Alot of this discussion can be really messed up by someone reading without knowledge of the fine line between both the "handling" and "the less handling" debate.
I know I can't personally sit and write a complex detail "how to book" of how I work my dogs, besides that it won't work for everydog, or every person, and I am not gonna sit here and tell you that my way is better than any other, It is just my way. I handle alot of different dogs that belong to others and I study and learn from them as much as they are learning from me.
I definately don't have "Obedience title" on my pups, but I don't have wild unruly dogs either, Temperment and Bloodlines PLAY a MAjOR role in what dogs require alot of handling and which ones should not be "loved" on. I hunt the dogs that I do, because I don't have to worry about having a relationship with the dog affecting their desire to go hunt. Now that being said I found it very hard to go buy the pup that fits "my way" just right, I had to raise them to be that way, lts of trial and error along the road to where I am at now, and I am not changing, but I am still progressing.
I too have seen many dogs "spolied" to desire attention from their handler, I have also seen dogs that take twenty minutes of chasing them around the truck to get them caught after the hunt was over because they have not had enough handling - Two different types of dogs- that is what it bolis down too, most folks getting started don't know enough about reading a dogs temperment to know what is best for the INDIVIDUAL dog, and then there are some that just cant keep from touch and petting a dog that might have the potential if the owner would leave it alone and let it do its job.
There are some dogs that once the get the objective there ain't nothing gonna hold them back, there are dogs out there that need encouragement and conditioning and also make GREAT dogs, but IT all boils down to finding the dog to match the person doing the handling if you don't start right, most likely it won't end up right.
I JUST wanted to clarify some of this to folks that may be reading this thread becoming even more confused then they already are.
