Help finding some quality breeders!!!

[mrramthun]

I am looking to find the names and contact information for some top quaity beagle breeders.

By top quality, I am talking about those breeders who are not primarly concerned with pedigree or trying to breed to the latest top beagles in the sport, or are obsessed with Field Champion titles. By top quality I mean breeders who only keep dogs that can continously circle a rabbit by themselves. Breeders who I can walk into their kennel, point at any dog, take that dog out by itself and it will find a rabbit and either bring it back to the gun, follow the trail to the hole, or catch the rabbit. In my opinion if a dog can't do this by two years old it should have a permant place in the Happy Hunting Grounds.

By top quality, I am talking about any dogs that are in this breeders kennel will not run trash, will not spend more than five minutes following a trail a hundred yards. I do not want slow dogs.

By top quality, a kennel where the breeder really watches for flaws in their dogs and do their best to get rid of dogs that have flaws. No matter how good the dogs pedigree is, no matter if its from a line they really want to breed to, no matter if the dog is a Field Champion!

By top quality, a kennel where the breeder breeds for a good nose, and their dogs don't over-run every check by 20 or 50 feet. One where the dogs will stay on the line and not be all over the place. Also a kennel that has dogs with some brains.

I don't care how flashy the website is, how nice the kennel is, or how many champions have come out of this kennel, It does'nt matter to me!

If the kennel owners and operators don't go by this philosophy, I am not interested in talking to them or in getting a dog from them.

Any help in this endevor would be very appreciated.

Thank you in advance

Sincerely,

Mike Ramthun

[MasonsBeagles]

Mike,
There are alot of top notch breeders out there. Just keep in mind every dog has a fault of some sort there is not and never will be a perfect one. As far as trash runners you will find most need breaking. If you want a fired up run to catch type hound they tend to like the big bunnies too and require breaking. Good luck there are several top notch breeders out there.

[mrramthun]

There is a big difference though in breeding to minimize flaws and to just excepting the flaws!

I keep hearing that there are lots of quality breeders out there, yet I have yet to find many of them. I keep running into dishonest people who will tell you lots of B.S. saying that their dogs are the greatest thing on this side of the Alantic Ocean, when in truth their dogs can't even circle a rabbit.

I am just looking for some honest people to direct me to some good breeders. I just don't know where to turn any more. There are so many people out there breeding crap and saying that they are quality breeders. This just is not true! Granted I haven't traveled out side of Wisconsin but what I am finding here is not impressing me at all. I wonder if the great old beagle breeders of many of the old lines could come back from the grave, would they say that there are many quality breeders out there or would they just shake their heads in disgust.

I am not trying to throw punches, I am just looking for some good dogs and some honest people. Is this too much to ask?

Sincerely

Mike Ramthun

[TC]

Caint Find what your looking For and none GOOD ENOUGH... Nobody honest Enough for ya then EASY just breed em yourself!!!!!
Go out and watch the dogs!!!! pick the ones you like somthin about and then breed for what you want.........

[ebag33]

I dont know where you are located but you might check out Adam Seger with Hilltop Kennels. He has some very nice dogs and is a pretty straight shooter. He often has pups and running dogs for sale. As a matter of fact the last time I checked his website he had a couple of nice young dogs for sale. http://www.hilltopkennels.net

Gabe Miskimen

[mrramthun]

Thanks, Gabe Miskimen

This is exactly what I am looking for, names of kennels that are straight shooters and follow my line of thinking. I will definetly check them out!

As to T.J., there is no need to get hostile unless you are one of these B.S.ers. I would love to breed the dog that I dream of but first I have to get some good dogs to start with. All I asked was for all you beagle enthusists out there to think about what I am asking and direct me towards some breeders that you feel have what I am looking for. If you don't know any, thats fine.

I am not asking you to agree with my views, nor am I trying to convert people over to my way of thinking. I just don't have the time to get all over the country to watch every breeders dogs. So I figured that asking this on this forum would give me some more leads than I possibly can get on my own.

Thanks again Gabe, I really appreciate it.

Mike Ramthun

[JakesPop]

There is a big difference though in breeding to minimize flaws and to just excepting the flaws!

I keep hearing that there are lots of quality breeders out there, yet I have yet to find many of them. I keep running into dishonest people who will tell you lots of B.S. saying that their dogs are the greatest thing on this side of the Alantic Ocean, when in truth their dogs can't even circle a rabbit.

