Getting in the left lane

[creek_bottom]

Say a man has a dog that he feels is an exceptional animal and that dog has proven himself throughout schooling and has made his mark locally, now said man is wanting to travel outside his circle and is wanting to go into some top notch competition so that he can do right by his dog, should he expect to have to come off a large amount of money to do so? If this man is your average working class fella that realizes he is gonna have keep expenses, travel expenses, etc. are there top notch competitors that are still out there for competition and the dogs or is it becoming all about the paycheck? I hate the idea of a dog not getting deserved recognition or the opportunity to prove his ability because "elite" dogs or "elite" kennels have extremely high price tags that come with them. All thoughts and opinions welcome.
YIS,
Creek Bottom

[No Quarter Kennel]

I know some will disagree, but there are ELITE dogs out there that never go for extremely serious money.
Matter of fact, some SERIOUS money dogs get "checked" with some of these "low income" dogs and sometimes show well and sometimes, prove, they ain't worth their price tag AT ALL.

Some of the most elite dogs and dogmen on this planet will never be written about or known.

[Nut]

Most of the times, the ones that will only match for big bets are just fronting and making excuses. Say ok for once, and see what's their next demand. lol

[creek_bottom]

Very good post I've just been reading a lot of belly aching on the most recent sdj awards and reading some interviews done with the late Mr. Hughes and thinking about the direction this sport is headed. I feel like I was born in the wrong era haha. Wish we still lived in a time where a hand shake and your word meant something, where if you really thought you had the best you didn't have to refinance your home to prove it, but it seems long gone are those days. I really wish I was as well traveled and as well versed as many on this forum are but with the way things appear to be today it seems I may never be able to afford that opportunity and to me that is sad.
YIS,
Creek Bottom

[EWO]

Last post, well said. Some of the best dogs in the world went for peanuts. Some of the crappiest dogs out there have won thousands. The bottom line is that quality and amounts wagered have little to do with one another. Seen it both ways.

Is the big money guy obligated in any way to lower his wage to afford the opportunity to another who does not have his cash flow? Absolutely not. Will it leave questions to be answered, yes, but there is no obligation to answer those questions.

It is basically, "it is what it is'. Lots of opinions and thoughts on the subject, but no real obligations. EWO

[Nut]

If the opponent is known to be a sportsman i'd try to get the money together. If you got an exceptional dog im sure some people are willing to support you with the bet.

[Officially Retired]

Say a man has a dog that he feels is an exceptional animal and that dog has proven himself throughout schooling and has made his mark locally, now said man is wanting to travel outside his circle and is wanting to go into some top notch competition so that he can do right by his dog, should he expect to have to come off a large amount of money to do so? If this man is your average working class fella that realizes he is gonna have keep expenses, travel expenses, etc. are there top notch competitors that are still out there for competition and the dogs or is it becoming all about the paycheck? I hate the idea of a dog not getting deserved recognition or the opportunity to prove his ability because "elite" dogs or "elite" kennels have extremely high price tags that come with them. All thoughts and opinions welcome.
YIS,
Creek Bottom

This is an often-lamented fact of life (and discussed subject) in the sport of dogs.

First of all, most really topnotch dogmen are NOT high-rollers
Secondly, most really high-rollers are nothing more than undesirables (drug dealers/thugs/criminals)

Sure, I know of a few topnotch dogmen that are both drug dealers and pretty good fellas ... Ken Allen was one of them (and I know a few others).
I also know of some bonafide legit millionaires who have all the legit money in the world to bet ... yet none of them always insist on "lots of money" for a damned dogfight.
These folks COULD bet tens (and even hundreds) of thousands of dollars ... but they usually don't (or didn't) ... because they really just want to see good dogs go ...

The simple fact is serious money tends to add an extra hassle/stress/danger of seriously big purses to the deal.
Don't forget, WestPenn died because too many people were there or knew about his big $50,000 purse, and he met his end from the subsequent home invasion looking for it.

Truly smart people stay away from that kind of bullshit.

Truly normal, smart men (rich or poor) typically bet $500 to $2500 on a dog deal.
And typically, there's no stress, no rubs, no bullshit.

Also, it is easier to pick up a game, losing dog on a $1,500 bet ... because the dog is worth more than the bet ...than it is if you bet the mortgage on your family's home
Reasonable money bet is simply the way to go ... and it is best to surround yourself with reasonable people

If you need more money than a $1500 to $2,500 bet, then have your camp (or local friends) back you;
Just remember that ALL these people need to be onboard and understand that you may have to pick up and lose their money.

Or, you can choose to stick to your guns, and only bet a reasonable, "sporting" amount of money.
People with a lot of money understand not everyone has a lot of money.
Those people can choose to come down to your income level ... or they can choose only to look for another guy with a lot of money also.

Always remember three things:

1) Truly good DOGmen tend to choose good, clean competition over "big money";
2) Only gamblers and rif-raf tend to choose "fast money" over facing truly good competition;

and finally

3) The guy with the most money is always the one backing out of a good fight over money ... he can come down and make it happen ... if he wants it ... whereas not everyone can come up

Cheers and good luck,

Jack

[gotap_d]

Good posts EWO and JACK. Its an expensive hobby so one should never expect someone to come down on what they think is a fair pot based on price they value their time away from there family during a keep, the supplements and food the feed, therir dog or even the risk they are taking by participating in this sport. Thats just my opinion.

[Pit Bull Committed]

JMO...I understand everything comes with a price.....but if both dogmen want it bad enough...they'll compromise.

[Thinker]

It shouldn't be all about the money but in today's game with the addition of "dope boys" and other lowlifes it has made it all about coin... Bluffcity's Glock vs Cash Money's Da Beast pot was somewhere in the neighbor of $250, 000 (not including side bets cause Da Beast owner was fading EVERYYONE betting against him) and I witnessed Glock stand on all fours and Beast sit down in the corner for his courtesy.... What matters is the quality of hound your bringing not the money your betting on him... Alot of good hounds have been lost because the owner bet too much and refused to pickup when needed.