Discernment - Page 16

My Mojo showed angelic discernment when the Insurance lady went to take his photograph. I told him to sit for his picture, because he'd previously shown a distaste for the "red dot". He sat down obediently and decided to give the cutest lift of his paw in a perfect "Lassie wave". The agent lady was positively charmed!  We had no problems with the Insurance company about owning a GSD. 

So, what happened if the dogs these days just don't have what it takes compared to the dogs of yesteryear? Didn't some breeders have a backbone to preserve the best of the best? That's what I would have done. 

There are a few breeders that still breed that type of dog, they just don't breed for sport or show. And all the "experts today" are involved in show and sport world. So it's hard to discern them!....lol

"................So it's hard to discern them!...."

thats pretty funny, like that poster who mentioned "yakkity, yak" when referring to my musk ox pic.

Gustav; I believe you are really missing something here in your post. At the risk of a pre-fourth of July blow out, I must point out that it has never been established that this ''discernment'' quality is anything other than a learned behavior. A learned behavior can not be blamed on a breeder. With all due respect, ideal Quality of discernment might be  up to environmental influence. I respect your involvement in the military. Do you remember the Army's "Super Dog'' program in the late 1960 and early 1970? If there were plenty of home grown GSD to use in the military, why did the Army embark on this failed plan of action? Could it be they needed more or better dogs? Why did the SV institute the A Stamp program in the late 1960? It was not because of no issues with hips, it was the exact opposite. The AKC never has required this step to reg pups yet who on this chat room would argue against clearing breed specimens for this one aspect. It is clearer now than ever that stronger over sight is needed for the breed. I can go see a number of local breeders and learn from each. I can connect with the breed internationally and learn even more. This thread has been well received. Too many organization haters cling to one feeble argument against the established breeding rules of the SV. They get caught up with the practice of breeding or training and really should focus on the ideal. I hate foot ball because of M vick? I hate baseball because of Arod? I hate boxing because MMA is more real? silly

Gsd, you're correct, it is silly for one to be an " organization hater" because of ONE bad egg. The SV has MANY examples of their plan failing. (BTW, I don't hate any organizations, I simply take them for what they're worth).
And your "blow out" comment was also very punny. ;-)

GSDstudent, there are MANY examples in this thread of dogs using discernment to do things they were NEVER TAUGHT TO DO! My male GSD was not taught to brace while I leaned on his back, and that was exactly what he did the night I fell into that darn fence post hole, and could not get out without his help.
Many other good examples if you reread the thread.

joanro; what is the percentage of failed breedings without structure? Every good dog  goes back to a structured program. SunSilver; I guess you have a bone to pick also with this thread if ''discernment'' has been proven to exist? 5-4-3-2-1 fireworks?

Gsd,I have not a clue what the percentages are for which you ask. But it doesn't take statistics to see what the SV has promoted and the results thereof. I will mention that not ALL dogs registered with SV are the result of the organizations promotions, that would be a silly presumption. I heartily disagree, however, with your claim that " every good dog goes back to a structured program". The contrary can be said, that structured programs have been the failings of many good breeds. The organizations were established because the "good dogs" already existed. Edit to add: structured programs = organizations, ie, registries

debate, our God given right, upheld by the constitution of the US. I try to not get personal in my remarks, so forgive me from todays posts which are addressing individuals. I have had the privledge to meet many top people in the GSD and training world far more capable than myself. I have seen top police and military trainers who are knowlegdable about sport and vice versa. My hope is to encourage all GSD enthustiast to get involved on many levels of the breed. local, national, international, it all has its value. I have had the opportunity in the pet world to be involved with many dog owners and witnessed what unsupervised breeding bring. How do we know a ''puppy mill'' when we see one? How do we recognize a well run breed program? What are the degrees in between the two poles that are significant? I am still trying to discern this scale. When a knowledgable person like Gustav makes an observation I take notice, and try to figure out what this observation means to the breed. I speak from my experience and do not try to talk about the merits of individual dogs, or people. Just the breed. the debate goes on.

Gsd, it sounds from your last post that you are now speaking of 'structured programs' in a different context. Perhaps, then we are saying the same thing. I understood you to mean structured program as in organization as in SV, etc. The organizations were developed for the good dogs which were created by individual breeders' 'structured programs'. Even if that program only entailed culling the dogs which didn't perform their job or purpose up to expectation.