tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post2681146551568387257..comments2023-03-22T00:32:02.263-07:00Comments on Behaviors of a Dog Mom: A Dog Without Faults...Moniquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17590279128673190945noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-27301301479454334212010-11-30T14:04:32.260-08:002010-11-30T14:04:32.260-08:00Janet you and Jerrill are cracking me up. My analo...Janet you and Jerrill are cracking me up. My analogy was intentionally overly simplistic because so many people stop reading when they see sciency-icky-poo. :) <br /><br />Every individual carries a set of genes collected from the combination of his parents and passed down through ancestors, but of course we all realize that every gene carried is not expressed (not even every part of every gene, and genes are not simple off-on, and of course they "compete" with one another too). Expression varies widely. It just seems if people are looking for moderate traits, attempting to get them by blending 2 extremes is less likely to produce moderate than putting 2 moderates together? <br /><br />Jerrill is a smart man: both for agreeing with his wife and realizing that this is a bit like playing the lottery.Moniquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17590279128673190945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-63173870327223720462010-11-30T13:30:54.233-08:002010-11-30T13:30:54.233-08:00I mentioned your white, red, pink scenario to my h...I mentioned your white, red, pink scenario to my husband, who is a geneticist (lucky me) and I guess I was mistaken in what I wrote about genetics (imagine that!). <br /><br />Each physical and behavioral trait in our dog is an expression of a combination of many genes working together. That's what I didn't realize. <br /><br />I got my hubby to admit that it's a total crapshoot when breeding dogs, or having kids for that matter with regard to what you're going to end up with.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13008481053537305939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-10248059928500947102010-11-29T12:22:15.317-08:002010-11-29T12:22:15.317-08:00Smoothies ROCK :) Mud is much better with smoothie...Smoothies ROCK :) Mud is much better with smoothies!LOLLoretta Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08197255610605412423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-4306999407211423642010-11-29T07:19:54.666-08:002010-11-29T07:19:54.666-08:00First, I love "working my mind" so thank...First, I love "working my mind" so thank you for a very thoughtful post. I'm not that paticular on looks...although I don't lean towards a white head or split head. Not that is would matter at the end of the day.....just a leaning. Also, after working in knee deep mud yesterday for 4 hours...the smoothie was the most user friendly when it came to clean up :) Perfect dog: well I have seen "power houses" that could not be handled....and I have seen "weak dogs" kick my butt! And to be very honest...I am not sure I have had enough dogs go through these hands to tell you what is perfect for me. Right now, I have three very different dogs....and, yes frustrated at time, I am enjoying what each brings and the puzzle of having a partnership with each of them. So I guess where I will go with this is a quote posted on FB from a top hand in the UK......." A good and successful dog doesn't just come from breeding it comes from our ability to nurture it and train it..get the most out of it." Those words are tatooed on the inside of my eyelids....and are whispered each time I go to work my dogs. nurutre/train=relationship/partnershiplivin lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03907539023310319876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-34666041401971379382010-11-28T21:31:38.946-08:002010-11-28T21:31:38.946-08:00There is no such thing as a perfect dog...each dog...There is no such thing as a perfect dog...each dogs has the strengths and weakness and it is what you can live with...however if I could have a perfect dog, I would like another Tess with Roo's push, with Nan's speed, Lucy's sweetness and Taff's attitude. Tess has the heart and desire and would lay down her life for me.<br /><br />Tess was the perfect dog for me to go to Open with...Lucy is yours.<br /><br />Calm, collected, power, biddablie, abilty to move and rate and pace, balance, natural outrunner, line driver, has proper grip, go forward, medium eye, good temperement and raw talent. Ability to do the job on their own if needed. (meaning if the sheep are in the brush etc and you can't see them, the dog can do the job and do it right) and a good thinker/problem solver. Non quitter also. Team player. Non sulky or too soft. (I don't mean sensitive)<br /><br />I have more but am too tired to think of it right now.<br /><br />Other items, eyes and hips good, free of genetic issues.<br /><br />Color- any<br />Coat- any<br />Ears- prefer two<br /><br /><br /><br />And if my dogs could put a list for a perfect handler...