Standard Of Dogs

[Gareth12 225]

A few topics/discussions on this site recently have got me thinking, both about my own dogs and lurchers/working dogs in general.

The conclusion I have come too is that everyone wants something different from their dogs, you may agree or disagree with what that person thinks and does but that's their choice.

My question is this, what is the minimum standard you would accept of your dog as a working animal? If you raise your own what attributes would you want to see when the dog is fully mature so that you would be happy to call that dog a worker?

I'm not wanting anyone to post about illegal activities but rather what level of obedience, performance, drive etc is your minimum standards before you would consider a dog a success.

For me personally I prefer small dogs that will mooch all day, give their all on whatever vermin pops up. We miss way more than we catch and I can live with that. I consider if a dog hunts up and catches a couple of rats/rabbits/squirrel etc on a mooch it's been a big success and I'm proud as punch, if they pleasant to be around and have Good recall and retrieve that would be enough for me, other more demanding people would probably want more than my little mutts could offer but they suit me...does that mean I have low standards, I'm too easily pleased or is that enough?

What's your thoughts?

[LurcherLad94 2,582]

wouldn't say you have low standards if your happy with what your dogs do for you then that's it i think some people expect or want more of there dogs because some don't treat running there dogs like a once a week hobby ect some take it a lot more serious than others and put alot of time and money into them and expect to get something back

[Onlyworkmatters 1,584]

Each to his own, some folk are easily satisfied...some are never satisfied, a dog has to please 1 person the owner

[mighty celt 996]

i like my dogs to be full of drive and determination and give there all in the field, once they do that, wheather they miss or catch im happy,and couldnt ask much more out of them,at the end of the day its called hunting not killing if a certain quarry out runs your dog or out smarts it you have say fair play to it,

[green dragon 701]

Mighty celt hit the nail on the head!! I feel the same

[MickyB 327]

The dog needs to be as keen as me, I'm quite opportunistic so the dog has to be as well but with the brains to know what's NOT on the menu even if I'm not in sight to confirm, I'm not bothered about catching loads of game as there's not loads to catch as long as she gives it a run for its money its a day/night well spent, but saying that I might have very low standards and my dog incredibly crap haha

[Guest Navek]

Standard will always vairy that's just the natural law of things....plus ground and quarry come to have a play in the matter to..what's good for one isn't always good for the other

[MR RABBIT 715]

a dog that try it's best is good enough for me

 

A dog that pick and chooses it's run I won't give the time of day

[Jackboy2011 16]

I'm up at five to take them on a walk, go to work, back from work another walk, cook their food, pay the electric bill that their heat lamps are connected to, fight with the wife who says I love them dogs more than her.

What I want from my dogs is good recall and loyalty

[bob84 189]

The colliehound bullhound I have now is the softest thing in the world I've had few people tell me to get shot of her because she'll run a fox all night long but won't grab hold to me it not the end of the world she'll pick rabbits live for me all night long once i can find them that's all I ask of her she not for everyone but she mine and she'll do me

[bob84 189]

Just one more thing and this pisses me off no end.i know one young lad that had very capable dog one that I'd give me right arm to have and he feck it up by been the big lad and running it one night to a standstill it never came back right as far as I know rant over atb bob

[Somewhereyournot 1,117]

As long as my dog tries, quiet in kennel , got good recall and steady I'm pretty happy with that ..

He's a pet that I work, j have nothing to prove to anyone and neither does he. As long as he and I progress I don't care for nothing else.

[Bosun11 537]

The bottom line is that these days most people are more interested in what their dog is, rather than what their dog does!

[terryd 8,951]

easy to live with and I can forget about the dog because it knows what's required. Fingers crossed lol

[Dewclaw69 484]

mine gives it his all on every run. full of heart . He's a good dog to have around at home and a right character. He's got his failings and that's mainly down to me as an owner but he does all I ask of him in spades. It's horses for courses.

One man's meat is another man's poison