Registered: Mar 2006
Location: va
Posts: 503

This question is geared more toward the guys that have been breeding a particular line for several years and I'm sure I know what some of the comments will be, but here it goes. Before I started with coonhounds I had retrievers ( chesapeakes and labs) that I hunted and did ukc hunt tests with. Most breeders bred for performance but a huge part of their breeding was genetic health ie. hips and eyes. These guys were also getting double if no almost triple the price of a well bred hound pup. Most guys when breeding hounds I don't think look into all the hip and eye certification test before breeding coondog to coondog. Why is that? And if I'm wrong please correct me. I know houndsmen typically breed desirable trait to desirable trait to better the next generation which is great but what if that outstanding stud has a genetic background of poor health issues? I don't get into the hunts but if I buy a well bred pup that turns out nice I want to maximize my potential years hunting that dog with minimal health problems. I understand you will have non genetic based health issues from the wear and tear of hunting or even the life span shortened from vehicle/ dog collisions but those are unavoidable sometimes. I'm just lookin for ideas or experiences not an argument of any sort. Also we talk frequently about how aggressive behavior or other negative traits are passed down but has anybody noticed certain health conditions passed down to the next generation in their line of dogs? I know I had a nice walker female and her life was cut pretty short by an aggressive cancer and I had wondered if that may have been somthing passed down thru generations.

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Registered: Apr 2012
Location: west central Il.
Posts: 350

Just speaking for myself.But the dogs I breed have to have great conformation and free of defects.That takes care of hip and other problems.The reason we do not have these problems in our breed is cause we hunt the **** out of them.If they cannot take it we do not breed to them.This has been going on since coonhounds were first started.Most people who own them expect a lot out of them.This keeps the breed healthy.Most dog breeds that are hunted hard have very few health issues because their owners will not tolerate it.That is a good thing.I think most coonhound breeders strive for the complete hound.Who wants to put in all the time and effort required to make a good coonhound and have it have health issues later in life.I cull hard!!!

Darrel Davis
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Registered: Mar 2006
Location: va
Posts: 503

Nice reply and I agree. I guess also also should have stated that the retriever breeders were goin thru the whole process of the hip and eyes being vet certified where as I don't here about that much with hounds.

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Registered: Apr 2012
Location: west central Il.
Posts: 350

Also have you looked at how many people are getting cancer and other health issues.It is the food we eat the water we drink and the air we breath.And it ain't getting any better.
We had better worry about fixing the human problem first.If I'm not around to take care of my dogs it doesn't matter how healthy they are.They already eat better than I do and have cleaner living quarters.lol
I feel most of the health issues in dogs coinside with our own health problems.After all we have been living together for 15,000 to 30,000 years.

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Registered: Mar 2006
Location: va
Posts: 503

Also agree I have been a professional fire fighter/ emt for 8 years and see every sickness under the sun.

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Hip and eye problems in hounds is extremely low .. and the lines that might tend to have them .. you can see by their build they might be prone to it ... breeding even a healthy looking dog from that stock is a risk .. that's why those breeds have bad hips or eyes ... it is just in them ... and if it aint , it won't pop up .

The biggest risk to hounds is getting culled for not making the cut .. that weeds em' out 10-1 over healthy issues or sickness , the ones that make the cut have been hunted enough that they would have broken down and shown their bad hips without even needing to be tested.

The higher price in some pet breeds and birddogs hasn't done them any favors ... it's part of the reason they are so unhealthy and will never be free of it now .

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Registered: Sep 2012
Location: indiana/brazil
Posts: 307

quote:

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Originally posted by Dirtdevil
Hip and eye problems in hounds is extremely low .. and the lines that might tend to have them .. you can see by their build they might be prone to it ... breeding even a healthy looking dog from that stock is a risk .. that's why those breeds have bad hips or eyes ... it is just in them ... and if it aint , it won't pop up .

The biggest risk to hounds is getting culled for not making the cut .. that weeds em' out 10-1 over healthy issues or sickness , the ones that make the cut have been hunted enough that they would have broken down and shown their bad hips without even needing to be tested.

The higher price in some pet breeds and birddogs hasn't done them any favors ... it's part of the reason they are so unhealthy and will never be free of it now .

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Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Mahaffey, PA
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quote:

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Originally posted by newport
x2 on that i think the reason other breeds have so many health issues is because of the price of them we as houndsmen want a good hunting dog everyday ppl want a pet and some not all of other ppl who breed pets just want that money and some of those other breeds are crazy the amount of money they want for them and its crazy that ppl pay it for a dog thats just going to be in the house and never do anything if i pay a bunch of money for a dog they better be pulling there weight thats the diffrence i think between other breeds and hounds jmo

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