Genetic Obedience

[3Stars]

My dog's breeder's philosophy is:

Pedigree
indicates what the dog should be


Conformation
indicates what the dog appears to be


Performance
indicates what the dog actually IS

When I was looking for a breeder, I wanted one whose dogs had titles before AND after their name - I wanted the brains and drive to teach the dog, and the conformation that would help the dog's body to hold up to the training.

 

[K9Queen]

Yes, when it comes to titles, a lot of it is the trainer.

But, I'm not really talking about titles (sorry if I mislead you). I'm talking about the dog that just knows.. It is so hard to explain and define. Some people call it the X-Factor. It is just something extra that theses amazing dogs have. If you've never seen it, it is hard to explain. But once you do, you go OH!

It isn't just from performance lines, but that is where I see it most. It isn't about flashy obedience or even perfectness (is that a word? lol). Dang. I wish I had a better vocabulary to pull this off with.

If you've ever read the clan of the cave bear and others in that series.. I think of this genetic obedience lit the memories of the Clan people. The information seems to be in their very cells and need only to be awakened by one mention or telling or showing and they "remember" and "Know". Does that help at all? (if you've read the books...)

Of course you want a dog that is sound conformationally and healthy. saying you want one or the other is just silly to me (not saying anyone said that!) because you need the whole package to do anything.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I think I know what you are talking about.

I have put CDs on four dogs. The second one was amazing. She rarely NQd an individual exercise, and she LOVED utility. Did everything but articles. She just knew. I didn't even train gloves, I just turned her around and sent her. Directed jumping was the same, once she had the go out, everything else was cake. Had she not died young, she might have been my first UD dog. It is just now that I have another dog like her.

 

[DPSheltie]

If you've ever read the clan of the cave bear and others in that series.. I think of this genetic obedience lit the memories of the Clan people. The information seems to be in their very cells and need only to be awakened by one mention or telling or showing and they "remember" and "Know". Does that help at all? (if you've read the books...)

Of course you want a dog that is sound conformationally and healthy. saying you want one or the other is just silly to me (not saying anyone said that!) because you need the whole package to do anything.

I love that series of books!

I can only imagine having a dog who just knew what they were supposed to do. My grandmas Sheltie Magee seemed to just know how to do everything without being told. You only had to correct her once or tell her once and she knew it for life. She's actually the reason I wanted a Sheltie in the first place.

 

[Justicemom]

Yes, when it comes to titles, a lot of it is the trainer.

But, I'm not really talking about titles (sorry if I mislead you). I'm talking about the dog that just knows.. It is so hard to explain and define. Some people call it the X-Factor. It is just something extra that theses amazing dogs have. If you've never seen it, it is hard to explain. But once you do, you go OH!

It isn't just from performance lines, but that is where I see it most. It isn't about flashy obedience or even perfectness (is that a word? lol). Dang. I wish I had a better vocabulary to pull this off with.

If you've ever read the clan of the cave bear and others in that series.. I think of this genetic obedience lit the memories of the Clan people. The information seems to be in their very cells and need only to be awakened by one mention or telling or showing and they "remember" and "Know". Does that help at all? (if you've read the books...)

Of course you want a dog that is sound conformationally and healthy. saying you want one or the other is just silly to me (not saying anyone said that!) because you need the whole package to do anything.

I know actually what you mean. Justice was one of those dogs. He just knew and generalized everything immediately. I taught him the word heel was be at a certain place on my left side. I went to teach him the swing finish and said "heel" and both I moved my foot 1/4" he was in heel position. Never taught he just knew. His half sister same way. Coal(Bock), Diva's son same way. Sigh I kick myself every thime I see him that I placed him. My obedience instructor told me she gave his owner private lessons(she is coming back after neck surgery) last week and she just gushed about him.

 

[SheltieChe]

I know what you mean and don't think it is genetics, nor it could be bottled and sold:sadsmile:
It just some dogs just like people some have it and some don't... whatever IT is...