[nagdu] Labs and other things

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (IT)]

Interesting post. 
What is the success rate with shepherds? You mentioned that it was
nearly as low as with poodles. 
Also, if shepherds have such a poor success rate, why do some schools
continue to use them? Why does Fidelco use them entirely? 
Any insights here? 

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jenine Stanley
Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 8:46 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] Labs and other things

Haben, 

Labradors are generally the most trained breed at most US schools for a
couple reasons. 

They are indeed easily trained for the most part. They have a wide range
of sizes, within the breed standard of course, ranges of energy and
activity level and temperaments. They also produce large litters for the
most part over 5 puppies per litter. 

Labs also are not prone to some of the health issues other breeds face,
though this is becoming less true as their popularity continues to
increase.


There is not as much hip dysplasia, epilepsy, cancer, eye problems or
allergies in Labs as Golden Retrievers or German Shepherds. The "success
rate," meaning dogs who make it from puppyhood to matching with a blind
person, is highest for Labs. 

It's also another reason why they are used in several crosses, the most
popular and successful of which is the Lab/Golden cross, but there's the
LP and the Lab/shepherd cross that some schools have used. 

As for why schools don't use more Poodles, it has to do with finding
good stock. Standard Poodles have gained popularity since they were
found to be one of the "smartest" breeds in some survey or other about
10 years ago or so. Then we got into the whole Poodle cross craze where
anything crossed with any size Poodle was better simply for the Poodle
part of it. Someone was actually crossing Doberman Pinchers with
Standard Poodles. I simply can't imagine what that cross would look
like. <grin> 

The Poodle in general has been so overbred for pets, even the Standards,
that finding good solid dogs with good health and appropriate
temperament for work isn't easy.  Poodles are prone to a number of
health issues from epilepsy to eye problems and cancer along with
temperament issues like suspicion, aggression and noise sensitivity.
Poodles at most schools who use them, which now I think include GDF,
Guide Dogs of the Desert, Leader and Pilot, sorry if I missed anyone
there, have a really low success rate, much like German shepherds if not
lower. 

It also takes a different way of raising and training a Poodle to assure
success. Finding puppy raisers who have the time and conditions and
experience to work with Poodles and Poodle crosses can be difficult. 

Schools are really trying to improve their lines by working with each
other using frozen semen and artificial insemination. This way we can
utilize lines from Europe, Australia, etc., to add variety to our own
stock and vice versa. 

Schools are also trying other breeds in small experiments to find a
variety for the needs of blind people. Smooth coated collies, Viszlas,
Dobermans, Flat Coated Retrievers and crosses of these breeds, collies
and flat coats, with Labs and shepherds and the odd other dog tossed in,
like the Boxer or giant Schnauzer, help to meet needs but finding good
healthy solid dogs of any breed is not easy. 

Hope that helped some.

 Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com


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