Bopcha Blog

Of course, I only noticed now--I was looking for rough collies (or is he smooth?), which is what Storm really is I think--and noted the vet did indeed qualify his list as being based only upon trainability and obedience. And Bop pointed out that I might have invented the term "bidable" -- I don't know how to spell it either, so she's no doubt correct. Nonetheless, Sandra's vet (sorry Sandra, I know he's not REALLY your vet) still made it perjorative by adding the term "intelligene." (I'm like a pit bull on this subject I guess, I can't be satisfied with a single nice retort (thank you Sid), I want to stomp harder.)



I'm thinking of the impact of owners on his list as well. How many borzoi or Afghan owners purchase their pets with the idea of training them for obedience work? Not many--I give mine basic obedience training--and they perform quite fine the first or second time I ask--but if I keep demanding another sit, another down, another stay--they get bored. (Is that ia lack of intelligence---or too much?) A Border collie doesn't get bored pleasing his owner, even if it is to obey the same command over and over. They need and thrive on that constant interaction. So consequently,I think the owners' desire begins to shape the list.



The owners that need dogs with a high "I want to please" factor have a reasonable tendency to buy the dogs that were bred and born to love the interaction that obedience depends upon, and so those breeds go to the top of Sandra's vet's list. Most borzoi, Chihuahuas, Papillons, and Afghans are capable of succeeding in obedience, there just aren't many owners who chose to do obedience with them. So, Sandra's vet doesn't see them "being intelligent." So, humph!! Enuff spouting. I just can't let that vet have the last word.