What other resources (books, videos, seminars, etc.) would you recommend for someone with about a year's worth of experience in the breed?

My guess is a lot of people use this type of method if nothing else by an informal process. My feeling on it is if more people would apply this type of research in planning breedings their success factor would increase.

If you think about it just the process of ranking strengths and weaknesses in the ancestors makes perfect sense. This method allows you to see trends, issues, strenghts in the background more clearly. It just increases your chances of success. Of course different people will come up with different stick dogs for the same dog. We don't all see the strengths and weakneses the same. I can remember several dogs where a bulldogger says wow what a nice head on that bulldog. And I'm thinking what an average head. I could say the same about other parts of the bulldog as well.

Of course no method is a given recipe for success. Continued study of the standard and strict evaluation of our matings are very important as we plan future matings. Close observation of a Studs offspring give us an IDEA of what he throws with different types of bitches and some of the things he throws with SOME consistency, regardless of the bitch used.

I'm a firm believer in Breeding Better Dogs by Dr. Battaglia as ONE tool to improve your chances of success.

Harrold
www.majorleaguebulldogs.com

It seems like a formula that makes sense but you are right, what one persons conceives as near perfect the next might think it's average. I'd like to see how some have made improvements in their line, achieving the desired outcomes using the stick dog formula.

Shelley - Sophie N Angels Mocha & Stella