[nagdu] choosing a particular breed and reasons why?

Pam pamyoung80 at gmail.com
Sat Mar 21 17:23:04 UTC 2015


i completely agree. i have never heard of the color of the coats dictating personality either. sure it's just a colour. a good friend of mine has a black lab and she is the most laid back calm dog.

Sent from my iPhone

> On 21 Mar 2015, at 16:43, Buddy Brannan via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I'd also disagree with Raven's assessment. My first guide was a golden. Serious, confident, always on. Also with typical golden vanity. Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. He was methodical and careful, working obstacles from way, way back. My next two were yellow labs, and by the way, my understanding is that the only real difference between yellow and black labs is, well, coat color. Anyway, two more different dogs you couldn't ever hope to meet. Chet was pretty high energy. He was a sometimes difficult combination of headstrong and sensitive, which meant he'd get his feelings hurt pretty easily. Of the three, he was the most distractible, sometimes turning completely around in harness, especially in the beginning. Unlike Karl, Chet work right up to obstacles and zipped around at the last minute, no doubt giving more than one person heart failure. Unlike Karl, Chet definitely had work mode and not work mode. Well, Karl did, too, but not in as much an extreme, and when off, Karl was still off. It was enough that when he retired, he *completely* retired and turned over absolutely all responsibility to Chet. Chet was also the 60-pound dog with the 70-pound nose. Leno, also a lab, is a bit like Karl in personality. Methodical, deliberate, takes absolutely everything in stride in a way Chet did not. Leno is as serious and focused a dog as I've ever met of any breed. So I'd really say that differences in dogs is more down to individual personality than to breed tendencies, though naturally this also isn't exactly true.
> 
> --
> Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
> Phone: 814-860-3194 
> Mobile: 814-431-0962
> Email: buddy at brannan.name
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Mar 21, 2015, at 12:31 PM, Tracy Carcione via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I really don't agree with Raven's characterization of labs.  I've had 5, so
>> I have some experience.  None of them has been goofy.  None of them have
>> been wildly energetic or bouncing off the walls.  All of them were perfectly
>> happy to flop down in my office and sleep most of the day.  All of them have
>> been serious workers.  Only one was particularly "stubborn", but I'd call it
>> self-confident.  She knew she was right, and she usually was.  When she
>> wasn't, she could be persuaded to reconsider. I really value this trait.
>> Sometimes I make mistakes, and I want a dog who will stand up to me and say
>> I'm wrong.
>> A couple of my labs were a bit sniffy, or looked for food, but it could be
>> controlled.
>> My current dog is a cross.  I attribute his energy and eagerness to carry
>> things, as well as his extreme cautiousness, even hesitancy,  to his golden
>> side.  But I've never had a pure golden, just known a few.  
>> Tracy
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Raven Tolliver
>> via nagdu
>> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 8:06 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] choosing a particular breed and reasons why?
>> 
>> Um, ... ... yes!
>> And just a disclaimer for the lab-lovers, sorry. What I'm about to say is
>> probably heresy, and may be on the offensive side.
>> I myself put in an order for a golden retriever. I requested that breed
>> because through my experiences, I feel that golden retrievers have chosen
>> me.
>> I practically grew up with Leader Dogs in my backyard, and frequently saw
>> their pups in training, and attended several of their seminars and programs
>> over the years.
>> The first guide dog in training I ever saw was a 3-month-old golden
>> retriever when I was 8. I adored how sweet, calm, and collected she was.
>> In my teenage years, I took walks with their dogs a couple different times,
>> and both dogs were golden retrievers. I was impressed with how focused and
>> observant they were, and how they looked to their handlers for direction.
>> In addition, whenever I visited friends who had golden retrievers, I was
>> instantly won over by the golden's gentle nature, down-to-earth personality,
>> and level of obedience.
>> I have come to understand the nature of golden retrievers, and have realized
>> how my nature aligns with that of a golden. Like a golden retriever, I am
>> very sensitive, extremely loyal, gentle-natured, low to moderately
>> energetic, and I take my work seriously.
>> I will always choose golden retrievers over other breeds because of their
>> energy level, work ethic, easy handling, and because I need a dog who can
>> weather harsh winters without additional covering.
>> I feel that other breeds are typically higher energy than golden retrievers,
>> such as German shepherds and labs, and tend to get into trouble with a lot
>> of down time. Also, some breeds have higher levels of distractibility
>> compared to goldens. I do not want to work a labrador or a lab/golden cross
>> simply because they are notorious for scavenging and excessive sniffing.
>> Sometimes, nothing matters more to them than food. No, I don't want that
>> dog.
>> Goldens are typically easy to handle. There is no need for harsh leash
>> corrections, not that there is with any dog, and they respond very well to
>> voice commands. Also, goldens take you seriously, whereas labs tend to be
>> goofy, and retain many puppyish qualities into adulthood. I have seen too
>> many labs who think everything is a game. It's time to leave, so they pick
>> up a toy. You pick up their harness, and they run away from you. You call
>> them, and they don't come, but they're sitting in a corner and wagging their
>> tail. Labs are also extremely quirky creatures. I'm talking strange behavior
>> that makes no sense at all.
>> Some people think it's cute and funny. I am not any of those people.
>> I understand some of this has to do with a dog's personality, individual
>> handling skills, consistency, and training maintenance, but some breeds are
>> more prone to certain undesirable behaviors and unsuitable qualities in my
>> opinion.
>> I also understand I have dedicated my  life to a breed that is the
>> posterchild of allergies and death by cancer. This is why I have committed
>> my life to natural health and a holistic approach to caring for my dog.
>> And for the record, I don't hate labs, I just don't want to ever work one.
>> In my experience with dog training, black labs are some of the most stubborn
>> creatures, especially females. I have gone to observe and interact with
>> other dog trainers in obedience classes, and even they agreed.
>> No doubt, all guide dogs must be stubborn to some extent, but there's a time
>> and a place for that trait, and some dogs don't seem to gain an
>> understanding of when and where it's appropriate.
>> --
>> Raven
>> You are valuable because of your potential, not because of what you have or
>> what you do.
>> 
>> Naturally-reared guide dogs
>> https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nrguidedogs
>> 
>>> On 3/20/15, Pam via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> so just wondering if any of u chose a particular breed as a guide dog 
>>> and your reasons why? i didn't mind what breed i got as long as it 
>>> suited my needs but i was told i would b getting a sensitive dog. i 
>>> know a couple of people who always go for shepherds so they usually 
>>> have to wait a bit longer for a new dog when the time comes.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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