[doggiedad]

this is an interesting post. upon further reading i noticed you answered your own questions and given us ideas for our dogs. working, performing a trick or listening to a command, arethese the same thing? when we play find it, is my dog working or playing? when my GF or i hide in the woods and we send our dog to find one us is he playing or working?

when it comes to physical and mental exercise i have to think about the mental part. i'm not asking my dog to do something mentally everyday at least i don't think i am. for the physical stuff he either gets walked or he plays with his buddies in the woods for several hours a day.

as you said not all GSD's are cut out to do sports, herd or protect. i do think most if not all GSD's can become a pet with nothing more to do than greet you at the door when you come home, be fed well, exercised and loved.