You are so right! socialization starts at day one. You teach them to stress and recover. It is not a startle that makes a dog a spook it is the fact that it can't recover. Terry Windwalkergsds@xxxxxx wrote: In a message dated 3/18/2008 10:23:26 AM Mountain Daylight Time, spotted101@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: > So ponder this... Genetics or rearing.. Which is it in most cases? I tend to think it's mostly rearing. Note I said 'mostly'. If you're not in that whelping box from the beginning and introducing those babies to different stimuli each day, by week eight, you already have puppies who will have a hard time reaching their full potential, IMO. Early experiences stay with them all of their lives and those first months are critical to the soundness of the adult. Developing those little minds is more work than alot of people have time or inclination for. One of the best temperamented bitches I ever owned was the only female in a litter and my granddaughters took her everywhere, dressed her up in doll clothes, walked her in a buggy, you name it. As an adult, she was fearless and game for anything.....and had tremendous show attitude. Jamie ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================ --------------------------------- Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================