I do so agree Anna. Certainly, temperament - goood and bad, is often inherited, just as conformation.
Having been in dogs and horses for a very long time, good temperament should always be uppermost in the breeder's decision. That said, so many times I have seen animals with biting and other issues, described as having been abused and the owner making excuses for their poor behaviour. More often than not, such animals have not been 'abused' at all, but just not raised and trained properly. A 'come to Jesus' talk, will often make them understand that they are not nearly as high in the heirachy of their situation, as they had come to believe.
Most dog bites are from whole, male dogs. If they had only been neutered, the vast majority of these bites would not have occurred. Lets face it, there are really comparitively few dogs and horses alive today, who are of the quality to be passing on their genetics to the next generation.
Sudden changes in behaviour, can almost always be traced. Loss of eyesight and hearing, is something I have seen which has often been seen. In senior animals, it is often a cause. Illness can be another cause. It must always be up to the owner, to seek out and find the cause of changes in a given animal's behaviour.
Many years ago, I sold a Great Dane puppy to a lovely lady. She later gave him to her elderly parents. They adored him but failed to set any limits. He eventually completely controlled their household. I was asked to take him back. As a responsible breeder, of course I did. Yes, he was quite a challange. After a year of some intense obedience training and many 'talks', he became my most treasured Great Dane of all my years in the breed. I miss him to this day and it's thirty two years later. I currently have an almost fifteen year old Brussels Griffon. He is probably the sweetest fellow I ever bred. But now, having lost his sight and hearing, he will bite anyone whom he smells but does not recognise. We understand that, so when guests visit, he is kept away from them. At his age, he is still a happy fellow around us and gets wild and happy at feeding time and even gets silly and plays. We understand his limits with others though and make the appropriate decisions for him daily.
I think when dealing with any animals who have displayed some behaviour which we don't like, we must first discover the reason and then act accordingly. If an animal is very dangerous and has not responded to intervention, then the worst decision, is to pass it on to someone else. The correct decision, is to put him/her away quietly, in the security of their own home.
By the way Anna, I have loved your website. When I need my Welsh fix, I shall revisit it. My mother's family are still all in Wales. Made me very homesick for home.
Lizzie
