proudag08 wrote:
Do I get a male or female?
Suggest male because they are often less expensive and more available (see next answer) and because they do not go into season twice per year, inevitably when you want to hunt, test or trial them.
To head off the question, in either case, I would wait till they were fully physically mature before neutering them. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests that early neutering results in a greater tendency toward ACL and MCL tears in performance dogs. Don't think it matters with foo-foo dogs. That's the vast majority of most vets' practices and what they are, consciously or unconsciously, thinking of when they recommend early neutering. We don't talk foo-foo dogs here.
proudag08 wrote:
Why are females more expensive?
1. Because they can ask more.
2. The ability to produce pups and compete with the breeder.
3. Producing pups out of their line that might dilute their reputation.
proudag08 wrote:
Should I start looking for a lease to hunt at?
Next Fall. I would look when you know you're going to go hunting. Till then, I'd look for a trainer that has grounds and birds and will train you and the dog a "commuter" basis vice keeping the dog in residence.
proudag08 wrote:
How do I tell if a breeder is any good? How do I tell if a trainer is worth his salt?
Answer to both is twofold: reputation and proven, objective, results.
proudag08 wrote:
Is there a particular order I need to go in (i.e choose a gender, then color, then breeder, then trainer, etc)?
I would decide on the pup's characteristics (gender, color, etc), then find a breeder that could supply what I wanted. If I could find a breeder that was also a trainer, I would prefer that. Failing that, a trainer that knows the breeder and trains dogs from that line, etc. But, in any case, a trainer that has grounds and birds and will train you and the dog together.
proudag08 wrote:
Do I need to have a trainer picked out before I get a pup?
No.
proudag08 wrote:
What supplies am I going to need to practice training my dog?
Starting out, a leash. Bottom line, don't worry about it right now.
proudag08 wrote:
What supplies ama I going to need for just owning a dog? Should I start purchasing them now or should I wait?
You should wait.
proudag08 wrote:
Should I bother the forum with any of this or just google it (i know the answer to that one
)?
Both. We like talkings dogs and can keep you straight on what you google up. When you get a deposit down on a puppy, I strongly suggest that you get your hands on the HuntSmith Puppy I and Puppy II DVDs. Buy or borrow. Lots of good, sometimes subtle, information there. I think the most important part is the mindset that they have. Patient and calm.
proudag08 wrote:
I just need a game plan so I can "gather the troops" and focus on one thing at a time instead or chasing rabbit trails! Thanks as always for your help!
No problem. That's what we're here for.
Greg J.
