Thanks Chris,
Luke is a.k.a. Legend's Cool Hand Luke CGC, NA, CD, NAJ, OAJ, TT
He is from Lisa Ryan-Walk, Legend Kennels. Fraja lines. Super sweet dog. AVID agility dog! Great happy worker. Not super drivey, a little on the sensitive side. If we Q (and I mean WE, if we don't it was MY fault... so what else is new,
) he is first or second, beating the borders routinely.
He has a very straight front (upper forearm/shoulder) which I really don't like, but he is such an outstanding jumper... and a joy to watch. He really LOVES agility.
Yes, I work my dogs. Maybe 'soft' sports compared to what you do, but I have dabbled in many sports for my own education, and gone deeper in others (agility) because of a severe addiction. And because I have found that to be the best sport to show off our breed in a positive light, as well as the bet way to stick it to the "fluffy butts" in their own sport. I would do it in herding too, but we aren't a 'herding breed'. Try finding a BC that will take on rough stock as well as herd chickens (which I was told you cant herd) and retrieve baby chicks (by mouth) from thick brush, unharmed. Vega does this.
My first amstaf was an line-bred X-pert. He was a hard, drivey dog who would do ANYTHING I asked. He also dabbled in herding and had the versatility, heart and drive I compare all good working bulldogs to. I wish I was more experienced when I got him, he taught me so much, but were it not for me, he could have done so much more. He was Willie,
X-pert Beers Iron Will CGC, TT, CD, SCT, Sch B, Sch AD, WD, NA
I also had a GSD, certified NYS deersearch dog. Also did herding and obedience. No Sch. with her, too soft... she taught me to track and read a dog though.
My second amstaf was to be a seriously competitive obed. dog, but was retired young as a result of injury, but became a wonderful therapy dog.
I usually have one versatile dog at a time and the others I usually do one or 2 sports with. I let the dog decide what they like. I try to make work fun, and based on their structure, talent and temperament I decide what sports to try to do with them. They are all house dogs. Luke does mostly agility, may do Open obedience, plays with Freestyle, may do Sch B if I find a decent club around (not into the club scene).
Vega is my current versatility dog. She is cleaning up the agility ring, trained thru utility obedience (considering trying UKC obed. instead of AKC) and has started weight pulling. May do Rally-O, and/or Sch B, but am trying to learn more about PSA. Not sure yet. She is also my stock dog and rat hunter. She was training for SAR but I really cannot commit the time it would take to be serious.
She has NA, CGC, TDI, TT so far (at 18 mos.).
Don't have many good pics of Luke that aren't action shots. I will have to take some.
I have a pup who I think will be a good weight pull prospect. We will have to see.
I also have a rescue who isn't put together to well for sport, but may become a good therapy dog.
About the health check thing. I have to feel comfortable with the dogs and the breeders. Half of my dogs were out of tested dogs, half weren't. It is still a crap shoot. It is the responsible thing to do... but I have friends who are breeders, who test to the hilt, who I would NOT be interested in a pup from. Champions and all. They just don't meet MY standards. If I feel someone is doing all of the homework, and I can talk to the vet and see the x-rays, a piece of paper isn't going to say more for me... anymore than a registration paper or pedigree speaks for the dog.