Why do you advanced Dogmen give the cold shoulder when a novice Dogman seeks for mentorship. I understand that trust plays a role but there are honest good people out there that just want to exceed in this life style. Why be so stand offish?
Why do you advanced Dogmen give the cold shoulder when a novice Dogman seeks for mentorship. I understand that trust plays a role but there are honest good people out there that just want to exceed in this life style. Why be so stand offish?
Loose lips, sink ships. It is not that the older guys are keeping trade secrets or anything, it is illegal. Just about anything can get you locked up, lose your dogs and a lifetime of work for basically nothing. So the knew guy is an unknown and unknowns are not good. Just the way it is. Imagine rolling up on a guy slinging dope and asking for some pointers on the trade. It would not go over very well. EWO
You couldn't be more right, but it's not illegal to breed athletic dog to compete in these conformation shows,weight pulling,and for hog hunting. Now I have a lot to loose and also a lot to gain I've been into these dogs for the last 6-7 years and I'm also on other forums an all i hear is how Dogmen who has been in the game for decade told,stole, an all other disloyal things a man could do, I never heard of someone dealing with a newbie an getting the bad end of the stick. I just feel like a newbie is more willing to prove his loyalty to someone who has been doing these dogs the right way.
I believe it will come your way if you are serious enough. But Imo getting your info from multiple people and for example asking stuff on this board and see how much the opinions differ. Knowing to pick out the right information, and actually trying stuff yourself, is allot better then listening to 1 man. You won't believe how much shit is getting told, even from people who want to best for you.
Forget about the word "mentor". This is when u lose people attention.
True. The boards/and the dog game are full of people who leave a lot to be desired when it comes to ethics, morals or the willingness to do the right things. It is a cross-section of society. Society's shortcomings are our shortcomings as well. Considering the rates in which people come and go in the dogs your 6-7 years gets you in the middle to upper level with 'time with the dogs'.
As far as the boards go, I like them. I enjoy reading the good and the bad when it comes to the dogs. I post when I have personal experience or when I have a question, otherwise I just read. Of the boards, this is by far the best one. Tons less bullshit to wade thru for worthwhile knowledge/information/ideas. Just my two cents.
With that said, take the first two steps. Peruse the site, read what has been posted and appreciate the content. 2nd step would be to ask whatever questions/post for a topic you are interested in and/or bring an old post back up for further discussion.
And as far as dealing with a newbie. Most people are weary. Not because one is new to the dogs but because the 'newbie' is unknown to the other individual. If I am doing things the law says I should not be doing I can't put up a sign in my front yard for all to see. If I am doing things I should not be doing I do not want others outside that circle to know. In turn, keeping that circle close, small and a tight knit bunch is a means of personal preservation. That is just me. On the other hand, there are guys that ride up and down the road just screaming, "Look at what I have done, look at what I am doing!". It takes time. Best of luck and enjoy the site. EWO
Originally Posted by Acesaun
Thanks for the encouragement guys.
if you want to be buddies with a dogman, aquire his blood.
Bingo
Not so. Ed Faron lost all his dogs running his mouth to a newbie who was buying his dogs and asking a lot of questions. With that in mind, you must understand a few things:
1) YOU are the one wanting something; the experienced dogman doesn't need anything from you;
2) You are asking a complete stranger to risk the lives of his dogs, his home, and his family all "for you" ... and yet what is it that you're offering "him";
3) While you are the one in need, and while the other man is risking his freedom to pour information into your head, you are also asking that man to give up his time, his effort, his secrets, etc. to you ... but what are you offering him?
So, rather than think of "yourself," you might want to ask yourself what you can do for the person you're asking to risk his freedom, and spend his time, for you? Are you going to clean his yard for him? Are you going to feed/care for his dogs? Are you going to dedicate yourself to preserving his bloodline? In short, are you asking this man to invest his time into you, so he gets something back, or do you just want to "take" from him, waste his time, and give nothing back?
I do agree with BlackHand that truly being interested in a dogman's bloodline (if he has one) is a great way to get him interested in you. The trouble with every beginner is they think they know more than the man from whom they're asking all their questions. Still, showing a sincere interest in a man's dogs is the best way for him to show a sincere interest in you doing well with them. If you have his dogs, he will want you to do well with them, and so his time spent with you will be viewed as an investment into the success of his dogs.
I also appreciate EWO's faith in my book and this site, and I do believe if you pay attention to both, and get your own dogs, and if you have a natural eye for what a good dog is, that you don't really need a mentor at all. I know plenty of dogmen who have reached the top of the game following what I have written, including my keep. If you go to local dog shows, you will always run into peers that you meet, and sooner or later yall will get together to see what's what. And, doing this, sooner or later you will eventually meet good dog folks. Especially if you're a good dude yourself.
You will always meet people who have dogs, who do dogs, and who "have opinions" ... but I would just ignore all of them, unless what they're doing really stands out. When you see people whose dogs and methods always stand out, then those are the people to get to know. Just remember that, if you follow everything that's been laid out in my book, that person whose efforts "stand out" might just be you
Good luck,
Jack
get youself a dog take him for a walk and when you see a guy thats walking his bulldog ask him where he got that cur from then just take it from there
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