Some of the better bulldogs i have owned where released only to be left looking up at me proably thinking
' Now WTF are we doing ' until that hog hit them like a mack truck some turn early on early some dont i do belive enticing there prey drive throughout there development by using a hide, tug a war, good old fashion chain barking will bring out there drive more IMO
RoughNeck
I have to agree with EWO on this one.
We start taking baby steps with ours before they are old enough to be touched so when the time does come the prospect will have it on his mind and a idea of what we are asking them to do.
We believe that just letting them set on the chain for 18 months or older can hurt you more than it can help with some dogs.
I like to do things with other dogs in front of the young dogs. I want them to get all excited and jacked up on the chain as a young dog. Sometimes they might not even know why, but when we come out that young dog is screaming, "Pick me, Pick me, Pick me". And then we go from there. Sometimes they grab another gear and they are off to adulthood. Sometimes they wish we had picked another dog. Sometimes it is just a push. The operative word is sometimes because all of them have their own time line. For whatever reason when it comes to these dogs the word patience is as taboo as a sexually transmitted disease. EWO
Another excellent post.Originally Posted by EWO
What cracks me up is everyone is looking for "the one" answer ... as if there is only "one" solution ... or "one" dog ... or "one" scenario
The quickest way to spot a green dogman (or clueless dogman) is by their looking for that "one" answer (or what's THE BEST 'x,' 'y,' or 'z')
The more experienced/intelligent the dogman, the less he's looking for "only one" solution ... and the less of a big hurry he's in to see everything out of his prospect ... before his balls have distended ... or before his bitch has even come in heat ... and the more content he is to just let his dogs mature at their own pace.
Also, I agree grooming a dog at an early age (through socialization, exposure on the mill, watching rolls, etc.) will make said dog much more likely to "get it" when it's his time to be on the stage performing. That is a far cry from trying to roll a dog too young, it is not harmful at all, but merely exposes (and hopefully excites) him to his job.
Again, nice post.
The more experienced/intelligent the dogman, the less he's looking for "only one" solution ... and the less of a big hurry he's in to see everything out of his prospect ... before his balls have distended ... or before his bitch has even come in heat ... and the more content he is to just let his dogs mature at their own pace.
Well said. I like dogs that get better each time as they start and begin schooling. I am not overly excited about the fast starter nor am I disappointed with the one who needs more time. One of the mistakes a lot of new guys make is understanding that schooling is not a competition. There are lots of guys out there with dogs who win the rolls, or they put older dogs on young dogs so they (the man) can be the winner. Lots of potentially good dogs are ruined this way. The guy who is 'winning' the rolls very seldom make it to the show. The entire premise of schooling is to learn, not win. Part of schooling is being schooled and that means being on the short end of the stick. Working from the short end of the stick is the only way to see what you really have.
As far as starting I really like the dog who 'starts' at the bottom and works his way to the top not only in the little picture but the big picture as well. EWO
Frank Jacobs told me once, "son, you gotta be smarter than the dog." In most cases, with dogmen, the dog is smarter than the dogman
100%....my uncle used to tell me that all the time
You gentleman are correct there is no one way of doing anything because no two dogs are the same but there is a major deference in a animal who has been groomed from a early age with baby steps whatever those steps may be than a animal that has been sitting on chain for almost two years.
We feel that the schooling process for the animals is just like it is for us. Elementary, Mid high , high school than off to college.
I let all my dogs start in their own time. I expose them to aggressive dogs now and then to see if they have an interest. If they have an interest then I will give them a try once they are over 15 months. Had one recently that did not show interest until he was almost three years old. He was worth the wait!
We never make our dogs be something they are not. We believe you get a lower percentage of quality animals by doing that.
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