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I think everyone has talked about different dogs they liked or even what they like in a dog. Yet I don't think very many have tried to quantify exactly what makes a good dog. This will be my somewhat attempt. For starters I don't think that there is exactly a universal good dog mold. There are certainly things that we all agree on. We all want confidence, power, and a desire to work with us. But even those definitions vary from person to person. Now perennial winning competition dogs are probably agreed upon as being good dogs. Yet I've heard arguments against that as well. I actually agree with some of those people. At least partly. I flat out disagree with people who write off competition dogs universally but I do agree that there are champion dogs that aren't all that good. Typically that's an exception that proves the rule. Like there are handlers that are good enough to take mediocre dogs to win the big shows. But me venting aside, what is a good dog? I think that can only be answered by You. The capital Y You. Now no one should endorse or condone cattle prods with legs but everything else is fair game. No one can tell you not to like a dog you like and someone not liking your dog shouldn't influence your own opinion of that dog. A dog that does what you like and meets your goals is a good dog. And as far as that goes, enjoy it how you wish. People often have these hard rules in this sport like "don't do belly rubs" or "don't let them in your bed", the list goes on. Yet I've seen wonderful dogs who break all the rules. Yes, those rules help make dogs better or at least helped those people who made those rules. But hard rules don't exist. Otherwise there would only be one book on training dogs and dogs/trainers would be impossible to one from the other (at least stylistically). Now keep in mind, always strive for better. Don't let your own opinions close your mind to progress, wherever you find progress. But it's ok not to like the dog that everyone else does. And inversely, it's ok to like the dog no one else does. And it's perfectly ok to enjoy them however you wish. So, invent your own rules, enjoy the dogs and this sport the way you want. And if someone tells you you're wrong for enjoying what you choose to enjoy; tell them firmly but politely to eat shit. We do this because we love it and you should always love it the way you want. What everyone else says is just noise.