently and Lyric is two years old. He was doing nothing wrong but running around, bouncing and pawing and pouncing around with a stick in his mouth. He is a very playful, exuberant young Doberman, but a good boy, stays out my gardens, doesn't mess with my flowers, doesn't pee on my bushes and is doing well in agility and doing some more advanced obedience. I couldn't figure why he'd say this because Lyric is very well mannered in the house and obedient...nice to people, can take him anywhere... and just a great dog. Wouldn't he be messed up by now if he was going to be? He's two. Good heavens!

 

[RD]

Talk that lady into taking her BC's out tracking with you and see who wins. Different dogs for different purposes and one's not meant to be better than the rest.

Very well put!

Don't let that lady bother you. I notice that Border Collie people really do become "BC Snobs" and tend to put down other breeds, it's unfortunate and VERY rude. Zeus will probably outdo her Border Collies in certain areas, just as her BCs will probably outdo Zeus in certain areas. No breed is universally proven to be BETTER than another in everything. It is all a matter of opinion.

Some people think a slower, more thorough dog is 'better'. Some people think that a lightning-fast quick thinker is 'better'. It's all a matter of personal preference.

(Randomly, BCs are really versatile dogs and -can- track quite well, but I would never expect a BC to out-track a hound.)

 

[Renee750il]

[/I]Oh, good grief! Some people just need to get over themselves . . . :rolleyes.

When Charley lived in Florida there was a woman down the road from him who won all sorts of international obedience trials with her dogs. Charley had OddJob (Bull Mastiff/Rottie/Catahoula cross - breeds not known for winning at obedience, lol). Charley just offhandedly told OddJob to do things, like go to the porch, go get something for him . . . to stay in one place, to guard something, you know, just random things. The woman evidently watched him with Oddsie for a few weeks, then finally stopped to ask Charley about it one day, thinking he was some sort of obedience champion, lol. He told her that no, he didn't do any obedience stuff, just had always talked to his dogs and expected them to learn. She was amazed and confided to one of his friends that Charley did things with his dog on a daily basis that she would never even dream of getting her obedience champions to do.

So . . . THAT for obedience breeds, lol!

 

[yuckaduck]

Do you love Zeus? Does he do what you want him to do? If yes then he is better than any other breed out there, for you! I think hounds are great dogs, they are so much fun and so loving. I had a mutt hound growing up and there is no better dog in my mind. Now everyone shshshs do not tell Marc because his feelings would be hurt. He thinks gsd's are god's gift to earth and there is no other breed. Not say I do not love the gsd breed, I do but I also love others out there!


Oh and BTW many people here complain because Yukon is too big and will be a monster. Well his growth is right on track according to the height and weight chart of the gsd. So HUH?? Morons! How would they know?

People are just jealous of what a beauty you have!

 

[Old Dog]

BC's are driven because they are meant to herd but not having things to herd they will excell at whatever job given to do. Try living with one of these hyperactive driven dogs. Unless you "love" the breed they will drive you crazy and very destructive if not given something to do it is just the way they are. Give me the hounds anyday. In our obedience club we had a lady that had a quite high scoring black and tan coon hound don't say hounds aren't good at obedience. They maybe a little slow but they are good obedience dogs. Alot of hound breeds do great in obedience. I have known many. I trained and finished an afghan hound a friend of mine had his scores were consistantly in the high 180's which is good for a hound. Hounds are steady consistant workers. I'll take that over hyper any day.