[quote=gsicard]It really is not fair to compare the dogs of old with the dogs of today. So much has changed in our dogs and the environment. Olden dogs were utilitarian, tools to aide man in the completion of a mission. If they did not perform they were useless. Man and beast competed for food so what was the point of feeding a non performing dog?[/quote] The second part of your post (the part I didn't quote) I agree with. But this part here...although we may not "need them" like we did in the past, there is no reason why we need to breed dogs that are useless in ability. We can still select for an ability if we so desire. I imagine you would agree.