Replies

I didn't mean the working tests were a beauty contest. Most people don't even know the AKC has such a thing. They think of AKC as show dogs. You are very into your dogs and obviously love doing agilities and thats fine. And not every breed of dog is for every person, sorry your so put off by the Bulldog. Mine makes me very happy, after 4 years not a day goes by that he does not make me laugh out loud looking at his smushed face. BTW, he does not have ANY health problems. I also have a 1 yr. old Newfoundland, if I knew how to loom the fur I'd be able to open a sweater factory. He also needs a bib because of the drool. We don't do agility or shows, we go to the lake, to the park, play in the yard, they follow me everywhere and just give me great joy, gas, snoring, drool, hair and all. They can be anywhere in the house and they know when I'm getting ready for bed. As soon as I turn the corner to go upstairs they're at my side and sleep on the floor next to my bed. While I do research a breed, I have my dogs as companions. The showing, breeding and working etc is not my cup of tea, but that doesn't make me any less of a dog lover.

There are people who will spin your dog hair into yarn for you. You can knit or weave with it. Google it -- I know there are some around (you can't spin Lab hair - the outer hair is too coarse and the undercoat is too fluffy, and it's ALL too short!)

My problem with bulldogs isn't the dogs themselves. For the most part, the ones I have known were great little dogs, and funny has all get out. My concern is a breed that, for the most part, cannot breed or whelp without human intervention. I also understand why people like the breed. I don't think I could tolerate the snoring but they're nice dogs.

I think we tend (in most things unfortunately) to think that if something is good more of it is better. So, we get bulldogs with heads so large and hips so small that it's difficult for them to be born without a C-section. We get goldens with so much dripping coat that it is a mess in the field without alot of work.

And, I never even thought you weren't a dog lover. Frankly, anyone who doesn't love dogs is probably not this far into this thread! :)

Most people don't compete with their dogs, and that's fine. I wish more people would find something that appealed to them in that regard (actually, even therapy work, or other non-competitive things) because I think it deepens your relationship with your dog in a way that is hard to explain. BTW one of my friends actually did do novice obedience with her bull dog.

susie