The American Beagler Forum

I HAVE BEEN IN BEAGLING ABOUT 34 YEARS IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS I HAVE WATCHED AS A NEW TREND HAS STARTED, SEEMS THE MAJORITY OF BEAGLERS.NOT TRUE" HOUNDS MEN" ARE GOING TO THE MOST POPULAR DOGS WITH NO INTEREST IN A GOOD DOG .I GUESS IF IT'S NOT POPULAR OR WELL KNOWN IT'S NOT, NOTE WORTHY .BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL DOG'S WINNING AND PLACING ALL OVER AND ARE STILL NOT BEING USED FOR" BREEDING" BE IT MALE OR FEMALE.I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW DOES A DOG GET TO BE WELL KNOWN IT CAN'T BE HOW MUCH HE WIN'S OR WHO OWNS IT .AT FIRST THAT WAS MY THINKING BUT AS OF LATE THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN WRONG ...ANY THOUGHT'S ON THE THIS ------------NOT IMPORTANT JUST-- CURIOUS --
P.S. KEVIN GLAD TO HEAR REGGIE IS GOING TO BE OK.
KEEP'EM RUNNING
PINE MT BEAGLES

I think it is because no one breeds for a whole litter. Most breed for one or two pups and let the rest go. It easier to get rid of the rest of the litter if they are out of "popular hounds."
I've been breeding hounds for might near 40 years (Bear, coon, fox, and rabbit hounds) and have noticed the trend you are speaking of. I breed for myself and no one else. Maybe too many have gotten away from that.
Good example: Pine Mt Blue Bawls.???????? No title, no name, but throws a great pup.
Here's my theory: Everybody use to get their hounds from the oldtimers that knew their hounds but now everyone has become a breeder. Just a thought!!!!

hounddog
Jim Umbarger

Good point Rufus. This winter, I am breeding my foundation bitch to a dog that is a winner but I feel has not been bred to as much as he should be. I definitely have to watch the stud run a few times before I will commit. I think too many guys breed paper or the flavor of the month and never have watched the stud run. In addition, I think too many mediocre bitch's are being bred. The bitch is probably more important or just as important as the stud.

If a stud is popular it can often be due to the fact that a lot of people think it is going to produce what they want in a hound. Is that a bad thing?

I think too many guys breed paper or the flavor of the month and never have watched the stud run. In addition, I think too many mediocre bitch's are being bred. The bitch is probably more important or just as important as the stud.

Paper can be a great tool if you understand what it says. Nice names on the pedigrees are pretty but knowing what they produce is the important part. I'm not expert but I learn when I can.

I agree about the bitches.

The trend goes to trial formats also. Some have forgotten what a good dog is suppose to do. Breeding for tighter mouth, speed with lack of reguard to line, lack of brains, and more...

THANKS GUY'S
I THINK ALL MAKE GOOD POINTS. I THINK TITLES HAVE CAUSED A LOT OF BAD BREEDINGS.BUT SOME GOOD ONES .BUT I THINK FAR MORE BAD ONES .FOR EXAMPLE MANY YEARS AGO I TOOK MY BEST FEMALE TO A VERY GOOD AKC FIELD CHAMPION THEY HAD VERY SIMILAR RUNNING STYLES BUT NO ANCESTORIES IN COMMOM THUS A COMPLETE OUT CROSS I GOT -6- PUPS -1-WAS FAIR AT BEST THE REST WAS USELESS IT WAS NOT THE STUD'S FAULT NOR THE FEMALE- IT WAS MY FAULT I WATCHED BOTH RUN A LOT JUDGED BOTH HUNTED WITH THEM AND ALL THAT BUT I DIDN'T RESEARCH THE ANCESTER'S .NOW DAY'S WHEN I WRIGHT DOWN A PED I TRY AND LEAVE OFF ANY TITLES THEY MEAN NOTHING TO ME-- AS A POTIENTIAL DOG FOR A BREEDER MALE OR FEMALE.A FEW LETTERS IN FRONT OF A DOG 'S NAME DON'T DO MUCH TO CHANGE THE (64) DOG'S IN THE -5-GEN PED IN BACK OF IT......BUT ON ANOTHER NOTE WITH OUT THE TRAILS WE WOULD MISS OUT ON SEEING A LOT OF GOOD HOUNDS RUN FROM DIFFERENT LINE AND STYLES--------J.M.O.

