Quote Originally Posted by EWO View Post
I like to do things with other dogs in front of the young dogs. I want them to get all excited and jacked up on the chain as a young dog. Sometimes they might not even know why, but when we come out that young dog is screaming, "Pick me, Pick me, Pick me". And then we go from there. Sometimes they grab another gear and they are off to adulthood. Sometimes they wish we had picked another dog. Sometimes it is just a push. The operative word is sometimes because all of them have their own time line. For whatever reason when it comes to these dogs the word patience is as taboo as a sexually transmitted disease. EWO
Another excellent post.

What cracks me up is everyone is looking for "the one" answer ... as if there is only "one" solution ... or "one" dog ... or "one" scenario

The quickest way to spot a green dogman (or clueless dogman) is by their looking for that "one" answer (or what's THE BEST 'x,' 'y,' or 'z')

The more experienced/intelligent the dogman, the less he's looking for "only one" solution ... and the less of a big hurry he's in to see everything out of his prospect ... before his balls have distended ... or before his bitch has even come in heat ... and the more content he is to just let his dogs mature at their own pace.

Also, I agree grooming a dog at an early age (through socialization, exposure on the mill, watching rolls, etc.) will make said dog much more likely to "get it" when it's his time to be on the stage performing. That is a far cry from trying to roll a dog too young, it is not harmful at all, but merely exposes (and hopefully excites) him to his job.

Again, nice post.