Quote Originally Posted by TFX View Post
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.
Danny Burton, "I'd rather take a 2-3 year old dog out than a 3 time winner any day. You gotta realize. Every time a dog goes out, it's like he's getting bullet wounds. How the hell would you feel about doing something this hard after surviving so many bullet wounds in your life"

There is a wear and tear factor that has to be considered and some have already said it here. Once one has proven to you, what you wanted to know - when is this, in and of its self, enough? Tough one.