Quote Originally Posted by EWO View Post
It is as individual as anything in these dogs. No two dogs are alike. I have often wondered how many dogs labelled a cur and put down yesterday could have won today. That 16 month old may show game today and at two years old be a more mature dog, maybe deeper game and over all better. Or, he could have very well shot his wad at 16 months and decide to pack it at 2 years old.. EWO
Good point. We had a 2X winner many years ago. He won is first in a little under an hour, his second in 1:36, in a very tough deal, and then lost his championship bid to CH Tweaker in less than :50. The dog had shown much more gameness in the past not only in time, but fatigue, punishment, pretty much every aspect of being down than he showed in his loss. After he quit in that show, the dog was kept around to evaluate again. The next time, he didn't even last :30. It was like he was all used up. I think quitting broke the dog down spiritually and emotionally.

There's no exact science to this stuff, which is why the ones who consistently show they won't quit are very special dogs regardless of how they are bred. Many of them won't be able to produce that same package themselves with regularity, but they represent the breed well as individuals, and I just love a good, game dog.