Simple answer: Good ones are VERY hard. These dont make the best pets, because of the dominance levels... Bad ones are really bad. As with every breed, there is more junk than good dogs. If you consider a dog's quality by show standards, then they are better than ever. I, on the other hand, feel that the quality of a dog shines through when this dog is called upon to perform its historical purpose. I know of show line dogs that lack heart for cattle or to endure the hard life that farmer's dogs live. The azorean farmer is VERY hard on his dogs. They are tools, not pets. Hope this helps