Versatility – Boon or Bane to the Purebred Dog?

Versatility – Boon or Bane to the Purebred Dog?

I’ve always said that any dog will kill a rat. It’s nature. Fact is that terriers do it better, faster, and longer. That’s an element of breed type. The desire is in their temperament, and the ability is in their construction. The Terrier breeds evolved to serve a purpose, and they do it very, very well. The same is true of the Sporting, Hound, Working, Herding, and even many of the Toy and Non-Sporting breeds. The main reason that we have this wide variety of breeds is based on the purpose they were (or more properly ARE) intended to serve and their job description.

In the paragraphs that follow we talk about some examples of “versatility” in a few specific breeds. The principle, though, applies to every breed for which there is a referenced job description. But almost every breed lays claim to “versatility” which, I suppose, is, in part, an attempt to make the breed attractive to prospective owners.

By and large, versatility is a good thing. Almost every parent club supports the versatility of its breed. So do I. I’ve even proposed French Bulldog Field Trials as a source of additional revenue for the AKC (American Kennel Club). There is no question at all that most breeds are capable of performing a variety of tasks that may differ widely from their original job description. If, like most folks in today’s world, you can’t keep a large kennel, then a dog that can handle multiple functions is not only an asset, it’s almost a necessity.

Versatility that means participation in an activity that varies greatly from the original purpose of the breed will not significantly improve its breed type. Most dog sports do no harm, but only those related to the breed’s dedicated purpose(s) offer support to the preservation breeder.

Let me say this one more time for the sake of clarity. “I support canine versatility!”

There are multiple problems, though, when the quest for versatility overshadows the designated purpose of the breed. Breeders and owners may alter their selection of breeding or working stock based on the attributes required for that particular pursuit. That, in turn, will detract from the balance and characteristics of the Breed Standard. That’s a recipe for disaster.

The Standard Dachshund’s purpose and job description is clear. It is meant to locate and bolt badgers underground in their settes. That’s the whole purpose of the achondroplastic front, the rib cage structure, even the length of the hocks. The breed’s temperament provides us with a dog that works with a “charge and parry” technique that not only encourages the quarry to bolt but keeps the Dachshund itself from serious injury. Fairly quickly, the Germans determined that a dog of sufficient size to worry a badger could not fit into a rabbit warren and, rather than adapt the dog to the task, they created a purposefully bred variety, the Kaninchen. At under 32 centimeters of chest circumference, the Kaninchen is ideally suited to locate and bolt rabbits and hare. That’s not versatility, it’s adaptation.

The last few decades have shown a decline in the number of red fox in the US and a dramatic increase in the amount of coyote. Coyotes have even been recorded in Central Park here in New York City. Most any old hound will trail a “yote,” but American Foxhounds have the cold scenting ability, endurance, and voice to do the job quite well. What they didn’t have was the speed required to pursue a coyote, which can run at up to 43 miles per hour. Longer legs was the solution, so in 2011 the AKC Breed Standard was changed from 25 inches in height (males) to 28 inches. Problem solved, but that extra height detracts a wee bit from the breed’s ability to pursue red fox in close cover. Everything has a price.

The Border Terrier Club of America (BTCOA) has one of the oldest and most comprehensive versatility programs in existence. Sure, they have a Versatility Award like many other clubs, but they also have a Versatility Excellent Award and a Versatility Apex Award along with a Versatility Register of Merit. The program recognizes participation in a range of activities sponsored by AKC, NASDA (North American Sport Dog Association), AWTA (American Working Terrier Association), NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work, CKC (Canadian Kennel Club), and UKC (United Kennel Club). It includes Dock Diving, Flyball, and Citizenship, which I would humbly submit have little relationship to the breed’s designated purpose. While I have occasionally taken quarry out of trees, I don’t think Flyball reinforces a dog’s skills in that area. There’s a lot of stuff rewarded that has little or no relationship to the breed’s primary purpose.

Now if that sounds critical, take a step back. There are VERY few Border Terriers in active work in the US. There is a lack of opportunity, and to be honest, a lack of incentive on the part of breeders and owners. The BTCOA recognizes and accommodates this in its versatility program and requires that a dog earn at least one “Field Title” to qualify for the Excellent and Apex Awards. In that way, as well as through conformation requirements, they help to maintain the working integrity of the breed. A tip of the flat cap to the Little Brown Dogs.

Another popular activity is Barn Hunt® which allows all breeds to detect rodents. Titles earned here are recognized both by AKC and by many clubs in their versatility programs. I support and encourage participation in Barn Hunt® if your breed (or individual dog) does not actually hunt. What is supportive and constructive for some dogs can be counterproductive to others. In the Barn Hunt® case, the dog is encouraged to quickly leave and move on. It is not allowed to “work” the quarry, which is a necessity in actual hunts. That won’t bother most dogs, but it’s an anathema to a dog bred to engage its quarry. Great versatility for some, but not for dogs that are expected to actually hunt. My own dogs last about two runs in Barn Hunt® before they realize that if they do exactly what I want them to, I’m going to take away the quarry and pick them up rather than reward them by letting them work the quarry.

Every one of the recognized dog sports mandates and prioritizes the safety of the dog (and the handler too!). Actual work does not. Every canine occupation comes with some degree of risk and danger. Performance and companion events eliminate much of that danger, but many also don’t require the desired anatomical construction or hard-wired temperament required of a given breed. Short form: Versatility, in and of itself, is probably not going to hurt you or your dog in any way. That being said, some activities can do no good at all for certain breeds. A Dachshund in Fast CAT may not be harmed, but speed is not a desired quality either in the husbandry of the breed nor its work.

The prioritizing of versatility over designated purpose and the requirements of the Breed Standard can also lead to trouble. The Standard for the Pahrumpian Pound Hound (PPH) contains a disqualification for individuals less than 15 inches at the withers in the intensely popular (and competitive) Agility trials. A conforming PPH must jump at 16 inches, but a dog that measures 14 inches must jump only 12 inches. The advantage is obvious, and the overall size of the PPH became smaller and smaller as faster and more competitive dogs appeared in Agility Trials. The smaller dogs lacked the size and substance to perform the breed’s purpose. In this instance, the versatility was detrimental to the breed and its purpose. [The Pahrumpian Pound Hound is closely related to the Tasmanian Trivet Hound. Both are figments of the author’s imagination. PPH is an alias, meant to protect innocent breeders; however, the occurrence described above is real. —Ed.]

Now we all claim to be preservation breeders. We breed to the Standard on conformation and temperament. Many of the dog sports that comprise versatility support that effort. Some do not! Deviation from the Breed Standard for any reason can lead to a loss of breed type and the eventual deterioration of the breed. There is little support for a generic terrier, a generic foxhound, or almost any other type of dog either. We want and need specialists.

Many parent clubs such as the Alaskan Malamute Club of America have recognized the need for performance events more closely related to the breed’s function and sponsor weight pulls, dry land trials, and similar events. Their Working Dog Certification programs incorporate relevant dog sports and actual working experience. This is in contrast to some international clubs that actually require a working certificate (if one is available in that breed) to make up a Conformation Champion.

Dog sports and performance events are here to stay and can be a vital part of a preservation breeding program. They encourage dog ownership and provide both an incentive and a safe outlet for canine (and human) enthusiasm. At the same time, other sports or events can provide no possible benefit to some breeds and may, on occasion, do some harm. The misuse of, and blind pursuit of, titles in the name of “versatility” may contribute little to purposeful breeding, but the engagement in work-related sports and events can only improve our breeds.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible out in the field and at performance events. Versatility is good for people too!