How dogs have changed?

[Adina]

This topic comes up again and again. I've had GSD's for many years. What makes people think the "old" type were sounder? In the 60s and 70s lots of dogs had short show careers. I remember several dogs that won lots and then disappeared from the show scene before they were 2. If you don't test for something, it doesn't mean its not there. Now we test and can eradicate problems.

 

[Dry Rot]

This topic comes up again and again. I've had GSD's for many years. What makes people think the "old" type were sounder? In the 60s and 70s lots of dogs had short show careers. I remember several dogs that won lots and then disappeared from the show scene before they were 2. If you don't test for something, it doesn't mean its not there. Now we test and can eradicate problems.

How many racing greyhounds have hip dysplasia? I wonder if any are even tested?

The only real test for fitness to work is hard work! I really admire the show judges who can assess a dog from a few minutes in the ring and judge temperament by gazing into it's eyes. It always took me several years of first training them and then working them hard under natural conditions.