Re: Why conformation?
To flesh out the thread... So many folks stay too focused on bitework with a lot of my breeds. If you consistently take your pup out, and train only in bitework, that becomes his "go to" behavior. Bringing your working pup to a conformation show, besides all the things mentioned about, also shows him that biting is NOT always the best reaction, or even the only reaction to being "out" with his/her owners. Focusing only on the tasks that a dog WILL perform later on doesn't build a good foundation for a protection dog. Puppies should be allowed to be puppies, adolescents, then adults. By skipping those growing/learning phases, you are created a perfect opportunity for a dog to make a very big social mistake.. or not be social, at all.
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