starplott
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: SW Missouri
Posts: 1405 |
quote:
Originally posted by jackbob42
The way I look at it is that Mother Nature doesn't breed her canines to fit the standards that "we" think is best. She breeds them "best to best" , survivor to survivor.
It's kind of like bowling........
If you can consistantly pick up your spares , the strikes will come naturally.
If you breed coon dog to coon dog , the correct conformation will come naturally.
The bad thing is , the "correct" conformation just might not be what "we" think it should be.
That is a very ignorant way of looking at it from a self serving point of view. Boarders on lazy.
Just because a dog has the drive to hunt, doesn't mean it is properly put together to do the job it was bred to do for the length of its life. I compete in many venues, and have had 30 years with working dogs of many breeds and disciplines. I hate to say it...coonhound breeders are behind the times compared to more popular working dog venues when it comes to breeding. Making mistakes that breeders in other breeds have made breed after breed after breed.
First off the breed standard is more than just coat and color. It is more than 'pretty' looks. Those are just ignorant terms for ignorant people to use to excuse themselves from breeding for breed standard and trying to separate themselves from those on the opposite end of the spectrum. (who are doing no more and no less damage to the breeds through their one sided breeding ideals) Standard structurally define what a dog needs.to be able to do the job bred for and to establish type that sets it apart from other breeds.
Poor shoulder angulation, bad bites, lack of drive to hunt, poor legs/feet/rear, etc...are all part of the total picture. A beautiful dog with proper structure that has no drive to do the work bred for is no LESS or no MORE of a correct dog than a poorly structured dog who hunts his ass off and has pretty much just drive to work to carry it through until the body gives out. Hense why we are seeing more and more hounds that are 5 year dogs. What good is hunt drive for a dog who is falling apart or of ill health by 5 years of age? So what if it hunts?
How many German Shepherds, Rotts, Dobes, Labs, etc are competing and working hard at 7? Look what is happening with the GSD breed now. I've never seen it in the breed standard that they have to walk on their hicks, but boy they do in AKC shows! Even the working bred dogs are falling a part at early ages. Bring a 9 year old Malinois to compete at a SCHH trial for retirement and GSD breeders think that is cruel and unusual punishment. They have learned to accept retirement at 4-6 years of age due to poor physical structure to do the work bred for beyond a few good years.
How many coonhounds are we seeing plagued with cancer before the age of 8 compared to 20 years ago? How many coonhounds are we seeing with genetic defects that slow or stop their hunting at young ages than we saw 20 years ago?
There are not many bloodlines today that function as well for as long today as they did in the 70's and 80's. Over the years I have seen just as many issues with breeding on only ability as those who breed for only show. Neither is more correct than the other.
Coonhound breeders would probably be baffled if they health tested their breeding stock, like responsible breeders do. There are a handful of blueticks, a few redbones, no Eng, and no plotts in the ofa database. The red dogs who have been tested have a very high % of hip dysplasia. (granted in part due to very few tested).
I have heard it for decades, "this dog doesn't have hip or elbow issues, you ought to see it in the woods/water or see it jump". I can't count how many dogs I have seen compete for working titles or who have been in the field training who have genetic defects that cripple dogs early. Some even BRED to because titles and drive to work are more important than health and structure. And people act surprised when an offspring or two are seriously lamed up at a young age.
Many young dogs can show short term signs or none at all if kept in shape. Doesn't mean they aren't there and cannot be passed on especially when you have no idea as to the genetic status of what you are breeding to.
How many of the coonhound breeders guarantee their pups against degeneration of joints from genetic defects? How many coonhound breeders guarantee against genetic thyroid/heart/eye issues? Yet a lot of hunters bitch about spending $300 for a puppy and think that is an outrageous price for a pup. To some degree...$300 is a lot of money for a pup if you have to buy 3 to get one that turns out when one is too cheap to pay $400 for one that is guaranteed.
This war between work and show is an old one. I get looked at funny when I walk into a show with my 'working' bred dog. Get growled at when the 'working' dog beats the show dogs.
A dog used for breeding for working purpose should MEET the breed standard for structure/movement, have their health clearances, AND possess the drives to work. Breeding dogs should be exceptional in all aspects, not perfect but exceptional.
There is no such thing as the perfect dog. Even with my breeding stock they cannot fail health tests, cannot have any disqualifying faults for the show ring, have to have the drive to work, and have to come from bloodlines that produce longevity.
With all the requirements I have, I should always have perfectly sound/healthy pups right? **** happens beyond our control. Yet I have not had the issues I have seen with other breeders.
I have seen a lot of disasters. Whole litters of culls and ill pups out of two nice hunting dogs that could not reproduce themselves despite coming from bloodlines of hunting dog bred to hunting dog. I watched a whole litter of walker pups a friend had put down as the 5 that didn't die all had shakers syndrome. Have got dogs from top lines dead by 4 mos along with other littermates due to genetic defects that hit hard and fast with no signs until they hit out of the blue. I've had walkers, a plott, and 5 grade mixed hounds with dysplasia. Lost my best walker dog at 6 to a brain tumor. Watched many friends with hounds break down young and dead by 8 from cancer. Coonhounds are no exception to health problems that are genetic. NOT a one of those were from 'show' bred dogs. All from the 'breeding quality if they are good hunting dog' mentality. None of these 'breeders' bred with any ill will or were trying to screw anybody...ignorance just quit being bliss for them.
Either breeding for hunt only or show only is what decimates breed integrity and preservation. Both qualities make up the total dog.
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02-07-2012 01:01 AM
