Picking a puppy

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Originally Posted by Jakezilla

I posted the names I did because when I think about their posts through the years it is obvious they are very knowledgeable and we should all be interested in what they have to say. Some of them play or have played at the highest levels in their chosen games. Most people don't want to train to that level and there is nothing wrong with that but their knowledge can help us get to our goals quicker and easier. Arguing in circles with someone about gun introduction just makes us all look like dips--ts and it scares them off.

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Yes we deffinately have some experts on this forum. If those are your choices that's great but not everyone has the same ones and people are smart enough to figure out who to PM for advice. Do you know how many times people have PM me and said do you not know who you just tore a strip off of ? Some may qualify as experts in a certain areas(fields trials) but MAY lack in other areas such as feeding, nutrition, conditioning, animal behaviour etc. This is where others on this forum come in and add sound knowledge so the expert becomes more knowledgeable or legit. You are correct about the gun introduction thread and that is why i stayed away from that one.

I am sure there are knowledgeable people on all those different things here YD. But we are talking about picking gundog puppies here in the gundog section and "my list" are the people I would like to hear from on this topic. If you want to hear from someone else on this topic ask them. I would bet the "field trial" guys all started out as gun dog guys so they have been there and probably have some valuable tips. YD if you have something to add about picking gundog puppies speak up. If you are just going to keep coming after me start a new thread called Jakezilla's an A-hole and and everyone can go nuts.

Kraka's post is the kind of thing I was looking for.

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Originally Posted by krakadawn

In an earlier post BW mentioned the concept of bonding. This is of interest to me as all the pedigree reading/research we do, this is one of the intangibles yet perhaps one of the most important traits we all would search for. Yes if one knows first hand both parents or additional family members one can make a judgement call. The reason why I mention this is because in field trials to be truly successful dog and handler must function as a team. Being a rebel doesn't cut it.

I think the discussion will be more profitable to pursue traits and how we might make our best guess.

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I would love to have a discussion with him in the open about this but that but that would be tough in the current atmosphere here. I think what he posted is interesting when looking at retrievers. He doesn't want a rebel but I can deal with a rebel. The independence that comes with the rebel is a desired quality in pointing dogs IMO. There is such a thing as too much "outlaw" but a lot of the really good ones have some outlaw/rebel in them. Different disciplines looking for different things.

When ever I have come to a group of puppies I've selected by breed and parents, I'll get down on the floor and play "puppy games" with them. Like slapping the ground, and getting them to play. after a few minutes of that, I'll make a few load claps and see how they react. then I'll call them and see which will come with me. Sometimes I have more than one, then it becomes difficult. I would have to come back another day and do it all again.

Most times my wife will make the final selection. Browning is the last pup I've had to select, My wife was again mad at me. I went to the store and she was with the pup. The pup ignored her and sat on my seat, whining and howling. When I came back, Browning was excited wagging his tail. I take all my critters for walks. its funny to see me walking down the road, llamas, dogs, cats, horse on lead. Yesterday Browning again flushes up a flock of pheasant during our walk. That was out far enough to shoot them, but far enough to not spook my horse. It was perfect.

So it really is about relationship, and picking the pup to build a relationship with.

My comment on liking a wound up pup is that I'm hoping that translates into energy and predator drive when the pup gets older. You can teach discipline and control to a pup that's always in overdrive. You can't teach drive to a pup that doesn't have it.

I saw my name mentioned in a paragraph along with some of the guys here that have worked a lot with a lot of different dogs - it doesn't really belong there. I'm still on my first spaniel - and he was trained when I got him. I do have a brother that used to breed and train ESS (Ruff Mountain), though and I spent a lot of time with him and his dogs, talking dogs, etc. I did get to work with many of his dogs - enough to recognize styles and know which dogs I like and don't like - even though they are all great dogs - I like the smaller lightly built very fast and frantic ones.

Sharon raised a good point about the high-energy pup...they may not be the best choice for a first time dog owner, which is a valid observation, especially if you are training it (vs a pro trainer).

Re kraka's point about dog and handler working as a team - well, not just for trialing, but its also important for hunting. If you're hunting becomes work because the dog is a bugger to control, that's going to take the fun out of it in a hurry. I don't see people here using the word 'bidability' to describe that trait (willingness to work with the handler) - but I've seen it used elsewhere and feel it is pretty accurate.

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Originally Posted by Jakezilla

I am sure there are knowledgeable people on all those different things here YD. But we are talking about picking gundog puppies here in the gundog section and "my list" are the people I would like to hear from on this topic. If you want to hear from someone else on this topic ask them. I would bet the "field trial" guys all started out as gun dog guys so they have been there and probably have some valuable tips. YD if you have something to add about picking gundog puppies speak up. If you are just going to keep coming after me start a new thread called Jakezilla's an A-hole and and everyone can go nuts.

Kraka's post is the kind of thing I was looking for.



I would love to have a discussion with him in the open about this but that but that would be tough in the current atmosphere here. I think what he posted is interesting when looking at retrievers. He doesn't want a rebel but I can deal with a rebel. The independence that comes with the rebel is a desired quality in pointing dogs IMO. There is such a thing as too much "outlaw" but a lot of the really good ones have some outlaw/rebel in them. Different disciplines looking for different things.

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The last time I looked at post #1 in this thread, the OP wasn't you. If you don't like who is chiming in, or if you only want to hear from your select special few, start your own thread, or better yet take it to PM's, or give them a phone call. Pretty basic really, and then you won't have to tolerate hearing from those that don't make your list, because I'm pretty sure nobody else (other than your limited list of people) would respond to your own (lets hear ourselves talk) thread.

Or, as you suggested, start a Jake is an Ahole thread instead. I don't care either way. Personally, there are many others on here I'd rather hear from than you, but this is a public forum and I can accept that, and weed out those I'd take advise from and those I wouldn't.

Have a great day..

That's more than enough. Ebenezer I hope you found an answer somewhere in that mess.