Q7. If a dog can't do sport, than will it really protect?
Ancient GR: A7. I know many dogs that do well in sport and get a big zero in real protection. Ability to do well in Sport is NOT a measuring unit for real owner protection.
DanUK: Again, agreed. The answer to this question is also the same in the opposite context; with a dog that can do sport will it really protect? The answer is that in both cases, the answer is not known. The natures of the dog and in case of sport dogs, its training are fundamental to answering the question. However, whilst many of the best sport dogs will protect equally well in real situations, a very high percentage of titled/respected sport dogs will not be able to perform in a realistic, operational context.
This is further evidenced by how few sport programs are actively pursued by Police and Military departments in the modern era; KNPV, NVBK and to some degree French Ring dogs will either directly, or indirectly (through their progeny) be sought out for real operational employment. However, very few Schutzhunde dogs are considered in the modern era despite the fact that clearly there are many dogs involved in the sport that would be able to transfer to operational work. Where dogs are sought from this venue, they are often desired to come from the lower levels where it is considered more viable to cross train them over to operational work. Where sport holds real sway in modernity is two-fold: It provides transparency as relates to dogs/lines/breeding programs and in addition, where accountants exert as much influence as any party in modern Police and Military activities the modern sport approaches provide a source of rapid development almost comparable to a production line for getting dogs into service as quickly as possible for as long as possible, as well as some degree of positive PR to make this investment seem worthwhile.
Katrina Hartwell AU: I don't know that the two are as linked as they should be.
Will the bandog be as flashy as the Mal or GSD? I doubt it. Can a good Bandog compete in sport? Yes. Will they ever be on top...? I doubt it as politics and the amount of training with the right trainer required would be a huge hurdle. I think Donovan’s dogs have the best chance of achieving high end competition titles.
MaTi
Cath
I see the same bias in many breed groups. Different breeds are suitable for different things.