I think one of the problems in todays world is that a whole lot of people think very good dogs just grows on trees and you can just pick you one off the vine. If that was case there would be no need for the dog trade everybody would have a kennel full of them.
The truth of the matter is it takes a lot of woods time to make a great dog and in todays world most people are weekend hunters because of their jobs and family and just cannot hunt a young dog the way he needs to be hunted . Another thing is Back in the old days people ate what they caught if they didn't catch anything they didn't eat . So they really really hunted their dogs to help feed there family.
In todays world things have become commercial worst thing that could happen . You want to know anything it is at the tips of your fingers just goggle it read about it and then you can talk intelligent about it but there is a difference in talking the talk and walking the walk that is why there are so many www know it all's. . So nobody has to learn anything the old fashion ways like of the old times hard work and threw trial and error are hands on experience.
The www and goggle can tell a man a lot of things and I think a lot of folks heads get blowed up when in all reality you don't know anything until you have walked the walk ! Who you want doing heart surgery on you a man that read about it on the www are a man that has performed 200 open heart surgery's with success !
I think in the old days real hands on experience was a lot easier to come by because the people had to live it rather than in todays www world were people read it !
Honesty was a lot eaiser to come by also in the old days seems like vs today.
To me these are some of the differences.
Excellent post TexasHogDogs,
When I was a kid in the 1960's I hunted with dogs in any direction from my house for miles and most any day and sometimes twice a day and my closest neighbor was over a half mile away and the next were over 2 miles. And my favorite movies are the original where the red fern grows, old yeller, seabisquit, and now secretarient. I don't hate people but love a good horse but mainly good dogs. Dogs will always be there for you and don't ctiticize...
I remember when I first went to work in a big chemical company, we were told that we were getting computers and the big boss man came in and said he was getting us some ac out of the kindness of his heart...said he didn't want us fighting mosquito's all day and night...found out later computers need ac and low humidity...so computers are definitely a good thing...
What TexasHogDog said is so true...best way is to get out and learn from experience. but modern day does not allow us to get out like we need to for several reasons, hunting land is hard to come by and large plots are harder to find for the long range dogs and to have the right places takes a ton of money.
I also remember how long it took me to learn what I know about dogs...Quite a bit I learned on my own, other dog knowledge came from friends and I read a ton of material as a young man. Bits and pieces here and there in hunting magazines...after a long long while it adds up...my goal was to learn how to breed better hunting dogs and to do most of my own vet work as well as know and try to be a better dogman.
What took me years to learn is right here on the www and even more..I have learned quite a few things here on this forum...lots of good info and some not so good but that is up to us to decide. In general, most is really good.
My question to all is..are you a dogman/woman or a hunter who hunts with dogs??? big difference...but most dogmen/women gravitate to these type of forums...
bottom line...the www is a great tool to help us in making better decisions and you can just about google anything about anything...but becoming a good dog handler that can bring out the best in the dog comes more from experience but the www puts the icing on the cake...
