Folks that like to fool with their pups a lot and do all the "training" on them is fine with me, but I believe you will end up with a better "strain" of dogs if you just handle them enough that they aren't wild and at an appropriate age give them opportunity and keep to use and breed those that done well just because it was in them and they couldn't keep themselves from doing it in the proper fashion. After a few generations the percentages go up considerably of those that do really well and there will be less separation in how good they are. You will know they were born with those instincts and did not have to learn how to. A "handmade" dog is an old time term but a handmade dog will not help your program.
For example I don't want to have to teach a cowdog to get ahead and lead, or I don't want to have to teach them to find stock, I want the pups that you have to be careful about where you cast them in order to keep them from winding and going deep onto the adjoining place, the pups that get ran over and a leg broke but keep working on 3 legs, the ones that in hot weather will work until they die if I can't get to them to get them off, are the kind I want to raise. The Plott pups that "rig" naturally and run heads up instead of jacking around with their nose on the ground and smelling every track are the ones I want to keep, or the ones that stay on a bear or hog even when hurt. And if you don't tinker with them and just choose those that do these things you will get there quicker in your strain of dogs.
I have had the privilege to have been acquainted and associated with some top breeders in a couple of breeds and that's how they arrived at the upper end of the escholon. Of course if you are "afoot" for dogs you might have to tinker with them until you get better ones.
Very good write up Old Man.I agree 100%.
