Posted By rugerred on 28 Feb 2010 06:28 AM
I had considered buying a started dog, for alot of the reasons mentioned.  I could see exactly what the dog is capable of and it would take alot of the guess work out...............................  The last thing I thought about, like the OP is why did the breeder keep this pup.  Is it one noone else would take or is it a better dog that he saw something in and was worth training to bring a better price.

I'm sure there are a bunch of reasons.One good reason to go for a started dog is the early exposure,bringing out the innate talent,done by someone with experience(above and beyond -you the first time PL puppy searcher),,,you probably won't hear some of the stories so common by people who just can't get the dog to _ _ _ _ _(Fill in the blank) ...........................................In the breedings I have been involved in, I want to know how the pups are developing? What they have!...I have taken two dogs(I can't afford,,,LOL) out of three breedings,and have been happy with some of the pups going to very experienced kennel owners,hunters/hunt test folks etc. etc....Then you are pretty well assured the dogs will get the exposure they need to develop what's in them. I have a couple pups(sired by a dog of mine) here now, owned by others for a piece of the training mostly formalizing OB,ff etc...I want to know they have what I want them to have,what I have been fortunate to have. I only need a couple dogs for my personal hunters,but will likely take a dog or two out of a breeding on the ground now,again to see what we are producing,and will have to sell some as we go as started dogs...So lots of reasons for folks having started dogs for sale,if it fits go for it.

Jere,

The Colorado Open Shooting Dog Championship should draw the top pros and dogs this fall.

Watch for buzz on the SSBB when the purse is announced. The Champion will take home $10,000, top dog for that days running will get $500. Trial is run in OK, mid-September, should be a good one.

I hear ya Paco, and I need more than one blank to fill in. Just for me having dogs in the house and bringing in a family pet as well as hunting buddy the pup is the fit for me. If I was going for trials I would probably get a started dog and have a pro do the majority of the training. Do some pick the pup out and then get it after it is started?

Posted By Trout Bum on 02 Mar 2010 06:53 AM
Jere,

The Colorado Open Shooting Dog Championship should draw the top pros and dogs this fall.

Watch for buzz on the SSBB when the purse is announced. The Champion will take home $10,000, top dog for that days running will get $500. Trial is run in OK, mid-September, should be a good one.

The dogs won't be doing any retriever work, will they? Jere

Negative on retriever work. One hour continuous coarse, meaning each dog runs on fresh grounds. Two dogs two handlers run at a time, they have one hour to show their stuff on bobwhites. Pop gun at the flush, must remain steady to flush and shot.

Participants will also be supplied a room at a local motel, lunches and at least one dinner. Plenty of motivation to draw the big guns.

Personally, I'm a fan of started dogs.  I guess I also got lucky with JD and I'm biased.  I think each situation is different.  It starts with what you want and even that can change with time.  I originally got a dog as a pet that I could take to a pheasant farm 2 or 3 time a year, but I got JD and gradually got sucked into the dog games.  Me and my wife are both engineers and have been known to work long hours sometimes so a puppy would have been hard.  Also, I didn't know what I didn't know back then and I would not have been able to do a puppy like JD justice.  I still don't know a lot, but I know more now and the next dog(may that be a long time away) might be puppy.  The down side to a started dog is price, and how the dog could have been trained and it behooves you to see the dog work in person and ask very good questions.  Maybe even take someone along who knows more about dogs.

Even Mike Lardy says that Started dogs have their places.

If you want more info on a started dog I can tell you what I know.