I'd drink to that.DesO'Neile wrote: I feel that if we knew each other better we would have quite a lot in common
I get your point and agree with much that you say. I generally choose my pups because I like the bloodlines or parents or both, &, as everybody, have preferences for the stamp & style of the dog - I like cockers with a distinct 'cockery' action - & not all FTChs are to my taste. I would only ever take the word or recommendation on a litter from someone whose opinion I valued & trusted. Since I know little about pointer breeding, & even less about pointer FTChs, if I was looking for a pointer pup I would undoubtedly seek guidance from somebody I considered to be suitably experienced in such matters, someone like yourself. If you then recommended that I buy a pup like Van then I would not hesitate to follow your advice. The fact that the pedigree contained a host of FTChs, in this case ones that I would not know, would be academic & stand for nothing against the fact that you rated the pup.
Naj