I have to disagree. For therapy you need a very stable dog who can handle all situations, sounds, scents and stimuli. In order to do this work with a guardian breed you also need a well trained dog who can focus on you. My girl does not run to the people she is being pet by at therapy, she sits because I tell her to and gets pet while maintaining eye contact with me. She does not jump all over them seeking their attention, she will take the petting or leave it. It is in the training. She will also go nuts for a flirt pole and has hunted down and killed wild animals such as foxes and birds. Your Blue was from Amore right? How many of their dogs had their therapy certification as well as were proven in working venues. I remember pictures of Xander doing therapy work with kids right after demonstrating bite work. It is in the training not necessarily "totally squashed drive". I will agree that one wouldn't pick the drivest puppy in the litter for a therapy home but...
I think we are saying the same thing, no?
I wrote
"Its all about good nerves, bidability, and temperament." ...
For therapy work I don't think intelligence and drive are very important. What I do think are important is stable temp, biddability, and good nerves (which is what you wrote)...
The focus training you are mentioning comes from the CC's natural
biddability and the focus training squashies your dog's drives while she is focused on you. I wasn't saying therapy dogs can't have drive outside of that venue, I was just saying you have to control (squash) their drives during therapy work.
I'm not devaluing therapy work in anyway, I just don't think a dog has to be very intelligent to do it. Doesn't mean smart dogs, like a CC or a GSD, can't do it either.
Blue was Xanders half brother. They are both Mojo sons. Yes Xander and others from that kennel were therapy dogs - Blue was not, and had way too much dog aggression to even consider doing that with him. Apparently Xander and Blue's other half brothers didn't have the dog aggression issue - so I guess that came from Blue's mother.