Floyd boudreaux, Odis Weems, Alan Scott, Larry Parker, Orval Roberts. Just a few that I would consider dog men of today. I think the names and what they have accomplished with their dogs is the definition in itself.
Joey
I think the "lack of ego" is a big factor. I've been blessed to be able to hunt with a LOT of people in many different disciplines of hunting over the past few years. There are many people who like to toot their horn about what they can do and what they've done. There are a select few that dont say a word but just consistently perform at a level that makes you say, "WOW"......
These people are the real deal but in reality they dont get the "fame"....mainly because they don't care anything about it.
They do what they do because it's their passion....it's in their blood....it's who they are....
This is across the board for "dog-men", "marksmen", "archers", and so on.....
There's a saying that goes like so:
"Amateurs practice until they do it right, but professionals practice until they cannot do it wrong."
When looking at the statement above I understand that the level of professionalism they are talking about is EXTREME dedication. The less than one percent of the population that fits this mold are those that are submerged in their passion for the majority of their awake time....constantly training, thinking, focusing, and working in their field.
I've never met a dog person that I felt fit this description. Met one marksman and one preacher that I feel was at this level of dedication for their individual disciplines.....
just what came to my mind when I read "dogman"....
I'm just a rookie with a few pot-lickers who maybe one day can catch a shoat!....maybe one day I'll meet a dog man. One thing's for sure......If you ever meet one....ask questions and soak up as much knowledge as you can....
To Joey's list I would add a few others, the one most easily recognized would probably be John Wick.
Given Cody's background, I'm surprised he's never encountered one. I have come to know several. One relatively young one in Florida with BMCs, two relatively old ones, a coohhound man in Missouri and a greyhound and coyote dog man in Kansas. They are different races, different ages, different styles of dog-work, yet they all have certain things in common:
- They don't brag on their dogs - it sounds like bagging, but it turns out it's just the truth.
- They don't see themselves as being very special... they just think most other folks lack common-sense/dog-sense.
- They're painfully honest and have a lot of integrity (even if they're out-laws they have integrity... if that make any sense)
- They'll teach you if you just shut up and listen, and don't mind working.
