But I really don't care for the little yap dogs.
Which brings me to another issue I might as well ask you about (as it's not too big a departure from this thread.)
I have an opportunity to get a new Lab puppy as a 30th anniversary present . . . I've been poring over pedigrees, and I've decided on a puppy from a litter bred by Mary Howley up in Wisconsin (Candlewood). (Cross country trek in our future.)
She'll be a black female by FC/AFC The Man in Black ("Cash") (son of NFC/AFC Ebonstar Lean Mac), out of a female who is half show (but dual purpose show dogs - Franklin) and half a mix of field trial and performance (tracking and search and rescue) Labs - Kerrybrook. The dam has NFC/AFC Webshire Honest Abe and Abercrombie & Fitch MH back of her. The puppy should be around 65 pounds grown.
The trainer I'm working with says that Lean Mac dogs have lots of drive but are "dumb as dirt." Others in our club disagree -- strongly. Hopefully any tendency to dumb will be counteracted by all the smart dogs in the mother's line. And we'll go up and have a look at all the pups, I was the first one to speak for a pup from this litter, so I should be able to pick out a smart one.
Most folks want the pure field trial lines from Ms. Howley -- but I consulted with one of the big wheels in our club, who has taken dogs to the Super Retriever Series (and won it all three times), and he thought a pure field dog with solid FC/AFCs in the male line, and doubled-up Lean Mac or Super Tanker/Lean Mac breeding in the female line, would be too much dog for me.
What's your opinion?
LOL AmMother for asking me about Labs! I'm sorry, you must have me confused with someone who knows what you're talking about! Hair? :D