Agreed... the thought that is on my mind... at what point in trying to pull good genetics out do you factor in the bad that might come with it... Yes, I could cull 7/10 squirrels and get 3 of what I was after... but that's a high price to pay considering what might, at that point, turn out from the remaining 3...
Genetics are truly a strange thing... sometimes when you see something you really like, it is worth the sacrifice to achieve the goal... never an easy decision however.
Noah, please explain the "squirrel factor" in greater detail. Some of my line are twisted a little tight and I want to know if the trait is the same that I am experiencing.
Basically, I seem to see it from a fairly early age(5wks and on)... they tend to be loners, not respond to human contact... cower, hide in the corner... moreover, as they get older, it seems to be an inability to communicate with humans that really gets in the way... you find yourself spending more time acclimating the dog to new things than working on the task at hand... a waste of time when compared to a pup/dog that looks to be your friend/please you from day one...