I am just looking for some honest people to direct me to some good breeders. I just don't know where to turn any more. There are so many people out there breeding crap and saying that they are quality breeders. This just is not true! Granted I haven't traveled out side of Wisconsin but what I am finding here is not impressing me at all. I wonder if the great old beagle breeders of many of the old lines could come back from the grave, would they say that there are many quality breeders out there or would they just shake their heads in disgust.

I am not trying to throw punches, I am just looking for some good dogs and some honest people. Is this too much to ask?

Sincerely

Mike Ramthun

No not asking to much, if you go about it in the right way. But the way you are going at it is pretty rude. You can't find quality breeders because you wouldn't know one if you seen one. You sound like a greenhorn trying to sound like a know it all. I think your tone and free use of labeling folks dishonest is proof you have not been around too long. If you been cheeted thats one thing, but to just bad mounth a lot of good breeders and beaglers you know nothing about shows ignorance on your part. I think you like to hear youself write. No offense, just calling it like I see it.
Pop
ps: TC is right....you can't buy the perfect beagle.....you have to breed it. You ought to listen to him.

[TC]

As to T.J., there is no need to get hostile unless you are one of these B.S.ers.

LOL Sorry you felt I was gettin hostile Wasnt ment that Way And yeah i have been known to BS now and again Until it comes to hounds that i like...
I just found it VERY strange that on one post you state you are a newby and have just READ all you could find on beagles and on another come accrosss as Someone who caint Find a hound or breeder Good enough for ya.....
There is A LOT of MISSING information here...
WHAT are you looking For EXACTLY.......
you Want hounds for Runnin Hare or Cottontail???
You Want good medium Speed or barn Burners you want line control or What...
Looking For Good Conformation or Does it matter to you?
Where have you looked????
There are as MANY styles and Types of hounds out there as there are Houndsman....
Pic What ya like and Go from there..
because like EVERYBODY we are all looking for the perfect Hound.....
Just one mans treasure is another mans junk.....
If we Were to Give you names of Who we felt Were Good breeders We could be here ALL day...
Some breed Good to GREAT hare hounds Others Good to Great Cottontail hounds just Depends on WHAT YOU LIKE......

I keep hearing that there are lots of quality breeders out there, yet I have yet to find many of them. I keep running into dishonest people who will tell you lots of B.S. saying that their dogs are the greatest thing on this side of the Alantic Ocean, when in truth their dogs can't even circle a rabbit.

Sometimes you gotta get out of your own state or County
And What makes YOU feel these Folks are Dishonest?? if they are Giving you their opinion and you Dont Agree Does that make them Dishonest???

How long have you Actually been into beagles???.
How many Bloodlines have you Seen Run???


I think you have Set you Standards pretty High and thats Ok I just feel you are in For a Disappointment if you Cannot find What you are looking for as most Are Not Going to Sell their best and Every pup is a Crapshoot in Some Ways...
Good Luck in your search....

[Hatfield]

Hello Mr I just starting to get into dogs and I have never helped to make a good one. LOL! Even though I find your method cude I will share a positive thought with you. Look at trial results over the past 10 years or so eliminate all but a couple of lines. Find at least two or three kennels that are winning with those lines. Buy a pup from each of those kennels from each of those lines. Out of those six or eight pups, if you handle them dilligently,you should have at least one worth putting another year in. You seem to discount trials and people that breed to trial hounds. Don't kid yourself these are the most elite group of hounds available!

Good luck with your research,

Robert Hatfield

[mrramthun]

Hi TJ

To give you some more details, I live in Southeastern Wisconsin, and I hunt cottontails. I am looking for a medium speed hound but one bred with a nose that can keep up with his speed. I really like the 15 inch dogs because they seem to be able to push through the snow quite a bit better than the 13 inch. I like a good looking dog just like anyone else and yes, I am looking for the complete dog. I cannot forget brains, the dog has to be intellegent.

By honest breeders, I am talking about breeders who will listen to what you are looking for in a hound and if they don't have this type of hound will say so, and try their best to direct you to a breeder of the sort of hound your looking for, not just tell you that their dogs are something they are not, just to sell you a dog.

Yes, I am a green horn, and so were all of you at one point. I know the kind of dog I want, but to put it in the lingo that is out there is really hard for me to do. Yes, I am looking for the best, and I understand it will be difficult to find what I am looking for. I also understand that puppies are a crapshoot to some extent. But when you have good dogs a bad puppy in one litter will most of the time out do a good puppy in a poor dogs litter. You don't have to agree with me.

