Thread: Article

Originally Posted by Tussock

Never let it get excited at all, and you end up with a calm bidable dog.

That's a great way to raise a really boring dog.

If that's what you're after then great. Raising completely obedient dogs is easy. Raising completely obedient dogs that run hard and range wide with great drive and style is the hard part. What you are suggesting will get the first part which is probably what you're after and good for you. I'm after the 2nd part as are several other people here.

Originally Posted by RCGSP

That's a great way to raise a really boring dog.

If that's what you're after then great. Raising completely obedient dogs is easy. Raising completely obedient dogs that run hard and range wide with great drive and style is the hard part. What you are suggesting will get the first part which is probably what you're after and good for you. I'm after the 2nd part as are several other people here.

I am not sure how you would achieve that...but I am sure some people misinterpretate actions led through prey drive as disobedience...and I know that for other HPR breed owners, the way the EB works can seem like a total mess..the end result is the same, it just may not look as pretty and graceful as the work of the Setter or Pointer...

Originally Posted by RCGSP

That's a great way to raise a really boring dog.

If that's what you're after then great. Raising completely obedient dogs is easy. Raising completely obedient dogs that run hard and range wide with great drive and style is the hard part. What you are suggesting will get the first part which is probably what you're after and good for you. I'm after the 2nd part as are several other people here.

Exactly - some people are happy with that level of drive suppression, lots of deer dogs raised that way. I would almost go as far to say that most of NZ hunters are OK with less drive if it means control. But like you say, balancing drive with control is the trick to a great dog. Thing is most people don't want great dogs.

Originally Posted by Pointer

I would almost go as far to say that most of NZ hunters are OK with less drive if it means control.

Which I think is why the lab is so popular here.

Out in it all week pointer, averaged 32 in the shade for the last six days, christ knows what it was in some of the gullys/hotspots.. Enjoying the chillout inside in the cool.

Hell, the dogs won't even eat till dark it's that warm.