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Secrets

Discussion in 'APBT History' started by F.W.K., Feb 24, 2018.

  1. F.W.K.

    F.W.K. CH Dog

    Secrets by The Bouncer

    Do some Dogmen, who consistently gain good results with their show dogs, have a secret, a little edge over the next guy? Maybe it's his line of dogs, his conditioning, or even the supplements he uses in his keep, feed or water.
    You may be right! The man who beat you may have something, or do something that you do not have or do not do. However, it could be the secrets are not all that mysterious. It could be, if you have been to this mans yard, he probably inadvertently showed you, and you did not notice or recognise their importance.

    Basically, it could be all the extra things that the successful guy does EVERY day that makes the difference. For example, lets say dogs GENETIC POTENTIAL, his genotype, may contribute around 65% to competing ability. Adequate nutrition and health may contribute another 25% to it, after all, a well-bred dog may never be able to reach his potential if he is not fed right and kept healthy. Assuming that the genotype, nutrition and health contribute around 90% of what the dog is capable of, where does the other guy get the additional 10% from?

    It is my humble opinion that every time you do something for your dogs that benefits them in any way, adds to their total performance at competition time. These extras contribute to the remaining 10% of their competing ability, as mentioned in the above example. What are these extras? Maybe when that man moves his dogs around his yard to keep them mentally stimulated, keeping kennels clean and disinfected, introducing and maintaining an internal and external parasite eradication programme, BEFORE they're a problem to his dogs, washing out water bowls daily and giving fresh water instead of just topping up, sufficient socialising, high quality maintenance diets, regular exercise etc. Who doesn't know all that, you say?? Sucking eggs, perhaps??

    It may be the extra attention given towards mental conditioning when his dogs were pups. Mental conditioning starts when pups are very young. At just a few weeks of age, pups will begin to determine a pecking order, the hierarchy that results in only one dominant individual in the litter. Under this dominant pup, the remaining litter, through aggressive and submissive behaviour, sort into their respective hierarchical order. The pecking order can change, as the pups get older, as the result of kennel fights, introducing new pups or removing pups from the litter. I'm sure we've witnessed this, in varying degrees, at some time or other!

    I believe the mental state of a dog is influenced very early in his life, and it is important to try to manipulate his surroundings to maximise his chances to express his dominant behaviour. Dominance should be nurtured and encouraged! It has been linked to the action of strong hormones, like Testosterone, which is produced naturally in increasing amounts as a pup matures. As a pup has the opportunity to express dominance, the pup's body will produce more hormones, which strengthens the dominant behaviour, throughout the litter.

    Spending time with your dogs and pups is the most important extra you need, individual attention! Watching and being able to recognise those subtle changes in your young stuff, and acting accordingly!!!

    So there you have it. Could all the above total that elusive 100%? Does the guy who has beaten you have any SECRETS? If he has you may never find out. Remember one thing though; the GENETIC POTENTIAL of the equation, in my opinion, is around the 65% mark.

    Start with dogs from a tested line and that are tightly bred on proven producers of performance dogs, the tighter the better. Scatter bred dogs rarely consistently throw large amounts of good offspring. A dog that shows up more than once in a Pedigree is, in someone's opinion, worth breeding to again to tighten up the blood! That is a whole new article though. Everything I have written seems obvious to some people, problems arise if you have a full time job, a family, and several dogs on your yard. Time being the biggest problem, finding time to do it all! without going on the dole or getting a Divorce that is!

    Guys who regularly compete are sometimes more wary of someone with just a couple of well bred dogs, because they know he is able to give his dogs all the attention and time they need to mature into good all round individuals!! Quantity does not always mean Quality.

    Cheers for taking the time to read what I've written. I do not know if there are any so called secrets out there. I just think it's knowing your dogs, common sense, attention to detail extras? Most importantly obtaining foundation stock of the correct bloodline. Remember the apple does not fall far from the tree! and failing to prepare is preparing to fail! One last thing, is that Quality doesn't come cheap. It usually costs, not just financially!!!!
     
  2. bamaman

    bamaman GRCH Dog

    Great read F.W.K. !
     
    F.W.K. likes this.
  3. Red 73

    Red 73 Big Dog

    NOW F.W.K,,, YOU JUST SAID A MOUTH FULL!!! PREACH
     
  4. slim12

    slim12 Super Moderator Staff Member

    Great read.

    Some believe the keep does not last 8 weeks but starts 9 weeks before the puppy is born.

    The process of selection is the base of a triangle. Everything is slowly honed to the top. The tip, the very sharpest point is one hour in late on a Saturday night.

    Everything factors in.

    S
     
    Carolinacur and TriniBoy like this.
  5. Great read f.w.k....I like the bit at the bottom:failing to prepare is preparing to fail...so so true..
     

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