Re: [pyrnet] Shelters and Breeders (was: shelters)

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/25/01 12:47:07 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
dgg@star-telegram.com writes:


> Hate to be pessimistic, but in a very real sense, we have "lost" the
> battle in this area to the LGD producers. 


I totally agree with Darryl, but do not agree it is hopeless.  We must 
establish relations with the large farm groups like the dairy Goat folks etc. 
 You know, they are really good folks and many of them really understand 
showing their animals as many of them do so.  They take great pride in what 
they do and the livestock they produce.  We have a common dialog and they 
will understand us wanting to preserve the original nature of our unique 
breed.  This can only be a positive, but only if we do it.  Besides all out 
dogs must be working dogs or capable anyway or they are not worthy of being a 
good Pyr.  Pyrs are one of the oldest working dogs on the face of this good 
green earth.  It must always be so, or we no longer have Pyrs. They must also 
look and act like a Pyr or we do not have a Pyr.  There are many excellent 
LGD that are not Pyrs, so our uniqueness is our temperament and working 
ability and style.  The almost non existent prey drive.  The quiet laid back 
character that causes our dogs to fail most working dog assessment 
evaluations until placed on site doing its job and demonstrate that none do 
it any better.  The dignity tolerance and loyalty of our dogs is quire 
remarkable.  

I am guilty as many in the past on being only interested in shows and wins 
and breeding good puppies by the standard.  That's no longer is the case.  I 
want to do all those things but I must feel quite conformable that my dogs 
will work in the same centuries old tradition as its ancestors going back 
thousands of years ago. 

In order to combat the working dog breeders we must join they in dialog and 
education.  Let them see us as not some useless beauty pageant or "hotty 
tottie" group of prima donnas.  That is what we are to them now.  If they 
understand us and appreciate our love for the uniqueness of the original 
dogs, they will certainly take pride in the beauty and functional 
characteristics of the dogs we breed in preference to the shabby ones they 
may now be breeding.  I have to keep remembering that the old Shepherds in 
the Pyrenees Mountains took great pride in the beauty of their dogs.  But you 
have to know that times were more than hard and if the dog did not earn its 
keep, the beauty would have meant nothing and been useless to them.  Our 
working breeders are here with us to stay, so lets try to educate them to the 
charms of the correct Pyr. If someone knows a better way than through the 
various organizations that these folks register their stock and show their 
stock under, lets hear it.  Otherwise this seems like a no brainier to me.

Joe