Here is the total anwser that Silverton posted its all that needs to be said and all that can be said if you ask me.
Finished means quality, great drive, predictability in hunting style, great ability to find and stop hogs, great bay style and ability to use the correct pressure to hold different types of hogs, great track speed, great raw speed, good handle, smart, no bad habits.....and can do it all when hunted alone. The dog will have no weak spots and can do it all on its own.
That's just how I describe a finished dog, for myself.
That would describe a "finished" dog.......but how many of you can honestly say you own that dog? In my 26 yrs of hog hunting I have owned some awesome hog dogs and I have owned and worked with some equally awesome cow dogs........but I have NEVER owned that dog............That dog (in it's full definition as stated), doesn't exist......because that dog will never hunt in every environment nor will it hunt every type of hog (thus would not be able to know the correct pressure to apply to different hogs....because every hog is different....) and the list goes on. All of these traits/descriptions are subjective to the owner and situation..........right?
So based on the definition provided....the only "finished" dog out there is one percieved to be finished by it's owner........and if used by another human being may fall short of said definition according to his/her interpretation of said definition.......right?
Oh well...this will go on forever........
