kennel size

[seppalta]

Josie: Did you always keep about 25 dogs? If so, How did you stay
small? What about
older dogs?

Doug: No. Over 35 years, I've generally had between 20 and 40 dogs
going into fall training, but during my best years, I probabily was
around 30. My operating rule is: "1 in, 1 out." Of course, this
occurs over a reasonable time interval like 6 to 12 months.

I try to minimize the old dogs in the kennel by selling dogs when they
are at an age when they can be useful to someone else. Some people
might say this is heartless, but they would be demonstrating narrow-
mindedness with such a view. I have found that generally it is better
for a dog to be cut provided he goes to a kennel who will continue to
work him. Usually older dogs get replaced by hotshot youngsters in a
competitive racing kennel.. The older dog gets left behind because
there isn't enough time to include him in training. He wonders what
he has done wrong and sits around feeling bad. In a less competitive
kennel, he could still be useful, perhaps even a team star, be run
regularly and subsequently be happy because he is doing what he was
conditioned to do for most of his life, albeit, not on the same team
or in the same home. It isn't perfect, but it is reasonable. Super
stars like Beowulf, Ali, Ura, Hank, etc stayed at Seppalta to breed
and for sentimental reasons.

Comments welcome.