CIN N AX
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: IOWA
Posts: 208 |
Welcome Julia
As you can see, it's an age old discussion/argument when it comes to show vs. hunting . . . .and it's not going to change anytime soon, in my opinion. . . .for what it's worth.
Ax and I got back into this thing last year and wound up with two littermate sisters born 7/5/02 and another female whelped 7/23/02 -- it's been insanity . . . .lol. We started showing them in February of this year (as soon as they turned 6 mos old) and have two grand bench champions and one bench champion. The grands are now in the timber learning to hunt while we finish the third . . . and, by the way, the first one finished treed her own coon with less than a week of nights in the timber . . .not with alot of style, but she did it. I personally like to show them in the confirmation classes first, since any injuries, although not deducted for according to the rulebook, take away from the overall picture. Here again, it's a personal preference thing. I also believe that confirmation classes give the dog a chance to become "people-ized" with the hauling, handling, and such.
Here's another reason why, I personally, like to go the confirmation route first. For 20 plus years I was married to a man in the horse business. The pleasure horse industry has huge money futurities for the two year olds. I watched people push their young stock, making them conform before they were physically able to compete at a specific level. I watched the horses that competed in these futurities and win, fizzle and burn out. Keep in mind that there was always an exception or two -- but you can see why I believe in letting the pups grow up, conditioning them and then sending them to the timber. Not saying that our pups didn't have coon tails to play with when out and the kids always love to play "nose" games with them during there excercise time, this is all in preparation for the day when they are physically able to go run the woods . . .and again each dog is different. Just takes common sense laced with a little knowledge of bloodlines, their abilities, and your personal goals.
Hounds are wonderful companions and I see nothing wrong with them being just a confirmation dog. I've witnessed older people that can no longer physically make it to the timber for one reason or the other, that continue to enjoy their hounds by showing them in the confirmation classes, swimming in water races, treeing contests, etc. It's great that we can keep them involved in our sport in one form or the other.
Our deal is simple. We look for good confimation with the bloodlines to make a good all around dog. The kids have shown the pups on the bench and treck along to the timber. They want to learn so that they can particpate in the youth events next year since they have had such a good time going to the bench shows this year. Ax and I would like to make our "girls" dual grands. Don't kid yourself there's pride in opening those envelopes from UKC and pulling out the parchment paper with your dogs name, and you listed as owner, regardless of what division the accomplishment is in!!!!
Subscribe to the coonhound bloodlines. Go to the events, watch, listen and learn. Read and know the breed standards and rules. Ask questions, there are a bunch of wonderful people in this sport. And most of all, HAVE FUN.
Take care and keep us posted. Cindy
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Born to hunt, forced to work.
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08-05-2003 12:52 PM
