That was a great read, TFX, especially being "hammered-out" from a cell phone (pardon the pun)

Also, don't feel bad about falling for "the Smith con" when you were a begging dogman, as Lineman told me Bobby Smith looked like Santa Claus and constantly conned young aspiring dogmen out of their money

Lineman remembered in particular watching another young dogman go into Bobby, beat Bobby's dog flat out in the pit, and then Bobby proceeded to explain to the young dogman how his dog "was really a cur" ... got the guy to shoot his winning dog ... and go buy a pair of "game dogs" from Bobby at a sizeable price ... and the young guy fell for it

Anyway, I agree with the similar temperament traits of our respective stock. In fact, the radical difference in temperament between Poncho and Missy (and heavy Bolio dogs like Coca Cola and Squirrel) are what led me (in my mind) to consider them TOTAL OUTCROSSES from each other, IN TRAITS, even before I understood "why" they were so different in temperament and "type." In short, the Bolio dogs are "terrier-like" and the Hammer dogs are "bulldog-like," and I have always (and essentially) "re-shuffled the deck" of the American Pit Bull Terrier, trying to get that perfect mix of speed/athleticism married to rugged grit, savvy, and durability.

Another phenomenon that I have noticed is that heavy Bolio dogs "act before they think" ... whereas heavy Hammer dogs "think before they act" ... which is WHY Hammer dogs can get along so well with other animals, because they keep their cool better. In keeping with this, it is funny how you mentioned that your stud runs loose with the two bitches be bred to create your pups, because just a few days ago Silverback was playing with his son and daughter (Amazon & Beowulf), and all of them were running loose in the yard with Dirty Hammer and Little D, all 3 of which are among the heaviest Ch Hammer dogs on the planet

Also, interesting thoughts on finish. Poncho himself "would finish," but not at the level of (say) Silverback where he could do it in one hold. Poncho was more methodical about it and nowhere near as dramatic. However, Poncho had other traits Silverback does not have. Regarding Silverback in particular, although he is heavy Ch Hammer, it is my belief that his "dramatic traits" obtain from the bottom side of Mexican Pete's 410 (aka Schaeffer's Godzuki), via the Ted Jessop blood, as I relayed in this article (much of which information I gleaned from our mutual friend Northern Express).

Cheers & thank you for the insight and contribution,

Jack

EDIT: I might also add that the Pitfall blood in Silverback is a tad similar to the Bad Billy blood