Can any breed – even Dalmatians – be trained to work the way the Description says?
That would depend on what the description says, and one has not been written yet. Just as our Breed Standard specifies some traits that are not limited to Aussies (scissors bite, straight legs, moderate turn of stifle, correct angulation, etc.) there will be some traits in the Working Description that can be applied to many other breeds. A well-written Description will emphasize traits that are inherited and cannot be reliably trained for. Can Australian Shepherds be trained to be strong-eyed and crouch a lot? The inherited loose-to-moderate amount of eye in an Aussie can be enhanced by training. An Aussie can be trained to appear to have “natural crouch” in certain situations by repeatedly downing him during training. This is not an inherited trait, but anticipation of the command. However, when the situation requires the dog to get out, do something and do it fast, the dog will rely on inherited reflexes and behaviors, and revert to what is naturally comfortable for him. In other wor
