English 101
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Pella, Iowa 50219
Posts: 454 |
Fellas I can't
help but reply to this thread. I am an old Dog! But my thoughts are these. As the torch.. and Title of "Foundation Stock" of hounds gets passed on from Generation to Generation the names are going to change...its certain to happen. As Rory Said Earlier probably not a very high percentage of people actually know a lot of accurate information about the hounds that have been called foundation stock of the English breed. If the truth be told a lot of the information has come to us from a source, from another source, from another source, and so on, and so on. You can only acquire accurate information on a line of dogs from hunting them for many.. many years, and through all the highs and lows. Having said that keep in mind that for a lot of these foundation hounds of yesteryear that are talked about today, being a coon dog that actually treed live coons seven nights a week was a priority, and a necessity. And yes sometimes a little off game was included in that fun! HA. A lot of the time those dogs also had to do their job in areas where coon populations were thin, and if the hounds could not do that, they probably did not live very long. Buy the same token in yesteryear there was more patience to let a hound develop than there is today, partly because of genetics, partly because of finances, but mostly because the world was a much bigger place. It was not as easy to get a bloodline from one part of the country to another. I remember a time when the internet did not exist and you actually wrote letters to a breeder asking about their dogs. (wow I am old!) If you ask any good breeder what their number one concern is for their litters is , the answer will be.. that the pups will not get into hands that will give them chance to make it. Also in yesteryear..Competition hunting was usually secondary to having an all around start to finish coon dog. Remember Also as far as comp hunts go, in yester year we are probably talking about 3 hour nite hunts...how many people remember those, and how many dogs today could survive those? So in closing I say this..over the years many many things have changed, and some for the better.. communication methods, ability to get bloodlines from point "A" to "B". Because of this we have more opportunities than ever with the breeding and bloodlines that are available today.However there are a couple things that should not change..First Enjoy the opportunities we have in hounds today! Hounds are not machines, most are like kids, if they are handled properly, they will become great adults. Second Don't Bash a breeder because he has found success with a line of dogs, or a cross that has worked for him. Understand this the success they have had with their dogs and with their willingness to share that blood, more than likely it could end up helping you better your kennel, or improve your success. However If you try a cross on your female from one of these studs, or you buy a pup or two from a breeders line, and they don't work out, because they are not your style of hunting dog, or have the looks you like. DO the English Breed a Favor don't bash the stud dog, or the breeder, Because they are both trying to do the same thing, give us an opportunity to maybe own and hunt something that may help our own programs and maybe.. just maybe.. this great sport we call coon hunting will keep moving forward!
I for one am happy for Asa & Jack, and all the other breeders and their lines that have done well with their dogs and breeding programs, because very. very few people actually know how many throw away dollars, and how many personal sacrifices are involved in getting a line of dogs a chance to be successful as well as keeping it successful over the long haul! To all of you my hats off to you! Keep up the Good work!!
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Mike Van Wyk
Buckley Creek English
Home GR.NT.CH. BUCKLEY CREEK TIMBER
(RIP OLD FRIEND)
BUCKLEY CREEK GOOFY
(RIP OL GIRL)
GR.NT.CH. BUCKLEY CREEK TIMBER II
NT.CH.Buckley Creek Woody (RIP)
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10-18-2014 02:07 AM
Hafley's English Kennels 