<br /><br />ha, ha!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332054552312571939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-7906741275833653862010-11-28T20:08:16.815-08:002010-11-28T20:08:16.815-08:00No...for sure not...luckily I haven't encounte...No...for sure not...luckily I haven't encountered such a dog...and I hope I never do :) A dog that wants to seriously injure sheep is worthless in my book...Loretta Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08197255610605412423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-17206670171741381912010-11-28T19:46:14.017-08:002010-11-28T19:46:14.017-08:00LOL. Pushy is good. So obsessed about moving and c...LOL. Pushy is good. So obsessed about moving and controlling sheep that the sheep can not be kept safe is not good (yes, some sheepdog people have *disarmed* their dogs).Moniquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17590279128673190945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-18222169695499583242010-11-28T19:39:28.008-08:002010-11-28T19:39:28.008-08:00FWIW...I started out with tougher dogs so maybe th...FWIW...I started out with tougher dogs so maybe that is why I like the kinds I do :)I like a dog with a lot of push, I want to be able to dial a dog down than ask them up. I don't like grippy or tense however. I just like a dog that likes to push their stock.<br /><br />I want a moderate amount of eye, one that gives them a good amount of feel, makes them stylish, but not an eye that is clappy or sticky. Not interested in that one bit. Zip is a bit more free moving than Klink is for the most part. I have to make sure Klink's eye doesn't drag her into the sheep...but if I keep her free, I don't have any issues with that at all. Zip I work on her holding lines...just the differences in the dogs.<br /><br />Natural outrunner...or natural driver...I guess, I don't really care, I have Zip, who is a very nice outrunner, not too wide, but will find sheep come hell or highwater...300 yards or 700 yards, doesn't matter, she has always known this, and is a lovely outrunner...but was a bit harder to teach to drive (although I am sure it was made harder by my ignorance!). Klink will drive sheep forever, and it was harder to get a nice outrun on her but she is now nice...I like both dogs..so I guess that doesn't matter a ton to me...<br /><br />I want a team player, a dog that WANTS to work with me, wants to try and doesn't get sulky or hard headed when I am trying to communicate with them on something. I don't like sulky...I would take hard headed before sulky...I REALLY dislike sulky...<br /><br />I need grip, CONTROLLED grip...but I need it. I deal with rams and also with ewes that can be very protective of their lambs...so I need a dog that can stay calm under pressure BUT, when needed will grip cleanly and then give the stock time to move off of them...picking fights with sheep just to grip is not something I want. But I don't want to have to really work on a dog having the courage to grip either.<br /><br />I like a dog that can settle when off stock...no busy bodies, constantly moving, constantly trying to work everything and anything...I like an affectionate dog, but not a groveling dog...super needy dogs are not my cup of tea.<br /><br />So pushy is good, in my world anyway :) If you would have asked me if pushy was good back when I first started, um NO :)Loretta Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08197255610605412423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-32975150841892010422010-11-28T10:40:31.173-08:002010-11-28T10:40:31.173-08:00I don't think biddability is another word for ...I don't think biddability is another word for being weak; I think quite the opposite actually! I think my Scotty is very biddable. He's also very friendly, loving, perfect in the house, gets along well with all people and other animals, lets me groom him and trim his toenails without complaint. He wins beauty pageants, walks in parades and rides in the car without problems. With all of these "soft skills" he has which I think demonstrate his biddability, I doubt anyone will say he is a weak dog when it comes to stock. And, on the field, I think he is extremely biddable as well. If he weren't then I doubt Diane would have ever matched him and I up together and I doubt that he and I would ever be able to get around a course. <br /><br />I do think Scotty is the perfect dog... for me :). This is why I was so excited when Jude came along. Jude's sire comes from the simlar lines as Scott. It also helped to learn that Jude's dame was a sweet, snuggle bug with great sheep skills and respectable lines as well. I think the two lines are quite complementary to one another - they are both proven & healthy lines. Sure, each side has their faults and I doubt that mixing the two will dilute the faults and exemplify the qualities - just imagine if we could do that! <br /><br />I haven't done this long enough to know what to look