Re: Re[2]: About Irish Wolf Hounds

["Stephanie M. Thorson" <smt2@st-andrews.ac.uk>]

Poster: "Stephanie M. Thorson" <smt2@st-andrews.ac.uk>

Tadgh wrote:
 
> Of course, I would not recommend trying to judge a breed's demeanor by viewing 
> them in a dog show.  By comparison, view a Crown Tournament and give me a 
> general description of the energy-level or demeanor of heavy weapons fighters.  
> Believe me, the comparison would be perilously close.

That's an excellent comparison, Tadgh.  A dog show, and especially the
ring area, is an extremely high-stress situation for both dog and handler. 
As a veteran professional handler of my acquaintance has said, the lead is
like an electric cord - any tension in the handler will travel straight
down it to the dog.  There are dogs who manage to be more mellow about the
show experience than others - one of my Golden males will lie down and nap
if nothing's going on while we're outside the ring.  That's an exception,
though. 

Frankly, it's much easier to get a feel for breed (and breeder!)
temperment AWAY from the ring area.  If you're visiting a dog show and
want more information about a specific breed, ask the breeder(s) if you
can talk to them after judging is finished.  People are busy and nervous
while they're waiting to go into the ring, and the dogs are edgy, too.  
Usually, however, most breeders are more than happy to chat afterwards.

Alianora
*****************************************************************************
Stephanie M. Thorson			|  SCA: Lady Alianora Munro
Dept. of Scottish History		|  Clan White Wing
University of St Andrews		|  Tarkhan, Khanate Red Lion

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