...it has been proven on many occasions that it is perhaps the grandfather or g grandfather one should be looking at not the stud himself.

When I got into the breed the first piece of advice I was ever given was to look at three generations past.  That should be what we were aiming for.  The advice was, if you don't like the look of the dog/bitch three generations past, don't use it.

I will admit, it's a bit hard because those ancestors aren't around now.  I can go back two generations in living dogs, but have to use photos and impartial (are there really such a thing ;) ) recollections.