Registered: May 2015
Location: IN
Posts: 2760

What do you think are the different reasons some dogs are naturally independent? And how do you determine which reason it is? Or is there only one reason? Does it even matter when breeding for it?

Last edited by sleepy head on 03-21-2021 at 05:31 PM

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Registered: Jan 2004
Location: North MO
Posts: 2347

Considering that some lines tend to be more independent than others we can not really argue the point that some of it is genetic.

That being said, if that independence is not reinforced throughout the career of the dog it can go away.

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Registered: May 2015
Location: IN
Posts: 2760

No argument on it being genetic from me. My thing is, can't there be different genetic happenings that can cause a trait that looks the same from the outside but on the inside the trait is done for a different genetic reason. And wouldn't it be better to breed a pair that the genetic reason for a trait are the same. Probably why line breeding seems to work.

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Registered: Nov 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 761

The good ones are born that way NOT made that way

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: airville,pa
Posts: 2072

I think you bring up a very good point here.
I feel some are independent because there aggressive nature and others are independent because there non aggressive nature and yet others are independent from shyness and yet others are independent from their desire for gamminess. May even be more reasons.

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 1911

I don’t really like an overly independent dog...but I always look for natural ability in a 8 week old pup as I would in a 3 month old pup...

You can turn out a 10 week old litter of pups and there might be a pup you have to go out and find just roaming out because it’s genetic make up is driving...It is natural no encouragement just natural...take the 3 or 4 month old pups to the woods and one pup hits the woods the first time in it and he or she makes a round and the other pups follow...take them again tomorrow and the same pup does it again...that is natural ability...no training, it’s in the pup to do it...those are the pups we should keep...
Breed those types and you will get more each generation...

Feed them lots of tracks over and over and then you make an average dog out of them...and then you breed those and you get more of the same...average

Look for natural and breed for those traits...
For me looking for independence in a pup is a very important trait to have in a young pup...at least we know it will hunt...something in its head is driving him to do so...and probably a lot more desirable genes associated with that trait...

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Registered: May 2015
Location: IN
Posts: 2760

quote:

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Originally posted by pamjohnson
I think you bring up a very good point here.
I feel some are independent because there aggressive nature and others are independent because there non aggressive nature and yet others are independent from shyness and yet others are independent from their desire for gamminess. May even be more reasons.

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