1 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Hey, everyone, welcome to Foundations. I'm your host Tony Peterson, 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: and today's episode is all about taking the right approach 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: to researching your new puppy. It's a pretty good idea 4 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: to not be overly impulsive in life, at least when 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: it comes to the big decisions. You know, you wouldn't 6 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: want to marry someone you met a week ago anymore 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: than you'd want to buy a house like just on 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: a whim, you know that kind of thing. This also 9 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: goes for getting a new furry best friend who is 10 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: very likely to be with you for at least the 11 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: next decade. Yet, a lot of folks will, you know, 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: not put very much thought into their next puppy, you know, 13 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: about as much as they'd put into what they're going 14 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: to have for dinner tonight. That's a mistake, and it's 15 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: something I'm going to talk about right now. In a 16 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: past life, I managed a restaurant in southeastern Minnesota where 17 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: we had the typical ensemble of servers, cooks, dishwashers, etc. 18 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: There are plenty of stereotypes to go around when it 19 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: comes to the restaurant working crowd, and many of them 20 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: are warranted. A lot of them center around folks who, 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: let's just say, aren't the most reliable workers you can find, 22 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 1: so when you did find someone who could show up 23 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: on time and handle the job, you would try to 24 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: keep them around. One of those folks that I had 25 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: was a younger kid who I really liked, partially because 26 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: I wasn't terrified he'd no show for every shift, and 27 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: partially because on his off days he spent a hell 28 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: of a lot of time hunting and fishing, so we 29 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: had something in common. While I was talking to him 30 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: one day and we got on the topic of family, 31 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: and he casually mentioned that a few years earlier, his 32 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 1: younger sister had gotten pregnant as a freshman and hidden 33 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: it from their family. How she pulled it off, I 34 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: can't really imagine, but he said he was in his 35 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: room one evening and she called to him from her room. 36 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: So when he went over there to see what was up, 37 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: she was sitting on her bed, which was covered in 38 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: blood and other assorted biological fluids, and she was holding 39 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: a newborn. She had given birth quietly by herself in 40 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: her room, with no medical staff, no nothing. When I 41 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: asked him what that was like, he said, once you 42 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: get past the shock, of it all, you realize that 43 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: your family suddenly just has a new person who factors 44 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: into basically everything, and it really upsets the balance of life, 45 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: to which I replied, well, no shit, that's bonkers and 46 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 1: something a lot of us probably can't imagine but maybe 47 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: secretly think about sometimes, considering some of us now have 48 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 1: teenage daughters. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this, 49 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: but I'll say it anyway. A secret baby birth in 50 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: your house is one thing, but getting a puppy impulsively 51 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: without a lot of research is a small kind of 52 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: parallel to that, and it's something you don't want to 53 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: do to yourself. Right now, all over across the country, 54 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: right now, all over across the country, there are people 55 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: who are dealing with brand new puppies that were purchased 56 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: as Christmas presents. If you're one of those people, I 57 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: sincerely wish you luck. Not only is winter, at least 58 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: in much of the country, a real chance for training 59 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: a brand new puppy, but getting a gift of a 60 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 1: dog is generally not a great thing. I realized this 61 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: warning should have come earlier, but I also have to 62 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: assume that the crowd that listens to this podcast is 63 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 1: probably more likely to put in real thought to their 64 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: next puppy than the average suburb family where I live, 65 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: a place where, for some reason, maybe because no one 66 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: ever sent me the secret pamphlet, it's just a spot 67 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: where it seems like you're bound by law to buy 68 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 1: some sort of doodle for the kids, or a French bulldog, 69 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: or for the close enough to us but not like 70 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: us suburb dwellers a really well bred bird dog that 71 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: will never spend a day and it's life hunting birds. 72 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: Maybe I'm just too jaded to live here. I don't know, 73 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 1: but I do know that surprise Puppies's gifts are generally 74 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: not a great idea. It's also generally not a great 75 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: idea too. As I said in the intro, impulsively pick 76 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: up a new puppy. Here's the thing about that, though. 77 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: For a lot of us, winter is the time to 78 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: consider big spur of the moment purchases. Every single year 79 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: up here in Canada South, I hit a point during 80 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: the winter where I start shopping for ice fishing gear. Now, 81 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 1: I used to ice fish a lot, but that was 82 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: a different stage in my life in a long, long 83 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: time ago. I probably wouldn't regret starting to ice fish again, 84 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: but it's just not that appealing to me for a 85 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,719 Speaker 1: couple of reasons, besides the fact that I don't drink anymore. 