Quote Originally Posted by Thunder98 View Post
Much valued Jack. These are all things I have thought about, guess I needed a refreshment. Much appreciated.
Believe it or not, sometimes I have to ask these same questions about my own dogs

For example, if I send a dog to someone, and they raise it, school it, etc. ... and the dog does well, and if I later trade/buy it back ... I either have to roll the dog for myself, and/or I have to ask the person who had the dog all kinds of questions (if I trust their judgement) before I know enough about its TRAITS to be able to decide which way to breed my own dog I got back

Of course, I will know the background, and will have a better idea than most "what to expect," but I still have to GET the knowledge, somehow, as to THE TRAITS of that particular animal.

I do "breed for paper," in the sense I have my own bloodline preferences (just like anyone else) ... however, I only prefer certain bloodlines based on THE TRAITS that they can be depended on to throw ... and it is my job to make sure that the individuals I am using carry those traits themselves.

They don't all have to be aces, but they DO have to do "something" EXCELLENT (air, speed, brains, desire, durability, etc.)

Some dogs are average in many things, but truly superb at one thing, while other dogs really aren't superb at anything, but they are very good at everything.

If a dog doesn't do anything excellent (or EVERYTHING at a good level) ... then it really isn't going to do much for you to carry on with it.

Jack