[nagdu] choosing a particular breed and reasons why?

[Tami Jarvis]

Well, I've had a German Shepherd yen since I saw Atta Girl, Kelly when I 
was 8 or 9, so not long after I was diagnosed with RP. Suddenly, the 
part where I would be going blind at some point in the unimaginable 
future had a bright side! I still think a German Shepherd from the 
Seeing Eye is the end all and be all somehow.

When I was getting to the point where I was using the cane full time and 
preparing to go about getting a guide dog, I met a magnificent doberman 
guide and had to have one. I still think having a big old doberman guide 
is the end all and be all!

So I have a poodle... Make that 2 poodles. My former husband was 
allergic to every dang thing, so I had looked into schools that produced 
poodles and researched the breed. Then I divorced the husband, but I had 
noticed that people with poodles just light up when they talk about 
their dogs. I still had trouble viewing the silly things with their 
fru-fru styles as real dogs, but people who had them really were 
enthralled with them. I had a friend with a very nice toy poodle, the 
sort that is just like a standard only teensy, and he was a great 
fellow. So when I divorced all those allergies, I didn't scratch poodle 
from my list.

When I was looking for a dog to owner-train, I considered the pros and 
cons of each breed and kept coming back to poodle for a couple of 
reasons. One was the non-shedding and perception of being 
hypoallergenic. I didn't want to go around hearing about allergies, 
believe me! I was also just starting to lose my central vision and new 
to that level of blindness, so I wondered how I would do at handling a 
dog in the city and around lots of people. I knew I could learn, but I 
thought that doing so with a breed that doesn't scare people might be 
easier on the nerves all around. I was still mulling when I called a 
couple of poodle breeders and hit it off with a woman who had an older 
pup she wanted to find a home for who would give me a price break and 
accept payments. We had been discussing a large male from another 
litter, since I thought a large male poodle would be just the thing. I 
was nattering on about how I was looking for a good companion dog and 
also one that would fit with a guide when I got one and if the poodle 
happened to have the right stuff I might just train it to be a guide 
and... She interrupted, "I have just the dog for you." So a few months 
later, she arrived on my doorstep with a 7-month-old small black female 
and my fate was sealed. She made a gift of the dog at that time, so that 
was awesome.

This time around, I was trending strongly towards doberman, moreso since 
I have learned more about them and how they are as guides. They seem to 
have a lot of the traits I value most in Mitzi without the nonsense 
factor and grooming expense. Also, after going around with an adorable 
poodle for all these years, I was wanting something dangerous! Well, at 
least something that wouldn't be mugged all the time because it's an 
adorable fashion accessory, after all. My husband kept voting strongly 
for poodle, wanting another Mitzi, so it was hard to argue with that. 
/smile/ So I decided to call the same breeder and see what she had 
available. She's doing labradoodles now, and I nearly ended up with a 
red 3/4 poodle, but the plan to get the pup into my hands fell through. 
She had a pure poodle coming to her as pick of the litter for a stud fee 
and offered me that, so I went for it. The sire is kin to Mitzi and 
about her size, and the mother is also around 50 pounds, so I thought a 
small male would be fine. We talked long about health and temperament 
and all that, since temperament was the number one selection factor. I 
did get the pup with the perfect temperament, which just happened to be 
the throwback to really big ancestors. So I have a large black male 
poodle this time. He's getting into adolescence by now and at nearly 11 
months is 60 pounds and 24 inches, so we're going to have some 
adventures. He's still ridiculously well-behaved and hasn't discovered 
true defiance yet, though I think the notion is beginning to tickle his 
imagination. I've done a lot of pondering about the best gear to use 
when we're out and about so that I can keep physical control of him for 
when his brains fall out because he must chase that squirrel across the 
street, and I'm feeling comfortable now with what I've come up with. 
Whew! I won't be disappointed if I never have to hold firm against his 
full strength, but I really do want him to survive adolescence and would 
hate to lose him because I wasn't prepared. Beyond that concern, I'm 
really looking forward to working with his adult self as a guide.

Tami



On 03/21/2015 03:38 AM, Julie J. via nagdu wrote:
> I am currently working with a Doberman.   I chose the breed primarily
> for the work ethic they have.  She can be funny and sometimes she does
> goofy things, but mostly she is a serious dog.  She has an attentiveness
> to detail I have not seen in any other breed.   She loves to work for
> the mental challenge, I think. She wants to keep me safe, but more so
> she wants to do a good job.   It is the work that is motivating to her,
> which is a very good thing because I am not a very good cheerleader. She
> is incredibly intelligent and is a latent learner.  This means that I
> can practice a new skill with her a few times, she will look like she
> sort of gets it.  then we'll go back to it the next day or in a couple
> of days and she will be spot on.  She also learns from watching my other
> dogs more than any other dog I've had.
>
> I also appreciate her tall frame, short coat and super easy grooming
> needs. she does require warm protective gear in the winter.
>
> I am not a lab person.  I very much appreciate Jetta's more serious
> demeanor.  I had her privately trained for me because there are only two
> programs I know of who train Dobermans and neither was exactly what I
> wanted.
>
> I chose private training and owner training before that because I am
> picky. I want what I want and I am willing to do what it takes to get
> it.  I also very much love dog training and don't view the extra effort
> as work so much because I find it very rewarding.
>
> Julie
>
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