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All the pups will be staying with me until they are 3 months. At 3 months I may let 1 or 2 go and the others will stay with me until I can make a solid decision based on early stockwork and attitude. (I will keep either 2 or 3) You don't know a dog's full abilities at a young, young age, but you do know who they are and if you pay attention you'll have a pretty good idea of what you're going to end up with. None of my now adults have surprised me. They are very much who they were as youngsters. When I make a decision based on "stockwork" with a puppy it's much more about heart, keeness, and sense than it is actual stock work. It's not so much what he's doing, but how is he doing it. Is he thinking or just running around like a fool, or is he not doing either one? Is he keen but still aware you are there or does he forget about you entirely, or is so concerned about your presence that he won't even look at the sheep? Does something in him go "click" and every other distraction melts away, or is he just kind of ho-hum and any other kind of action will cause him to lose interest? Do you have to let him push the sheep into the corner in order to be able scoop him up and when you do he knocks you in the chin as he swings his head around to keep his eye on the sheep as you walk away, or do you simply have to open the gate so he get the heck out of there? This is what I mean. I don't care (at such a baby-age) if he casts around, I don't care if he goes up the middle, I don't care if thoughtfully stands there watching every blink and ear twitch the sheep make but never really "gets in there". All I care about is that he is keen enough that the only 3 things that matter at that time are him, the sheep, and me. (this decision isn't made after only one time, that's why having your own pups is such a blessing) I believe all of this is in the "good ones" early on. I believe you can train a mediocre dog to be pretty good. But I'd much rather guide a talented dog with a big heart, who's every fiber is about his job and love for me, than train a mediocre one who has be encouraged and babied everytime the going is remotely tough, and/or really doesn't much care if he's making me happy (only in it for himself)... There's a lot we can train, and we do. But heart.... they are either born with it, or they're not.
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