[Ag-eq] OT question

[Peg Brandt]

 Hi, Jody!  I'm not saying that German Sgepards are bad it is just to the general, uneducated public that the breed is an iffy breed coz of the Police work that they do!  Ceretain breeds get stereotyped just like John Q. Sighted stereotypes the blind!  Because of the public's generalized ideas of the breed I think that Guide dog facilities stay away from the breed!  Hip dysplasia can be bred out of certain lines of dogs that they have available to them so I don't really see that as an issue.  I think the breed is beautiful and as is all breeds, they get a bad rap due to the way that many are raised and handled by unscrupulous, uncaring individuals!  I just happen to prefer small dogs, particularly toy poodles and if I were ever to get a guide dog, it would be a standard poodle as I love that particular breed!  Also, we all know that mares can be what the ol' cowboys call "marey" during that time of the month where others you would never notice it!  I have always been fortunate with my mares, no one gets cranky when around them when they are in heat!    Peg
> From: jody at thewhitehats.com
> To: ag-eq at nfbnet.org
> Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:41:27 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] OT question
> 
> Hi Peg,
> 
> It is the versatility of the shepherd and their intelligence that is so
> wonderful. That same police dog who can take down a criminal can visit an
> elementary school and they can be totally trusted around small children.
> The training for a police dog makes a game out of taking down the bad guy.
> Think of it as martial arts training for dogs. Just because a person has a
> black belt doesn't mean they are vicious and dangerous to be around. I sure
> hope that black belts aren't perceived that way since I have two of them.
> <GRIN>
> 
> One of my earliest experiences with shepherds was when I was riding in the
> car with my mother down a four lane highway. Traffic was stopped in all
> directions while a shepherd ran frantically in circles barking at the cars
> to stop. The dog was protecting a toddler who had ridden their tricycle in
> to the road. It didn't stop barking until the toddler's mom had come out
> to rescue the toddler. I had two German Shepherds while my kids were
> growing up. They were like nannies with my kids. They would play hide and
> seek together and I never had to worry about the dogs hurting my kids. I
> remember one day our daughter was about three and she tripped and fell on
> our dog so hard she knocked the wind out of him. I gasped because I didn't
> know what he would do. Well, he just licked her face as if to say he knew
> she didn't mean to hurt him.
> 
> Shepherds like all large breeds are prone to hip dysplasia but breeders are
> x-raying hips and having dogs OFA certified. The hip joints can be shallow
> and cause problems and that is what the test is looking for. I would never
> get a shepherd whose parents weren't OFA certified. 
> 
> I think shepherds, pit bulls, Dobermans and Rotweilers get a bad rep because
> of the bad ways people train them. It isn't the breed as much as it is the
> people who ruin them just like the cruel person who kept your poodle locked
> up in a cage. 
> 
> As for horses, this might sound silly but since I was ten years old I have
> wanted a Quarter Horse Palominos. I am going to hold out until I find one.
> 
> 
> What would you all say is the biggest difference between a gelding and a
> mare's personalities? I have heard mares can be bitchy.
> 
> JODY
> 
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