86 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: One is that I'm allergic to fish, so whatever I catch, 87 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 1: I have to either throw back, which is totally fine, 88 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: or clean for someone else, which mostly sucks. The second 89 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: is that by the time you have an augur, a shack, 90 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 1: a flash of Rod's reels, tackle, and all the assorted 91 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: stuff to make an ice fishing thing happen, you're going 92 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: to spend a lot of money. So I shop, but 93 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: I don't buy because I really don't want to get 94 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: back into it that bad. Yet every year, the boredom 95 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: of winter brings my mind to thoughts of ice fishing. 96 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: The dead off season months might do that to you 97 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:49,919 Speaker 1: on the puppy front, or you just might be in 98 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: the market for a fresh recruit, considering the older dog 99 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: is eight or nine and it's just about time. Either way, 100 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: if you're considering adding a new dog to the roster, 101 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: you should give yourself a lot of time for the process. 102 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 1: This is probably obvious, but I'll spell it out anyway. 103 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: A dog is a long commitment, A part of your 104 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 1: life that will change just about everything and not something 105 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: to be taken lightly. Not only do you want to 106 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: get the right dog for you, but you want to 107 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: be the right person for that dog. The problem here 108 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: is that we just generally don't know where to start 109 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: with the research, and we just generally think we know 110 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: what we want now when it comes to the research part. 111 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: Let me give you an example from something that keeps 112 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: popping up in my life. I follow a couple of 113 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,239 Speaker 1: subreddits on dogs and dog training because you can actually 114 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: learn a hell of a lot from random strangers who 115 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: are interested in the same stuff as you. But I 116 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: also see a lot of threads pop up with people 117 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: who have decided they need a new puppy soon and 118 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 1: they are considering a certain breed. It's almost never something like, Hey, 119 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: I'm a hardcore quail hunter and I'm considering getting an 120 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: English pointer so but instead it'll be like, I'm the 121 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: father of nine kids, I live in Memphis, have seen 122 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: one quail in my life, which was on a billboard, 123 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: So I'm thinking of getting a Gordon Setter because they 124 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: look really cool. You know who chimes in on something 125 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: like that. A couple of different types of people. The 126 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: first are folks who have never seen a Gordon ceter 127 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: and know nothing about it. You know, they'll just weigh 128 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 1: in anyway. And then you have a few folks who 129 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: have seen a Gordon setter, and you know who advice 130 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: maybe against it. And then you'll have folks way in 131 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: who have Gordon Setters tattooed on their chests and who 132 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: would never own a different breed. Now, who do you 133 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,799 Speaker 1: think is going to offer up the most persuasive argument 134 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: for getting a Gordon setter? You know, the person who 135 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: has always owned them and who will only tell you 136 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: how amazing they are and not talk about any of 137 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: their downsides. Breed loyalists are the most adamant salespeople you'll 138 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: ever meet. But someone should probably tell that guy about 139 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: the reality that Gordon setters are built to survive and 140 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 1: thrive in Scottish winners, which are not quite the same 141 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: as you get living in Tennessee, and their coats would 142 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: be an absolute nightmare in a lot of places where 143 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: cockle burrs or beggars, lice or a high prevalence of 144 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: ticks can be found. Could he make it work? Sure? 145 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: Should he? Probably not? Enough time during the puppy buying 146 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: process allows you to source info from a variety of places, 147 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: not just people who are obsessed with a specific breed. 148 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: I cannot stress how important this is. Another type of 149 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: thread that pops up a lot are the ones where 150 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: people will say, help, my ten week old German short 151 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: hair doesn't seem to want to do water retrieves on 152 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: live mallards, and I'm at my wits end. They'll then 153 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: go on to say they've always had GSP's, but they 154 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: lost all their upland spots, so they mostly hunt ducks, 155 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: and for some reason their dog just doesn't seem to 156 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: be as interested in the process as their buddy's labrador, 157 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: and it's giving them some trouble. Now, in that case, 158 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: there might be nothing I or anyone else can do 159 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: to sway the thought process any but it's a good 160 00:07:55,440 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: example of the wrong pupp for the situation. What we 161 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: forget about when we are kicking around the idea of 162 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: a new dog is that it isn't just about what 163 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: we want, but also what we can do for the 164 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: dog to give it the best life possible. That kind 165 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: of behavior is sort of expected out of the general 166 