Adventure dogs and honesty

So yesterday, we took all three ladies with us to help cut some poison oak on a trail for next week's 24-hour adventure race. Yes, I said 24-hours. Yes, I think it's nuts, too.

Rippa and Daca have both earned their adventure puppy wings at this point as they both tromped/swam/waded through water effortlessly and careened across the rocks. At just under six months (yes, I am doing math properly again), I'm pretty happy with their progress. I've not put a lot of formal training on either dog, but they're functional members of society at this point and worth their kibble.

In fact, Yishai cannot stop complimenting me on the breeding. It's pretty cute. I have to say, again, that I definitely lucked out. Emma's owners report she won the sit-stay contest (I might have threatened violence on owners if she didn't) in her puppy obedience graduation. All the puppies are doing phenomenal in their homes - smart, active, cool puppies.

Daca had another play date with her prospective local owners and they are talking about taking her for an afternoon this weekend. I really like the way they interact with her. Very doggy people, they are. Better than I am, even. I'll be disappointed to see her not go to an agility/stock home if they choose to take her, but given that her days here involve sleeping on the bed, going for huge treks, etc, and that won't change with them (very outdoorsy people, they are), she'll be happy.

I got to talking to a couple breeders yesterday because I have been wondering if I should be managing the puppies differently. They do still get into brawls maybe once every other day (a lot of spit, but not much more). Neither one wants to submit is the problem. Rippa's clearly stronger and more wily at the fighting than Daca is,but when Rippa dominates her and walks off, Daca asks for more. She definitely needs a home where the dogs won't let her do that. (or no dogs) She's fine with Fury and 15-lb Rex because both of them don't tolerate her crap. This is pretty unfortunate to me because from what I understand, she was allowed to dominate the adult dogs in her former home and I think the pattern started there.

Anyway, the breeders I talked to admitted to failings in their own programs, why they rehomed certain dogs, etc, etc and it seems like getting a puppy back that's a management issue is pretty par for the course - it's just that no one tells you these things. It made me feel a lot better about what has transpired here.

I would seriously consider keeping Daca permanently if not for the major sibling rivalry between she and Rips.  I worry that it will only get worse and I am just not prepared to have her be an "outside" dog or whatever it takes to manage their relationship. They play all the time and love on each other, but then something sets them off and . . . as I've said, when I was younger I'd seen the results of sibling rivalry and it is not awesome.