Mentors

[EGK]

I have to say I am one that asks questions and have learn from quite a few. My mentoring was more ask the questions of good Dogmen they know you know the answer to and take from their experience. Just cause I was TOLD the answer before wasn't satisfying. I want to know why I'm doing something, when does this apply, what should I look for, how do I apply it, and where can I research the info you gave me. One thing I can say a good mentor will make you self sufficient. I'm thankful to some good and not so good characters for sharing their experiences with me. More then anything mentor and protégé have to be dedicated and understand without direction anything can be expected. You want someone mentoring you that has been there and can guide you the direction your passion takes you. It can be stressful as is and the times I don't enjoy and how I bounce back as someone still learning reflect the most of my character as a dog man to me. Steely you gave up a lot and with that said you are in a better position than most started with. Frosty I got to give it to you you have pushed me myself plenty of times to think for years and still pushing me to get better. Sometimes the game itself and just going get the experience is your best mentor when no one is there to be hands on. My will to be better and to honestly look over my yard and say I honestly built this barnone is what drives me. You have to be dedicated and driven to some degree to be mentored by anybody. No use mentoring someone who's never going to use it. Mentors get discouraged too cause they get so many hang around till I get in and get a dog to peddle types that they shut out plenty. It all depend on both individuals overall. As another good dog man told me it takes a certain type of person to be a dog man. Not many have it. The heart or drive to simply do what it takes let alone be game themselves for the long haul.

[Millerman]

I have to say I am one that asks questions and have learn from quite a few. My mentoring was more ask the questions of good Dogmen they know you know the answer to and take from there experience. Just cause I was TOLD the answer before wasn't satisfying. I want to know why I'm doing something, when does this apply, what should I look for, how do I apply it, and where can I research the info you gave me. One thing I can say a good mentor will make you self sufficient. I'm thankful to some good and not so good characters for sharing their experiences with me. More then anything mentor and protégé have to be dedicated and understand without direction anything can be expected. You want someone mentoring you that has been there and can guide you the direction your passion takes you. It can be stressful as is and the times I don't enjoy and how I bounce back as someone still learning reflect the most of my character as a dog man to me. Steely you gave up a lot and with that said you are in a better position than most started with. Frosty I got to give it to you you have pushed me myself plenty of times to think for years and still pushing me to get better. Sometimes the game itself and just going get the experience is your best mentor when no one is there to be hands on. My will to be better and to honestly look over my yard and say I honestly built this barnone is what drives me. You have to be dedicated and driven to some degree to be mentored by anybody. No use mentoring someone who's never going to use it. Mentors get discouraged too cause they get so many hang around till I get in and get a dog to peddle types that they shut out plenty. It all depend on both individuals overall. As another good dog man told me it takes a certain type of person to be a dog man. Not many have it. The heart or drive to simply do what it takes let alone be game themselves for the long haul.

You are a 100% right by saying that it takes two to make the mentorship work. I personal do believe that the lack of mentorship has us in the state of turmoil that we are in. More now than ever do we need our veterans to lead us down the right path.

I am in my mid thirties and some of the stuff I hear and see really makes me feel like I came from a different time zone but I am not to much older than some of the goobers. One of the biggest problems is that the last couple generations of dogman can not handle constructive criticism so with that being said you have Tom, Dick and Harry thinking that they don't need any help and can do it all on there own and change the dog world as we know it and that is hurting us more than anything else.

So do I blame the older guys for not really wanting to help the young guns who don't really want to help themselves no, but we need are vets to stand strong and keep trying to past the torch to the ones who will listen. I was blessed to have two mentors that both had twenty years on me and boy did I ever get a good tong lashing for doing stupid stuff but they would give me the shirt off their back if it would help me to be a better dogman and that what's mentoring is all about helping someone to better themselves.

[EarlyBird]

Good discussion on mentors guys. I've been going thru hell trying to find a decent dogman/ mentor to learn from. I have some older guys I speak with on the phone now and then but that's bout it. I've been following jack since he was on PEDs giving advice and now I'm here enjoying the reads and post that you all discuss. From what I've been dealing I can agree and say that it is pretty difficult to "get-in" but I'm a fighter so no quitting here, I just wish I could get a break. With that being said I'm located in Louisiana so if anyone needs a good right hand I'm here.

[SteelyDan]

As someone who dropped their career, family, and friends to move cross country to be mentored I will say this... Most don't got what it takes. They speak of dedication then in the same breath prioritize things ahead of that which they supposedly want. You want a mentor... Make these dogs your highest priority above anything else. Make these dogs your religion so to speak. Do that and a mentor will soon follow. They've already dedicated a life time... You willing to show your ready to dedicate yours?

[Thunder98]

Most of the people I was around got me to liking the hounds and as I got in where I fitted I was able to gain value information,some are mentors and don't even know it. I have collected information from them over the years and used what was best for me. My brother and his friend were the most valuable resource for me. They soon let me know there was no such thing as a dumb question. I remember them showing me the pit bull gazette in 92 I believe with poncho on the cover, for some reason they already knew this dog would have an impact on the future of the breed whereas I had no clue. Nowadays honesty and dedication by both parties should make for a great team..jmo

[EarlyBird]

This game has already consumed me!! This is what I want!!

[Nut]

Nobody wants this. Its a lethal addiction. lol

[Pit Bull Committed]

My two cents...I am as dedicated as any greenhorn out there but to be honest you don't have to sacrifice everything for the dogs to make it work. I always believe in the saying..."there is no one way of doing something". I believe in having a strong family, healthy financial status , real friendships (don't have to be dogman), do my RESEARCH, a good dog program/setup (keep only a low quality number of dogs). Always looking for ways to improve my dogs, program/setup.

I do not believe in a total solo isolation in order to make things work. Sometimes it's good to have a moment away from the dog world.

[evolutionkennels]

Common sense goes a long way. A few rules for greenhorns

1. Love your dog
2. Be on his side.. Not against him.. That means paying forfeit when sick, never pushing weight, getting to the spot a few days before, getting bloodwork done cause they can't talk to tell you something wrong
3. Most people lose because they overwork the dog. Rest them.. They're not machines
4. Each dog is different.. Work them differently according to style. A defensive ear animal gonna need air and stamina, a barnstorming killer gonna need strength to do what he sees if he's a pusher.. Train them that way
5. Be smarter than the dog.... Hard for some people. Find out what the dog likes to work and build around that.

[Pit Bull Committed]

Common sense goes a long way. A few rules for greenhorns

1. Love your dog
2. Be on his side.. Not against him.. That means paying forfeit when sick, never pushing weight, getting to the spot a few days before, getting bloodwork done cause they can't talk to tell you something wrong
3. Most people lose because they overwork the dog. Rest them.. They're not machines
4. Each dog is different.. Work them differently according to style. A defensive ear animal gonna need air and stamina, a barnstorming killer gonna need strength to do what he sees if he's a pusher.. Train them that way
5. Be smarter than the dog.... Hard for some people. Find out what the dog likes to work and build around that.