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: pedoning population, but if you're looking for a dog with 167 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: a job. It's not a responsibility that can be taken lightly, 168 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: and finding not only the right breed but the right 169 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: litter is something that shouldn't be rushed. There are a 170 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: couple of reasons for this. If you want a really 171 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: well bred puppy, which you do even though they cost 172 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: more than the dogs with more questionable blood, you're probably 173 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: going to have to wait a while. The best breeders 174 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: aren't just churning out dozens and dozens of litters a 175 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: year with an almost unlimited supply of puppies. This goes 176 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: for rare breeds, obviously, but also for the more common breeds, 177 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: which seem to be everywhere. But the quality of the 178 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: puppy you probably want isn't going to be everywhere. It 179 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: might be waiting to be born a year from now, 180 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: and the waiting list is already pretty full. This is 181 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: a dead end for a lot of folks because they 182 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: don't want to wait that long or won't plan that 183 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: far ahead. But if you do your research and all 184 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: roads point to a specific breeder, then the weight is 185 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 1: probably worth it. And speaking of research, aside from posing 186 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: a question to a bunch of randos on Reddit, and 187 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: hoping you get something actionable in return. There are other 188 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: ways to learn about dog breeds and to narrow down 189 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: your choice, and then when you do, ask yourself why 190 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: you came to that conclusion. Because why we want a 191 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: dog is really really important, and if we are honest 192 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: about it, that can tell us a lot. So let's 193 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 1: say you make a list and go, you know, I 194 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: need a family friendly dog I can hunt upland and 195 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 1: Waterfall is known for having strong retrieving desire, you know 196 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 1: where good blood is generally largely available, and training them 197 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: is known to be, you know, not so bad and 198 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: not just low grade torture. You might populate that list 199 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: with Laps, Goldens, maybe some of the German and breeds 200 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: who support beards and coarse coats and whatever else. Most 201 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: trainers would probably point you pretty quickly to Lapse. Then 202 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: maybe Golden's, and for the right folks, one of those 203 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: bearded dogs. But for some reason, a lot of people 204 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: will say I don't want a popular breed because they 205 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: are everywhere. I want a rare one that makes me 206 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: feel special at cocktail parties or something. Then if you're 207 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: being honest, it's not necessarily about the best dog for 208 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: the job, but something else entirely that will not only 209 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: limit your puppy choices a lot, but also limit the 210 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: training resources you can tap into just due to their rarity. 211 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: It'll probably get worse too, because there are always a 212 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: lot of reasons why a breed is rare, and many 213 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 1: of them aren't because they are super duper awesome. Essentially, 214 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: you really want to know what you're getting into, But 215 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: how would you know whether that choice is a good 216 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,439 Speaker 1: one or a bad one. Well, if you have the 217 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: chance to talk to a trainer who has handled them, 218 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 1: that's a really good start. I'm not talking about a 219 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: breeder here, so let me clarify that just like with 220 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: random dog owners who are low to a breed, certain 221 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: trainers also specialize in certain breeds and they often breed 222 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,839 Speaker 1: those dogs. Are they a better source of real info 223 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: on the breed than some dude at the park who 224 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 1: hunted with one back in nineteen seventy two? Sure, but 225 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: they're going to be biased as well. They might very 226 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: well talk you into a dog, or if they have 227 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: some principles, they'll interview you and figure out what you're 228 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: like and what you hunt, to where you live and 229 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,200 Speaker 1: try to either steer you into the breed or into 230 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: something else. But a trainer who doesn't breed those dogs 231 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,079 Speaker 1: is a different story. I remember getting an assignment for 232 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: gun Dog magazine a long time ago on a pretty 233 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: rare breed that is mostly found in Europe but has 234 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:44,000 Speaker 1: taken a small foothold in the US. I call the trainer, 235 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: who I know really well and who has gotten his 236 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: hands on more dogs than just about anyone, so I 237 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: could interview him about the breed, and he said, they 238 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: are a great breed if you like a dog where 239 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: you have to drive a stake into the ground in 240 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:56,839 Speaker 1: front of it so you can tell if they're actually 241 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: moving or not, which meant they didn't quite have the 242 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: got juice or drive that he was looking for in 243 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: a bird dog. He didn't let me print that for 244 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: obvious reasons, but that information would be super valuable to 245 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: someone looking at that specific breed and who also needs 246 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: a lot of drive in the uplands. Access to good 247 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: trainers who have handled a lot of dogs is probably 248 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: the best resource you can find. Just be mindful of 249 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: their time, since they are running a business and not 250 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: just a free consulting service. Now, another source of really 251 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: valuable dog information is likely to be your veterinarian. Now, 252 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: if you have to bring in your current dog for 253 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: a checkup or whatever, and you're kicking around the idea 254 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: of a new puppy, ask them if they've treated the 255 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 1: breed before. They probably have, and they probably have their 256 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: opinions on the temperament, personality, and potential health issues. This 257 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: is no small thing and can be an enlightening conversation. 