To all who have participated in this discussion and have sent me private messages, I greatly appreciate your interest and concern. This has been a learning experience for me, not a discouragement. Anyone who feels they can't learn something new misses out on life. My students continue to teach me something new every time I enter the classroom.

When I started into horses, it took 3 before I purchased a winner for my intended purpose - Western Pleasure. Indeed, that may or may not be the case here - I don't know yet.

This 13 week old pup has more prey drive and "nerves" than I expected. I briefly put his leash on a chair to get someting in the next room and the chair fell on him yesterday. I did not hear a sqeek - he just got up and looked at me as if to say ..."what the #@%$ is going on?".

Today I wanted to see if he was easily frightened, so I worked him with a rag tug for an hour outside (I know that's too much but he would not stop). Anyway I raised my arm in a threatening manner, slapped the rag over his back and rump (lightly), slapped the ground around him hard and he came on stronger - at one point began growling. He gets SO excited - so right now I'm thinking my wife and I have enough to handle until we learn more.

I will learn a lot as we progress with the Tom Rose kennel. Eventually, I may stay with him, or get a top line working dog - but if I do, it will have to be a machine! So, again my thanks.

Doyle