The Stacking Thread

I read an excellent book once called Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution by Raymond and Lorna Coppinger. (I highly recommend reading it) In it the author discusses sled dog conformation (i.e. bred for performance) versus show dog conformation. He states that, "It should be obvious by now that it is not the standing shape that is important. Standing in a show ring reveals little about a Siberian's running shape". He gives an example of a dog he knew who was cow hocked and roach backed standing still, but when he moved all his flaws seemed to disappear. This can very easily be applied to our breed. I think we are forgetting about the function of the dogs and selecting solely for a form that is becoming less and less functional. I will close with a quote from the previously mentioned book; "Another way to say this is: standing is a behavior. Running is a behavior. If I want standing dogs, I select for dogs that stand easily and economically. I select for dogs that like to stand and have a beautiful standing shape. As a sled dog racer, I am not much interested in a standing shape." I just hope that we are not starting to breed for pretty standing dogs.

Copied from an article in Positively Pit Bull Magazine