PINE MT BEAGLES

Rufus,
i dont think it is a new trend. I think it is the way it has gone forever. You can look at pedigrees of hounds of yesteryear and pretty much see the story. The variety of breeding philosophies is what keeps the breed strong for the future. I often wonder how many successful houndsmen ran the same line of hounds 10 yrs, 10+ yrs. Ive seen some renouned houndsmen from the last 20 yrs get completely away from the bloodlines that made them famous shooting for the Flavor of the Trial Circuits. All and All it is what makes everyone different. If you research enough peds it almost makes me think sometimes that Branko was the only one breeding hounds the last 20 yrs. Before the Ra Ra We Love Branko Fanatics jump on me, this is not a dig at Branko. I got his blood in my peds too. He has had an incredible run as a houndsmen and breeder, I just find it odd that one kennel out of the hundreds present and hundreds of the past can influence so much and many strains of hounds. Look at a pedigree 5+ generations and it is almost impossible to not find a Branko hound in there somewhere.

I agree with you now adays its the hound of the month. i got a purty good
female shes got several crosses of branko but trace the branko back and
see what they started from without old dingus, huntmaster,cunninghams
annie, maggies mate,east coast trimmer they wouldnt be much nothin
against branko just facts

I like seeing how them ole Hounds were Bred. Look at what Homer Larmay did with his program. For better or worse he at least seemed to have a plan....

how many breeders would risk every thing on 1 cross. Branko did on the anni and dingus cross. When it was all said and done he had over $700 in that cross. That was a big chunk of change in the 70's.

i seen some complete out cross that were awsome. actualy one whole litter. they were all rabbit hounds. one of my favorit's was a patch to northern hare cross.

I have thought when looking at the old pedigrees. What they were thinking when the crosses were made. I would guess branko was one of the founders of speed. The breeders of yesterday need a pat on the back from us , there long hours of thought got us all to this point. As far as a fad type breeding.They seldom workout in my eyes. As a breeder i believe
you must have a plan and have the balls to stick it out for at least 3
generations. Then tweak it or cull it. Some males seem to just have it and some dont. Hound-dog is right blue bawls has never been a front page hound but he has thrown likeness of his ancestors. I was never fortunate enuff to see many of the greats but believe my dogs pocess many of there traits.I myself bred for different traits than most , i try and fill holes
instead of try and compliment each other style I feed 6 dogs
they are all eiether a niece , uncle or grandpup to each other. I also seldom leave my house to achieve the package. Thats just me. Titles are just icing on the cake for me. Every now and again i want to see where i am in life with dogs thats why i show, its merly a guage too let me know if
i did my homework correct .Rabbit hunting on 40 degree days are the best trophie i ever won and i will hope i continue to fill that way.Nothing worth winning comes easy, eiether family jobs and hounds. As always this
is my opinion and only mine good luck to all which ever direction you choose to take. Never give up.

I've been into beagling a few years.
I have concluded some know dogs.
Most know names and don't recognize a fine hound when it is in front of them.
We've all seen dogs talked up to be great and they go get smoked by "a no name dog". They have excuses why "big name" wasn't doing good.

They just don't understand that "no name" was a better hound that day.
They also don't understand that just because it is a "big name", a lot of that is hype.

They breed "big name" with anything that has papers, every cull brood bitch there around and get all these "big name" pups.
You take a cull out of "big name" and people will throw a side nice young dog because the other is out of "big name".

I see groups of guys that really hype a dog when they are ready to sell.
Simple sales tactic, you and your buddies all talk how great this dog is and how great looks. Tell a lie often enough and people will believe.
Then some poor fellow that doesn't know a beagle from a terrier bites, and pulls out some rediculous amount of money for this over priced, over hyped dog. Most are so ashamed of getting took that they give the dog away or sell it to a local for what it is really worth.

I can't remember who told me this, but I have heard it more than once at a trial,
"You know there is a dog out there tied out behind someone's barn that will flat out smoke all these dogs"

I have seen some fine hounds that have never, and will probably never, field trial. They are used for hunting, which is the whole purpose of the breed.

"You know there is a dog out there tied out behind someone's barn that will flat out smoke all these dogs"

My dogs don't trial, but they keep the freezer full. Their job is well done. I would put them up against anybodies beagles in the hunting woods/fields.
There blood and name go way back. Will there ever be an FC in front of their name. No. Will I breed them. Yes.

What amazes me the most is beaglers who finish dog for AKC champion, but cannot breed one themselves.