A Fantasy Digger in His Own Words

In response to the question "What has he done?" in terms of hunting, educating others, taking people out into the field, or anything else, David Ellette (aka "Kabuki Joe" or "DWE") wrote January 8, 2003 on the Dirt Dog message board at http://www.badgerpaw.com/dirtdog/messages/9416.shtml:  

"...not much, which I have admitted on several occasions...I got my first terrier about 3 years years ago...while I was raising her, I waited for 2 years to get something from John Cowen (which I'm raising right now)...so, like I said, not much...but there isn't much difference between pit terriers and digging terriers...you raise them up...give them everything they need to be healthy and strong...and when they are mentally ready you let them go...the one thing I've learned is it isn't "what you get", but "where you get it"  

Does this last line mean that in order to get a good dog, you don't judge the dog but just buy any old dog from a big-name kennel, sight unseen?  


In response to a question about whether he had ever shared his vast experience with anyone by actually taking anyone else out into the field, David Ellette (aka "Kabuki Joe" or "DWE") wrote http://www.badgerpaw.com/dirtdog/messages/9416.shtml :  

"...let me be honest about one thing, I don't know enough yet to take anyone out...the only saving grace I have is an eye for a good dog...I can read dogs, and that comes from my past experience with pit dogs...as far as "how to hunt", not in your wildest dreams... "  

What does an "eye for a dog" mean?  David bought his latest dog sight unseen, from a man he never met, who lives in a country he has never even visited. 


When asked about his actual experience working terriers, David Ellette (aka "Kabuki Joe" or "DWE") wrote February 28, 2003 on the Dirt Dog message board at http://www.badgerpaw.com/forums/index.php?s=7daf9191a265719d8385c052d3fb802e&act=ST&f=11&t=29&hl=7%20month&st=60 (page 5)

..well, I lost my first one...raised her up to 2 years old, let a buddy of mine that was starting out use her for 6 months and I went out for a weekend of hunting and I went and got her killed...she was killed last May (I think), so I had to start over...it took me 2 years to get this current pup I have, but it was well worth the wait...I've been offered a dog here and there, but I've been set of Lakelands for the past 4 years...I have a little bitch coming down in the next couple of weeks and I'll head out to Idaho again and see if I can make it through a weekend without killing a dog...

In five years, he owned one dog that someone else worked for 6 months and which he got killed on one of the few times he took it out?