"STINKIN' THINKIN"

So the man pulls up in my driveway in a Lincoln sedan. He looks at my puppies. He asks how much? I tell him. He looks shocked. He says to me, I can buy a German Shepherd puppy at the pet store for “such and such.” Why should I pay you that much? My reply to him is, “You could be driving a broken down second hand car instead of the Lincoln that you drove here with. It’s obvious; you get what you pay for. I tell him of the bloodlines of my puppies, the health guarantee that I offer and my return policy if he’s unhappy with the puppy. Bottom line……he’s only interested in the purchase price. I tell him “Do yourself a favor, if you are looking for something for nothing, adopt a dog from a shelter.” He keeps the Lincoln. He drives away. I keep the puppy until the better person comes along. I am looking for a forever home for my puppy. He’s looking for “bargain basement prices” ……..”stinkin’ thinkin’!”

So I call up the “nose up in the air…thinks he’s better than most” handler who is in charge of the Grand Victor’s stud services. He campaigns the dog as well as keeps him at his kennel for stud services. I tell him I want to breed my champion bitch to this dog. He gives me an “attitude” and is unwilling to cooperate with me about the day the bitch needs to be bred. Nope he can only do it on this one day. Take it or leave it. I leave it! I wonder if he ever told the owners of this dog that he didn’t breed the Grand Victor to this top producing champion ROM bitch……..”stinkin’ thinkin’!”

I need a handler for my dog at the upcoming four day week-end shows. The judges should be great for my dog. So I call the handler and tell him I want to enter my dog at these shows. He tells me he can’t take him that week-end. He MIGHT be showing “so and so’s” dogs there. But I tell him, these judges really like my dog. They’ve already put him up in the younger classes. I think we have a great shot to win under them. I know the dogs he’s taking and the people that own them. They have lots of money, but their dogs are not as good as mine. I can’t convince him. I get another handler. We show. They lose. We win. Now handler number one isn’t talking to me because we just beat him at his own game……..”stinkin’ thinkin’!”

Your friend owns a lovely young stud dog. He’s a very well bred dog. He hasn’t really proven his worth as a producer yet because he’s so young and hasn’t been bred to that much yet. You own a beautiful young bitch. She too is well bred. Your friend wants you to breed your bitch to his male. You don’t want to. Oh, both are lovely animals, but they don’t complement one another very well and you need improvement in your bitch in an area that the stud dog lacks as well. Your friend doesn’t want to hear it. You two are friends and he feels that you should breed to his dog based on that friendship. Your bitch comes into season. You breed her to another dog. Your friend calls you a traitor and isn’t talking to you anymore………”stinkin thinkin!”

You get your judging license and are asked to judge a specialty show that is known to pull 4 or 5 point majors. The attendance is huge and some well known pillars of the breed belong to the club that asked you to judge. You’re excited and honored and can’t wait for the day to arrive. In walks one of your closest friends dogs that you recognize right away as she’s calling her dog to get his (and your) attention while his handler is setting him up. You really think he’s a nice dog, but you really love the dog standing behind him better. You go with your gut and pick the other dog hoping your friend understands. She doesn’t…….she’s not talking to you anymore…….”stinkin thinkin!”

You belong to many different German Shepherd e-mail lists. It’s not uncommon for people to come on those lists and brag about all their wonderful achievements and show wins. You being of the good natured spirit that you are, find yourself writing one congratulation note after another. Sometimes people thank you. Other times they ignore your social graces all together. The following week-end your dog wins his first major. You’re excited to share your joy and post your own brag. You’re lucky if you receive one “Way to go kid” from someone………….”stinkin thinkin!”

You share your opinion about a certain subject that everyone is talking about. Because you haven’t been around very long, you’re met with the mentality of “I’m right, you’re wrong” and your opinion has no merit. You’re intimidated, so you keep your mouth quiet and you don’t get a chance to say what’s on your mind for fear you’ll look like a fool……….”stinkin thinkin!”

You buy a puppy from a well bred litter. You have high hopes for this youngster’s future. You show him at some local shows. He takes a third and fourth place ribbon. You let him mature and then bring him back out again. Time hasn’t been on his side. The well bred promising puppy is a losing adult. The breeder won’t take him back or refund your money. And no he’s not going to replace him with another puppy. You’re furious, but there’s nothing you can do about it, so you take it out on the dog. He no longer gets all the attention that you once lavished on him………..”stinkin thinking!”

I’m way up here. You’re way down there. I know best. You don’t. I’ve bred all these champions. You’ve bred just one. My dogs finished in the specialty ring. Yours finished in the All Breed ring. I’ve been in the breed for over thirty years. You’ve only been in the breed for five years. Therefore, I know and you don’t know. I’m the big shot. You’re the little shot………”stinkin thinking!”………….sometimes the big shot gets run over by the little shot…………ahh…..and history is made!

From the book: "HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE".......This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks.


My rating: Being kind and helpful to one another: (4)