I don't get selling a young dog...

[TuMicks]

There was a new guy in the group today and he ran a really balls-to-the-wall retriever on the blind spread we set up. It's a young started dog. He was a very nice guy, but when I complemented him on the dog, he thanked me and mentioned he wasn't sure he was going to keep it.

I assumed (though on no basis whatsoever) that he'd brought the dog up from puppy-hood. So it was kind of surprising that he'd casually mention replacing the dog with some other one. (I don't know if he'd go for another started dog or begin another puppy.)

The dog would immediately go to another home since started dogs of good pedigree are in high demand. And I know some FT and HT folks do this. But I just don't get it.

[Annette47]

Did you ask him why?

I can think of a couple reasons ... if he was the breeder and was running on more than one, he might have decided the other one was his “keeper”. Or if he wanted a breeding prospect and something came up that would rule that out with this dog ... or maybe he really, really wanted a different breeding and just got the opportunity to get one from that. Or maybe he just likes starting young dogs more than training more advanced ones ... or maybe he’s looking to make a profit (depending on how much he put into the dog and what he can get for a started dog). Or maybe this dog’s temperament isn’t quite what he prefers to work with (although some might like it).

I don’t think it’s something I would do necessarily though ....

[TuMicks]

I probably made a lot of assumptions based upon the context. I know he was not the breeder though. I think, because I couldn't sell a dog I'd raised from a pup... I have to put it all on the line.

We have a 3 dog limit in our county. I have 3 labs, the oldest 2 are 7 years old. I'll do what I have to do... and go as far as I can as long as I can with my two girls. But that's just me.