for when buying a puppy, let alone a grown dog. I rely on other people I trust to guide me still. I will say when reputable sheepdog folks met Jude at 13-18 weeks of age (not knowing his lines at all), they were impressed with his outgoing, friendly nature and inquisitiveness, even telling me "that's going to be a very nice dog." How do they know this? <br /><br />While I think my Scott is the perfect dog, I was informed that even if I cloned him, I might not end up with another Scott. Genetically speaking, dogs are all pink; 1/2 of Jude's DNA is Sleat, and 1/2 of his DNA is Jack. It is how his genes are expressed that dictates how he looks, how he fights cancers, how tough his paw pads are.. and lest we forget that touch of blue thrown in, in the form of genetic mutations.<br /> <br />When it comes to future sheepdogs that I intend to own/trial with, I think it's super important that the dog be easy to live with and friendly to minimze stress on me and ultimately on the dog. For example, take my Mattie - she is so concerned about other dogs and strangers that it overwhelms her and she'll never be able to get over that, even when on stock. She has taught me the value of a secure, happy, easy-to-live-with dog. Also, I've taken care of dogs that are not good in the house too and that is really no fun at all. <br /><br />Second, I value a dog that has lots of power but who also knows how to guage that power to the situation. Scott has this ability which is why he can work all types of sheep with success. I think the ability to rate the sheep and guage the power needed matures as the dog matures. But, that maturation rate is different in every dog. I think the handler has lot to do with a dog's power too as it's clear that some handlers have taken away their dogs power by constant drilling and correction over-kill. <br /><br />Third, I want a dog who is right in the head. One that can think, troubleshoot and is willing to try things. A dog that is fearless and doesn't keep a chip on their shoulder. I want a dog that understands a correction and a reward. I do have to say that Scott is pretty sensitive to correction and he does keep chips on his shoulder - these are his greatest faults IMO.Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13008481053537305939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-91373234635971277232010-11-27T21:17:52.983-08:002010-11-27T21:17:52.983-08:00@ Erin -
Sounds like we look for a lot of the sam...@ Erin - <br />Sounds like we look for a lot of the same. And yes, if I had to choose between a little too much and not quite enough, I'll choose a little too much like you. <br /><br />Kudos to you on genotype and phenotype - I was trying not to geek-out too badly LOLMoniquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17590279128673190945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-58019554803017098162010-11-27T21:09:29.063-08:002010-11-27T21:09:29.063-08:00My perfect dog is a calm, confident, biddable, and...My perfect dog is a calm, confident, biddable, and tries hard; pretty much moderate in all attributes and exhibiting few extremes. Personally I would err on the side of slightly too strong or forward. This is the type of dog that suits me, the way I handle and the type of stock I want to move. I want a dog that has a rock solid temperament, not sight or sound sensitive or over reactive. Personally I don't care if he is a good "pet" in my home or for my family.<br /> Every attribute in it's extreme form is probably negative, I think you got to this point a few times in your post. Yes, there are more striped dogs rather than pink dogs. Either a gene is expressed or it is not, it is never "blended". Selection should be for improvement on both bitch and dog, the pups should theoretically be better examples of the breed then their parents were.Erin Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13839004297077716529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5894243957904000364.post-13556230367508010062010-11-27T20:24:06.152-08:002010-11-27T20:24:06.152-08:00We never used our dogs for trials etc, only for b...We never used our dogs for trials etc, only for bringing in the cow to milk or putting Whitneys cattle back in the fence that never received a good mend, only the patch work we did to keep them out of Bob's mom's garden. Both Deuce and Duke watched what we did and soon " time to get Polly meant going out to bring her to the milking stall and Bob would take the milk bucket out and find her there waiting for her grain. They both knew exactly how to get the cattle back in and let us know the fence needed work without commands, they just knew. They both knew how to treat small children and we made sure all children were good with them. They were dogs without faults in my book. They know what you want and they do it and are allowed to think for themselves. They were farm dogs that did a farm dogs chores and were the best possible family pets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com