New cute puppy as well. Our Pup (actually she is between 14 and 15 we think) is a pound puppy. I have to take her to the vet tomorrow, she's not doing well. Started this week, something is wrong and we are not sure what. Her teeth are somewhat bad and we hope that is not it. Patty (my wife) has been sick for over a year now and can't do much. They are still trying to find out what is going on and where it is (tumor) the Doctors say she has a problem that is causing her adrenal glands to go haywire and cause all kinds of strange problems.

Needless to say (shamefully) I have been neglecting her oral hygiene because of my concentration on my wife.

I'm big into the feel of a stone and rely on the feedback to guide my sharpening, with the duosharps style stones they feel, well, bumpy and have a hard time with pointy tips. The diasharps just feel more like a stone.

Coarse vs fine? Well I don't think the EF diamond is really that fine to produce effects of a polished edge. It still leaves the edge very aggressive but the most noticeable change comes in the smoothness of the cut and the reduced force needed to make the cut. Cutting technique is HUGE in this debate and what I've found to be the most important when changing edge finish.

Also DMT's "grit" rating is much different than others, their 600 mesh hone is like others 1200 mesh hone.

Because you prefer coarse grit and don't need the full spectrum I'd look into the 11.5 DMT plates. It may sound odd but I feel you get a better edge from the continuous surface hones.

Doesn't sound odd at all. When I first saw the "Dots" hones I wasn't sure and yes, it does make it harder to sharpen the points.

And thanks for our puppy. We have had her for 13 years.