Every year I bring puppies up to SD to run on wild birds and develop their natural instincts on wild birds with a minimum of direction for me. These puppies range in age from 3 or 4 months old to 1 yr old. This year we brought up various breeds of dogs at various ages - ranging from english/llewellin setters, pointers, irish red and white setters and irish setters - from 3 yrs to 1 yr old. Those under the age of 6 months all started with relatively the same blank slate.
As we go through the summer - a pattern emerges - those with great hunting breeding from quality parents usually develop quickly and more often than not are way ahead of those dogs that are not as well bred. There are always exceptions to every rule, but for the most part the higher quality hunting dog breeding you can get the better off you are.
IE - I have some young setter dogs from our champion Tanner - they are outperforming everything we run with them - including dogs twice their age and maturity. But, it also works out that a nicely bred red and white irish setter that is outperforming some of my own well bred irish setters - it is all individual but the better breeding usually the better off you are.
As a trainer, I see and work lots of dogs - and I work my puppies the same - when you see a dog with the same experience/exposure - just outperform other dogs with the same experience/exposure it is amazing.
Good breeding pays.
Keith - Posting from Under the Rusty Windmill
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As the breeder of the so mentioned Irish Red and White Setter, I could not be more proud. Her sire and dam are outstanding in the field, so it is only grand that she is performing as she is.
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