s/s
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Feb 2006
Location: BRIGHTON, TENNESSEE 30 miles north of Memphis
Posts: 2169 |
quote:
Originally posted by KAYLA090205
Hounds are one of the few breeds left that are actually performing the original function of the breed, and that is to hunt. It breaks my heart to see what the pet market has done to labs, golden retrievers, poodles, cocker spaniels, ect. That being said, as a breeder I strive to place my puppies in competition homes first; be it hunting, showing, or participating in other various events. (water races, field trials, ect.) But the NUMBER 1 GOAL of mine is to place my pups in the best possible home. If a family came to me and had thoroughly researched the breed, knew the challanges that came with having a hound, health issues, and training involved I see no problem with selling them a pup. Hounds do in fact, make wonderful pets. (You couldnt ask for a better pet than my Honey dog. She sleeps in the bed, has slid down the slide at McDonalds, been to the tanning bed, won alot of shows, a few comeptition casts, and will slam a coon pleasure hunting on the wknds!) I would send the family home with all the info I could give them on getting into coonhound events and my offer to help anyway possible. Anyone that shows up having already taking the time to research and prepare for a new hound addition will be a wonderful home and that should be what everyone wants for their pups. That being said, if a "hunter" showed up at my kennel wanting to purchase a puppy and I could already tell that pup would end up in the mud, chained to a barrel for its entire life being fed every other day, then they aren't leaving with a pup. I dont care about loosing the money or not, just because you can write a check doesnt qualify you to walk out with one of my pups. I take the time to work, train, and title my hounds. I put alot of research into breeding and alot of extra care and training into my pups before they leave and I reserved to right to sale them or not. If I dont think a hound makes the cut, I would have it fixed and do my best to find a responsible pet home because I dont believe in just shooting one or throwing it out, but I wouldnt knowingly send a cull on down the line to who knows where. I think fixing the animal would be the proper and responsible thing to do. JMO.....
Totally agree....
In our 2 litters from Tracker, our 1st and 2nd goals were to find good(1st) competition(2nd) homes. No matter if it were hunting, water, field, show or even search & rescue homes. We do place pups in pleasure hunting homes more often than the others. Because it seems those folks are the ones that are willing to take a pup for what it is, a pup...They bond with and mold this pup and it then becomes part of the family along with being a hunting partner. Meaning, most of the time, that it has a HOME, not a stopping place until the next dog house. Pet homes, from what we have seen, turns out to be pretty confussing for the pup. Not all the time, but in some cases. Their instincts keep them in trouble, which makes for an exhausted pet owner and a pup that just finds it hard to fit in.
This is what I have been seeing happen in competition homes. 'Some', not all, but 'some' of the ones that go on to mostly competiton homes, get put back up for sale. Sometimes before the pup has even been with them a few months. In 'some' cases the pups are sold two or three times before they are even 2 years old. One day this pup is turning it on and money can't buy this pup. A couple months down the road you hear through the grape vine, that so and so, sold that pup for what ever reason. Then you wind up loosing track of what and how the puppy is doing. Because these folks don't tell you that they sold this pup that only a few months ago, money couldn't buy it. If you are lucky you may meet the person that now has your pup, down the road at an event, that says, hey, my name is so and so. I have one of your pups! In our case the ones that have gone on to pleasure hunting homes have been the best and most informative on how the pups are coming on in the woods. Those pups have homes and are doing what they were bred to do. Hunt.
I know that the pad numbers are what competition folks want to see. The competition folks are what helped those hounds make those numbers. The goals are to produce good performing hounds in the woods. I look at those numbers often, they do mean a good deal to us. But, when having pups, for us, good homes 1st. Hopefully to a good competition home. But, a good pleasure home is always a placement for one of our puppies. I truely enjoy talking about the progress of our pups. So far those are the only pups I have been able to keep up with. One litter is less than 2 years old. The youngest just turned 7 months. Both litters are young. All I can do is keep hoping that I will finally see a posted result somewhere of one of our young pups. I know some are coming. But, I wished I knew for sure of some of the ones that I have lost track of. From what we are hearing, we are very, very pleased with the progress of our pups.
This is just our experience on these two litters of ours and not a reflection to anyone else...
Thanks,
Sabrina Smith
Critter Creek Redbones
Brighton, Tennessee
Last edited by s/s on 09-15-2009 at 07:47 PM
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09-14-2009 06:55 PM
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