Seems that I have dogs on the brain After reading about all the special relationships you guys have with your dogs and currently seeing both my dogs transition to different chapters in their hunting dog lives. I'm wondering which stage is the most fun/rewarding?
1. Puppyhood - Every interaction is new and one for lots of learning. Lots of "puppy" mistakes but lots of changes.
2. Teenage Years - Now the pup knows what they are should be doing but it's just a matter of actually doing it on a consistent basis.
3. Primetime - Everything just clicks now. You trust the dog and the dog trusts you. The dog has become a machine and there isn't anything else you would change.
4. Golden years - The dogs physical age has caught up to them and you are wondering when that last hunting season will be here. You fondly reflect back on all time you have had together. You briefly see glimpses of the "Primetime" but they are short.
I think my favorite is the teenage years because there is so much pride you feel as the come into their own. You can reflect back on those first couple of times out when things didn't go as planned (they may still happen) but there are things they do that are so wonderful and you never imagined they would be capable of them.
1. Puppyhood - Every interaction is new and one for lots of learning. Lots of "puppy" mistakes but lots of changes.
2. Teenage Years - Now the pup knows what they are should be doing but it's just a matter of actually doing it on a consistent basis.
3. Primetime - Everything just clicks now. You trust the dog and the dog trusts you. The dog has become a machine and there isn't anything else you would change.
4. Golden years - The dogs physical age has caught up to them and you are wondering when that last hunting season will be here. You fondly reflect back on all time you have had together. You briefly see glimpses of the "Primetime" but they are short.
I think my favorite is the teenage years because there is so much pride you feel as the come into their own. You can reflect back on those first couple of times out when things didn't go as planned (they may still happen) but there are things they do that are so wonderful and you never imagined they would be capable of them.