When I raised coon hounds, if the dog wasn't close to perfect it was not bred. If the dog ran deer it wasn't bred and if it couldn't be broken from it quickly, it went to the happy hunting grounds. Every pup was given the opportunity to excel but if they didn't they went to the happy hunting grounds. This weeded out the bad dogs and didn't pass them along to some one else to put their genes into more dogs in the area.

I realize this is harsh to some of you. These are the traits I am looking for in a breeder. The buddy I have been hunting with for the last 2.5 years had two grade dogs with no papers. I think it sucks when I have a hard time finding registered dogs that can compete with these grade dogs.

Yes, I realize I need to get out of the state to see more dogs, but which trials should I visit, which kennels should I visit. I have contacted a bunch of the big name kennels and talked also with some of leading owners in the beagling sport. I am learning a lot about the types of hounds out there and have been hearing from them exactly what I have been experiencing.

I am not saying that all breeders are dishonest, or that all breeders are crap, or anything like that. I like to hear different peoples opinions, and any one can give me their opinion and I will listen to it. I have enough confidence in myself and my standards to judge for myself if I want to change my way of thinking or not.

As far as how many blood lines I have seen run, not many since I don't know of many bloodlines still in existence today.

I am sorry if I sound harsh, but I feel if I don't tell you exactly the type of breeder I am looking for I will keep being disappointed when I see their dogs run.

Actually, to let you know I have just today received a list of names of breeders who have the same philosophy as I do from a breeder that most of you will respect. But I am always open to finding more so if you do know of any please forward the information to me.

Thank you

Mike Ramthun

[Tim H]

You posted this Feb. 6th

I would like some honest dialoge about the differnt types of beagles such as the patch, the northern fast hare hound type ect. It seems like everyone is selling the dog they have. I am just starting out, last year I purchased a hound and I am not sure if this is the type of beagle that I want to have. I would like to know the pros and cons of each type of beagle, what lines of breeding seem to produce this type of hound, and different kennels that breed this type of hound.

I have been reading as many books as I can about beagling and this is some of the information I haven't really been able to find. If any one knows of good books that I should read on beagling, please pass them along also.

I just want to do a bunch of research before I invest in another dog. I don't want to be disappointed and get another dog that I am really not satisfied with. I get way to attached to my dogs, so they are going to be with me for a long time.

Thank You in Advance Mike Ramthun

To which I responded

Nothing compares to going and seeing as many dogs run as you can. You are wise to realize that if you say what you're looking for, everyone who has a dog for sale will all the sudden have that exact dog. Go to the different field trials. See as many registries and formats as you can. Find people that you think are like minded in what they think a dog should be and pick their brains for where you will see most of that style of dog. Then go see as many dogs as you can that have the things in them that you think will satisfy you. Then go watch more dogs and only chose a dog when you think you can pick a good one when you see it. Don't chose a dog until you are confident you know what a good dog is, then you'll not have to live with a dog that someone else thought you would like. You will be much happier with a dog you took the time to chose and will not worry about who to be mad at when things don't work out. On the flip side, no one else can take credit when you brag about the dog you picked out, cause it's doing just what you want.

Did I mention go see dogs run?!

You then replied.

Thanks Tim, I totally agree with you and I plan on doing just that.

Have you really seen that many dogs in the last 2 days, that you're ready to find a breeder? If you are going to look for the perfect dog for you, on a beagle board, you are destine to repeat your previous experience.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but if I don't tell you exactly what I mean, you will continue to be disappointed.

[drifter22no1]

[/quote]Have you really seen that many dogs in the last 2 days, that you're ready to find a breeder? If you are going to look for the perfect dog for you, on a beagle board, you are destine to repeat your previous experience.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but if I don't tell you exactly what I mean, you will continue to be disappointed.[/quote]


well said

[steve]

Mike
sent you a PM

[Dale L.]

I couldn't help but notice that you have mentioned a couple of times about not running trash. I assume you are talking about a dog that has been broke off of any trash. Or are you saying you want a dog that is naturally "straight" or has never tried to run off game. Because I must say that I don't really buy into that whole philosophy. I beleive a dog with alot of desire will have to be steered (or shocked you may say) in the right direction while young. If someone told me that they were breeding dogs that were naturally trash free then I would stay away. That would make me question their honesty. Maybe I am crazy and I know that alot of you guys have been at this longer than me. I have only been rabbit hunting for about 7 years but some of my hardest hunting dogs have needed some pretty good elecrical current when they were pups.

[mn_beagleboy]

sounds like you've gone through many cheap dogs. you can't get a first class beagle at a bargin, because if you can I'd be the first to get it. I have been in your shoe before, searching for a machine is impossible (like trying to fly in a superman outfit).