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Date Posted: 18:23:47 10/15/03 Wed
Author: DKH
Subject: Re: No culls for Dan?
In reply to: Dan G. 's message, "Re: No culls for Dan?" on 21:44:55 10/14/03 Tue

First off Dan, I am confused again…you say you don’t need to brush up on your reading, you’ll just dive right in…then you tell me you have to finish up a book Norman recommended? My buddy Norman? A dog book perhaps? So you ARE brushing up? You are a hoot!

And while we are talking about confusion over thoughts and ideas, I have a small suggestion that should help us debate each other in a more normal fashion. Perhaps you could fore-go the copy-paste format of point-counter-point…If we were debating face to face, would you insist on repeating my last sentence and then telling me your opinion? How bizarre. Think of the time you could save if you didn’t have to regurgitate everything I have said into your post…you see Dan, I already said it, I know what you are talking about.
And then, let’s agree to substantiate our thoughts with the source of origin…for instance, if we obtained the idea from something we have read, something we have heard, or actual experience. We would then perhaps know where our differences stem from.

Now to your questions. I do not have ten Boerboels here. However, it is my opinion that a successful breeding program cannot fully progress with two dogs alone. Puppies, even good ones, can be made this way, but this method lacks the genetic base to provide the balance and benefit of multiple pairings. It also severely impacts the time frame for seeing results and making the corrections based on that information gained from raising multiple litters and measuring the results through experience and testing. In this same vein, you take umbrage with my use of the term ‘extra’, referring to puppies. Think of it like this; if one is to maximize the information gained from multiple pairings, you are required by the parameters of the program to look at the individuals of each pairing for an extended period of time. To keep and look at all of the pups from several pairings would add up to a lot of pups over a long period of time. Perhaps the ideal situation, but terribly labor-intensive. I keep a couple to a few from each litter to measure my progress. The rest are indeed surplus (extra) at this point.
Now you may ask, why breed at all? Why not just import or purchase the dogs I need? Simply because I have found no other reliable source of GOOD Boerboels from working backgrounds. (My experience)

Now, how many dogs does a guy need to perform work around the farm? Not so many really. But how do you decide which individuals in your program are best suited, and show the maximum potential for selective improvement if they are not exposed to the criteria? Here the criterion for Boerboels is utility farm-work and protection capabilities. This dictates that ALL need worked. So how many you have to work is determined by how many you have.

Why have six different breeds? Keep in mind, many breeds have subtle to extreme differences in the way they work…a cattle dog is a cattle dog for sure, but a Heeler naturally works differently than a Collie. I can assure you that an English Cocker, while a legitimate Bird-dog, does not work like an American Field trial Pointer. (Experience) I enjoy the frequent occasion to work in vastly contrasting environments, at vastly contrasting tasks, and I need vastly contrasting dogs for the work…whether it is hunting and baying wild cattle on huge expanses of land…working calm stock in the feed-lot here at home…or hunting contrasting species of game. That is why I keep more than one breed.

The subject of culling, which started all this in the first place is not a difficult subject for experienced breeders, but is IS a subject we learned to deal with as sheer necessity early on. If it seems like a new and unusual subject needing brought to light…it probably reflects on your experience level.

DKH

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