Basset hounds, bulldogs, standard daxies.

rune

"Most show dogs"...most breeds are shown, and most don't have a breed split, so that limits you quite severely to only a few different breeds if you "only" like working dogs.

I guess your Spaniel comes from a working kennel then?

No i said i like the working type and look. Not specificily a working bred dog. But yes mine is from a working dogs. I love GSP's but i would never show mine, i would work it. Even if it were good enough to show i still wouldnt. Im not into any of that. I wouldnt pay extra for a show bred dog but would go the extra mile for the working types. I would never get a show spaniel as i dont like the look of them.

Fair enough.

All in all its the working dog 'look' i like.

I don't hunt any more. My dog loves to go out in the field and flush pheasants. I really like the fact that he was trained to do it. Even though I don't actually shoot the birds.

Totally agree with these two quotes! What is the point, if you're going to do something then why aim for anything less than excellence? And excellence to me equals dual purpose!

Ooh I like that! Might have to pop that on me website!

Not an example about Labs, but I just wanted to add that before Isla's breeders moved to France some of her dual purpose Springers had homes with a couple of game keepers. They preferred the more methodical work of the dual purpose ones as they found many of the faster working types were missing well hidden birds due to them being bred for fast hunting.

I think so yes, but it'll always be down to those that breed these dogs to decide their breeds fate. Sadly too many people have their own rosettes and trophies in mind to stop and consider what they're doing to the breed in the process.

Im not trying to sway you, but you admitted yourself that people dont recognise your dog as a Springer, and she does have turned out feet and elbows as well as a wide front. This being TYPICAL of working Springers, I ask again (look at the othe pics I posted too) why do you "prefer" the look of a working dog? Its not a critisism, its a genuine wuestion, I cannot undestand how anyone can "prefer" the look of dogs which have conformation like that, especially when many critisize breed like Bulldogs.

I know a few Bassetts that can work, all show bred, we board a few Bulldogs that run us off our feet too. Standard Dachs do work also in their native country.

Fair enough (bit in bold) but that is just your opinion Again, I can really only talk for working collies, but excellence means a dog that is up to doing the job, has power to shift great droves of sheep, has the stamina to work on a heather covered hill for hours at a time and the brains to be able to work things out for itself when working away from the shepherd. Looks do not even come into it.

Having said that, I do think breeders in most breeds should ideally be aiming for a dual purpose dog. That would be what I would aim for if I were to ever breed GSDs (which I won't be doing).