How do these dogs stack up?

Question

I know I wont be getting alot of answers for this question but as long as I get some good ones then thats all that matters. It will make up for it.

First I dont want yall to pay any attention to what these dogs look like. Look at what theyre all doing. Now how do you think these dogs stack up for their breed?

http://pics.hoobly.com/full/IO9ZHFRS7OGYV1T6U3.jpg

http://www.zyworld.com/Tyrodal/carriage_dogs_002.JPG

http://www.pennine-bernese-carters.org.uk/XVeylaCart1.JPG

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/103/420124191_2c503524a2.jpg?v=1173804498

http://www.zionkennels.com/images/Labrador%20Retriever%20-%20Easy.jpg

http://www.outbackgundogs.com/photos/pete0.jpg

Now I want yall to go back and take a good long look at the build and structures of these dogs which will lead to the second part of the question!

How do you think these dogs would stack up in a conformation show ring?

Answer 1

Generally the good show dogs don't make the best working dogs and vice versa. I think some of these help prove that. It's a bit of joke really. If I get a spaniel I don't care if it's stop is the right lenght or if it has the right amount of feathers. All I want is a healthy dog that is good with people and if it is to be a working dog then it's skills are far more important than it's looks. We are ruining dogs by inbreeding them just to get show quality dogs that probably wouldn't be any good as working dogs anymore.

Answer 2

First part - yes they stack up

Second part - For the majority yes they are a good representatives of the breed as far as what they were bred to be able to do.

ADD: Willow is right. As long as the dog comes from a strong line of Working/Show dogs they can excel in the conformation show ring.

Answer 3

All of the dogs are doing what they have been bred to do!

The first dog is doing either Sch. or in training as a protection dog.

The second group of dogs are following a carriage which they did back when they were working as carriage dogs to firefighter.

The third dog is pulling a wagon which it was bred to do when working.

The forth dogs is herding geese which it was bred to do as a herding dog.

The fifth picture is a Lab retrieving the bird the hunter shot down.

The sixth picture is a Pointer in it's stance to indicate where the birds are!

All these dogs are working in the jobs they were bred for!

There is no reason why a dog who is a working dog can't also compete in the show ring also.  

  

Answer 4

Kudos to the owners for getting their dogs involved in doing what they were bred to do!

The Malinois, the Dalmation in the front of the picture and the Bernese Mountain Dog all look like they COULD be show quality, but, i would need to see a LOT more pics, the dogs themselves and put my hands on them before I would dump any money in to showing any of them. You really can't tell enough from one picture to make that call!

Add:

Saying that show dogs can't do the job of a working dog of the same breed, or saying that a working dog doesn't need to be as well built as a show dog is such a crock! Form follows function, function defines form! A Dalmation that is too big, or unsound cannot run with the carriage endlessly, a Pointer that is slab sided, light headed and hard mouthed is not nearly as good a hunter, and won't last as long in the field.

The standards for the breeds are there to help breeders understand the form that will allow a dog to perform the function to the BEST ability with the fewest injuries possible!

Answer 5

Asking people on YA to evaluate show conformation is like asking people at Mc Donalds to evaluate fine art.Not enough qualified people for a valid answer.Have show people in the breed evauate the dog for you

Answer 6

They are doing what they were bred to do, but none of them are the right look for the show ring.

The belgian would make a great working dog, but that particular dog is not in peak physical condition and his legs are a little short.

The dalmatian in front is actually too big for what they were bred to do. He shouldn't come up over the middle of the wheel.

The berner's a little on the small side for the breed, more of a modern twist to a breed that should be giant.

The border collie is a fine example of a working border but i don't like his leg confirmation, its too heeler-like.

The labs ears are far too big and not set right and his head is too slim. I'm sure his tail is longer than a rudder tail should be.

The pointer has a shorter back than he should.

Yet all are fine working dogs who can do their job. I wouldn't train a "show" Belgian to be a working dog though, they are unstable and have a lot of serious mental issues to work through. All in the name of looks.

Answer 7

Cool question!

These dogs are all typy, easily-identifiable examples of their breed.

The Malinois is lovely, but would likely lose to something in the ring with more leg and less mass...which is unfortunate.

I am impressed with the movement on the Dalmatian in the forefront of the photo -- I think it's more a question of perspective, rather than actual size, that makes him seem bigger than the cart's wheel. Were I judging, the structure on the dog would get my attention, but some judges might be swayed by the amount of white/lack of symmetry in the markings.

Which is why I couldn't own a breed with pointless color requirements.

The Berner looks to be high in the rear, and I'm not keen on its topline. If this is true, the fact that it's hooked to a cart does not immediately make it a suitable carting dog.

The Border Collie is of a nice size and amount of coat. To me, the dog's body position and eyes scream Border Collie. I want to see it move around the ring in a more casual version of that slink. Low and determined. I'm not familiar enough with the BC standard (and too tired to bother looking) to know if the ears would be considered acceptable -- personally, I think they detract from type.

There are judges who would prefer more coat, and a rounder, softer expression. Those judges are morons and don't deserve the money they make per entry.

The Lab's head alone doesn't tell much -- pretty expression but I would like to see more width in the skull. What I can see indicates a large dog, not one that could be easily pulled into the boat (which is, I think, part of the Lab's original function). This dog is not hunted out of a boat. It is doing a modified version of its job.

The Pointer is in beautiful condition -- pretty head type, not as angular and overdone as what is seen in the ring. Probably a little too short in leg/body to be competitive in the ring.

My least favorite in the group is the Berner. The pic's angle may be deceiving, but I don't see the structure for the job. There is nothing redeeming about that dog for the show ring, either. A poorly structured dog may get past some foolish judges with a lot of coat and a big, impressive head, but this dog has neither.

Answer 8

what do you mean by stack up... :|

Answer 9

The photos (with a few exceptions) don't really lend themselves to really being able to tell how perfectly the dogs meet their individual breed conformation standards (the pointer photo perhaps being the exception).  I am not an expert by any means on most of the breeds and their individual breed standards.  The pointer which I could see very well did seem to be in excellent physical working condition.  The one common theme - all of these dogs were doing exactly what they were bred to do.  

One of my big gripes is too much breeding focuses on conformation without much interest in the working drive of the breed in question.  So in my mind, these dogs appear to be excellent examples of their breeds in terms of working ability.

Answer 10

Prya...that is a nice malinois..French/Belgian lines...locked in prey!!!

Answer 11

Wow! Fantastic pictures. I think they are a great example of displaying what they are bred to do. I particularly like the one of the Black Lab with the duck in his mouth. Beautiful!