258 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: And of course, whether you are kicking around a new 259 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,319 Speaker 1: breeder already have it narrowed down and just need the 260 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: right breeder, you can deal a hell of a lot 261 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: of internet sloothing your but you should also consider asking 262 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: your veterinarian before you go down the internet route if 263 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: they've handled breeds that are maybe common from local breeders, 264 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: because that's where a lot of people go. So if 265 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 1: there's health trends with a certain breeder, this veterinarian who 266 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: works here twenty minutes away from that kennel might know 267 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: a hell of a lot about them. Ask around, get 268 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: your information, but also do your internet research. Don't just 269 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: read infro from people who love the breed. Figure out 270 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: where they come from, what they were bred for fifty 271 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 1: or one hundred or two hundred years ago. That's not 272 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,000 Speaker 1: going to tell you everything, but we'll tell you a 273 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: lot and can definitely steer you in one direction or another. 274 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: All of this takes time and some effort, but all 275 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: of it is worth it. It's also a good way to, 276 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: at the very least consider deviating from the breed you 277 00:13:55,080 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: always buy or the one that you have your heart 278 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: set on for whatever reason. You know there's nothing wrong 279 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: with being a ride or dye golden retriever owner, but 280 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: maybe you had some bad experiences with their health and 281 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:07,319 Speaker 1: that has you a little gun shy on the breed. 282 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: Or maybe you're now suddenly fifty five, and while when 283 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: you were younger you had English cockers who you love 284 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: to chase after for pheasants, but now you're slowing down 285 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: a little bit. You're kind of sick of the pace 286 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: and have realized you wouldn't mind a dog that's going 287 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: to go out find birds, lock up in a beautiful 288 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: point and wait for you to shuffle up and take 289 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: the shot again. There's a lot to consider when it's 290 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: time to put down a deposit on a fresh recruit, 291 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: and the more time you give yourself to work through 292 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: the process and conduct some due diligence, the better off 293 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: you'll be for it. This also happens to be a 294 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: great project to start during the winter, when the daylight 295 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: is in short supply and we are all a hell 296 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: of a long ways from the start of next season. 297 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: You can go down the rabbit hole of breed's history, 298 00:14:52,680 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: or find a trainer to chat with sometime about a 299 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: different breed. You can learn about liter availability and the 300 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: timing of the whole thing, who has been producing puppies 301 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: that win field trials, and you know, Master Hunter ribbons 302 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: and all the good stuff that might make your experience better. 303 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: But you also give yourself time to come to terms 304 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: with not only what you want out of your dog, 305 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: but what you're willing to put into your dog, and 306 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: where you'll take the dog on your travels, and how 307 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: many hours it'll have to be created when you get 308 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: the promotion you're expecting, and right on down the line. 309 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: It's a two way street, and it's not a decision 310 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: that should be made impulsively or lightly. So you owe 311 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: it to yourself to spend some time digging into every 312 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: aspect of this process that you can, and you certainly 313 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: owe it not only to the dog, but to whoever 314 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: else is in your family or in your life who 315 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: will be tasked with caring for it or just being around. 316 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: It's just like any of life's big decisions. Give yourself 317 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: the time and the info you need to give it 318 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: your absolute best shot. That's it for this week. I'm 319 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. This has been The Houndation's podcast. As always. 320 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening and for all your support, 321 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: and happy New Year. By the way, if you need 322 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: some more entertainment, some more information, maybe you want to 323 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: read an article, maybe you want to find a new 324 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 1: recipe for those peasants you shot off fall, whatever, go 325 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: to the mediator dot com. Check it out. We drop 326 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 1: new content just about every single day. From films to podcasts, 327 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: to articles to all kinds of stuff. The mediator dot 328 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: com has you covered. Check it out.