Change

It is said that the Internet allows information to be passed around. True, but . . .

It also lets propaganda get spread around.

I hope the people like terrierman (Patrick Burns), Margaret Carter, and Jemima Harrison, will keep telling the truth about what is happening to the canine gene pool, purebred dogs, and at dog shows.

I hope that a younger generation will understand not to breed dogs for dog shows or to be used in other competitive sports.

I hope the public will understand to not accept dogs bred for shows and sports, over dogs bred to be good pets.

I hope that even the show breeders will acknowledge that:

If Mary breeds dogs that are good with children, she can't truthfully label those puppies who are not good with children as "show quality".

If Sue breeds dogs to win dog shows, she can't truthfully label those puppies who are not good show dogs as "pet quality".

Mary's puppies can be divided into 2 groups: "Good with Children" and "Not good with Children".

Sue's puppies can be divided into 2 groups "Potential show dogs" and "Not potential show dogs".

It would be exactly as much false advertising for Mary to label her pet puppies that are not good with children as "Show Quality" as it would be for Sue to advertise her show dog puppies who are not going to win, as "pet quality".

A puppy who is not good with children is NOT automatically "show quality".

And a puppy who is not built to win in the show ring, is NOT automatically "pet quality".

I am NOT impressed by claims that telling a lie for 40 years, makes it true.

And calling lions "house cats" for 40 years will not make them house cats - they will still be lions.

A reject from the show ring might be a good pet, just like a puppy bred to be a good pet, but who is not good with kids, MIGHT be a good show dog.

But dogs have instincts. It is easier to teach a pointer to point, than to try to teach a bloodhound to point. It is easier to teach a border collie to work sheep, than to try to train a foxhound to herd sheep.

Why do so many dogs not work out as pets? I believe that it is because they were not bred to be good pets, so it is no surprise that they fail.

You can try to baby all kinds of animals. But there is a huge difference between having a pet dog that naturally adapts to your house, loves your kids, and whose whole life is centered around trying to please his family, vs -

- a 'pet' dog who requires constant updates on his training, and requires that his owner project mastery over him to keep him in line, and that the kids have to learn to handle in a way to prevent the dog from becoming aggressive.