Maturation

So I had expressed some disappointment with Rippa getting dumped at the dog show so heartily. I've been thinking about this and watching her grow up . . . I think that her "sometimes wide" front isn't going to fix. Fury has that, too. It's genetics, not maturity.

I had a friend who shows in conformation commiserate about that: "we breed dogs that mature slowly, nothing wrong with that."

But you know what? My dogs did not mature slowly. At six months old, they look like adults. No knobby needs, no puppy coat, no awkwardness. Most are well on their way with training programs. I just took Rippa out (she was bored) to work with my two jumps and she's got most of Fury's commands on an elemental level and we have not formally trained her at all (she's Y's dog - he can do what he likes). Sure, they'll fill out, but I don't think they are going to "mature" more and show me anything different.

Why?

Because it doesn't pay to have a slow maturing stockdog. Now, there's something to be said a slow maturing dog that lasts a long time, but something more to be said for early maturing and long-lasting dogs. Fury's mom was put down recently at 14 but was on cattle at that age. Bekka's Blue dog is still running agility. I was not sure when I thought Rippa'd be ready mentally for formal stock training, but I think it is now. She's a little iffy about large dogs (HACKLES UP! EEE!) at the dog park, but that's different.

Learning a lot through this process. Things you don't know to ask. But they make sense in hindsight.