Opinion- Getting an agility puppy

[tofu pup]

A show quality Sheltie SHOULD be structurally proper for agility... Why do I say 'should'?

I will piggyback on this, from the show-breeder perspective. There is a wide array of factors that determine a dog's quality, from front and rear angulation to balance, expression, and head detail. No dog is perfect; they all have faults, and it's the degree of faults and virtues that determine quality.

Here is an example: you could have a dog that is well-balanced and has outstanding breed type, with minor conformational flaws (for example, the dog is a bit out at the elbow, but moves soundly). This dog could have a LOT to contribute to the breed, and would definitely be a show-quality dog. Its flaws would not in any way interfere with its living an ordinary dog-life. But hard, repetitive exercise, as in top-level agility, would stress those flaws and predispose the dog to injury.

(I have a specific dog with these faults and virtues in mind; she is our bitch who just won her third award of merit at the ASSA national show, still sound and trotting at age 14. She is absolutely a show-quality dog, and she is fit for her work, but she is not a dog I would have touted as a performance prospect.)

Again, no dog is perfect. I don't want anyone to think that breeders are just breeding willy-nilly for pretty heads and dogs that can barely limp around the ring (that's why we match breeding pairs so that each dog contributes where the other dog is lacking). What is important to you is that you know the nature of the faults that a given dog has, and that you know whether they are faults you can live with.

 

[Calliesmom]

Thanks so much for the help. I really have looked local. We have some wonderful breeders in my state, NJ. However, the waitlist is full and all agility pups are spoken for.
Does anyone mind PM me and maybe give me some insight of this breeder.
Lea

you've gotten great advice so far.
I have 4 shelties and really only one was acquired with agility in mind. His bite is off so no show career for him. Three out of four were acquired from new breeders as in first or second litters. All the breeders are conformation breeders and I did inquire as to what would keep each out of the show ring- mostly cosmetic things although two are over size.

I just wanted to add that you need at least 10 posts to be able to use the PM system.......

 

[lea803]

I have gotten wonderful advice. I didn't realize I had PM. I thought it would come through as an email.
This board is great! Off to check the PM
Lea

 

[tesslynn]

This is a top breeder with many show and agility dogs. I also have checked references. My only hesitation is I have been to top breeder homes, and lets just say their talk is much better then their environment.

I treat my dogs like family and I expect the same. I dont toot my horn on anything except the care for my pups
Lea[/QUOTE]

Wow, well said....when I was looking for pups. I went to many places, and believe me the sales pitch was WAY better than the care, and it bothered me greatly. I wasn't in the market for a show dog, just a quality dog, and things had really changed in 17 yrs, when I last went dog shopping, and not for the better imho. My fur babies ARE FAMILY. Good luck in your search!!!!

 

[Hanne]

I have read all posts, but probably not understood them all (because of -My and Google translate - bad American)

When my previous leisure life was to educate and take samples with my GSD.
I constantly saw the same people come up with a new puppy, because the last did not satisfy their expectations.
They bought a "thing" and did not work from the puppy's content.

I have always bought the GSD puppy that I felt a communion with (the puppy has chosen me ??) and we have worked together, and therefore always had a happy and well-balanced dogs .

 

[Cara Sandler]

I bought my sheltie from a conformation breeder (this particular breeder is a conformation judge and breeder of merit). I was very up front with them and told them what I wanted from a puppy. They helped me choose the appropriate pup from the litter, and she's turned out to be AMAZING at agility. She's structurally sound, very high drive, and very smart and focused. She's also very tiny and light and an awesome jumper. She's not eligible to show in conformation because she is a color headed white, but she's PERFECT for agility. So I definitely would not rule out getting a performance dog from a conformation line.

 

[Silaria]

So I definitely would not rule out getting a performance dog from a conformation line.

Hello and welcome to the forum, Cara.

I agree with you because I wanted a properly built, near conformation dog for my new agility puppy. Proper structure and drive were important to me and getting the dog from a breeder who understood this was important.

HOWEVER there are conformation breeders that really don't understand the needs of a performance dog and assume every dog who isn't destined for the show ring can be a performance dog. That's simply not the case. That's true of most of the breeders local to me. (Local being within 1 - 2 hours of me.) In fact there is only ONE breeder who definitely breeds for the show ring AND performance.

There are DEFINITELY outstanding conformation breeders who also have dogs that perform wonderfully in performance. No question there! On the flip side, there are breeders who have beautiful dogs but they don't have the drive for performance. This is why you have discussions with potential breeders and hope they are being honest with you.

 

[Cara Sandler]

Hello and welcome to the forum, Cara.

I agree with you because I wanted a properly built, near conformation dog for my new agility puppy. Proper structure and drive were important to me and getting the dog from a breeder who understood this was important.

HOWEVER there are conformation breeders that really don't understand the needs of a performance dog and assume every dog who isn't destined for the show ring can be a performance dog. That's simply not the case. That's true of most of the breeders local to me. (Local being within 1 - 2 hours of me.) In fact there is only ONE breeder who definitely breeds for the show ring AND performance.

There are DEFINITELY outstanding conformation breeders who also have dogs that perform wonderfully in performance. No question there! On the flip side, there are breeders who have beautiful dogs but they don't have the drive for performance. This is why you have discussions with potential breeders and hope they are being honest with you.

Thank you for the welcome!

Yes, there are definitely breeders out there that do not understand the demands of being a performance dog. On some level, I just got lucky that the breeders were honest and well educated as to what a performance dog needs to be successful and remain healthy. I never set out to get a conformation dog and it was pure chance that I met a conformation breeder who came so highly recommended that I felt I should go with their pups instead of anyone else's. When it's time to get a second dog, I will definitely go to them again. Especially because my pup ended up being not just high energy and full of drive, but with a wonderfully friendly and confident personality. She isn't afraid of anything, and can handle any kind of new situation. She loves everyone and has never met a dog she doesn't like either. I definitely hit the jackpot to get a dog who has an amazing temperament, is healthy, and loves sports. And as a bonus, is beautiful