Opinions, Please!

[Beagled1]

This is a field bred puppy, but I was hoping some of the experts here could give me some input on him? I have showed his pics to a show breeder who has been helping me keep in conformation in my lines, and I very much trust & respect her judgements ... she likes him overall (i.e. nice angles, round bone, good shoulder layback) but thinks his muzzle "sucks", lol. I do notice it's different in shape than the other pups we've had with nice heads. So just looking for others opinions on him.

One other thing ... he has a kink in his tail Have never had a pup with this, not even in the first cross of this breeding pair. The same breeder told me she's had pups w/ the kink, and it's usually worked itself out as they age. Is this normal? I'm debating whether or not I should keep him & just want as many educated opinions as possible before making any final decisions ...

THANKS

Brutus stacked @ 4.5 weeks

[Windkist]

Your puppy looks ok. I see nothing at all terrible about its head or muzzle. I find that I need to watch puppies on their own in the yard to evaluate them. Balance is what your looking for, Not pieces and parts! How does this puppy carry himself? is his topline solid and does he move nicely without a lot of winging in the front or closeness in the rear? Overall just let your eye tell you if he is balanced. lets see him again at 12 weeks. Not sure about the kink in the tail.

Leah

[WV Jaz]

We've had a couple with kinked tails in our field trial dogs. Neither worked itself out as they aged. As a matter of fact, the tails seemed to show worse as they aged and the tail grew. As far as we knew no parents, etc had kinked tails. Good luck with whatever you decide to do with your puppy.

[Beagle Huntsman]

I'd have to see more of your puppy to make an overall determination. The front legs might be a little suspect, but it could be the pose?

The kink is the big problem. It will never go away. If you feel it, you will notice the bone is fused that way. A couple of years ago I had a beautiful big male who produced kinked tails in each of his first three litters produced (1 litter for me and 2 for others). I knew the dog's background back several generations and knew of no kinked tails. It was obvious something hereditary was at work, so I sold him to a non-breeder to be just a personal gundog. I kept a pretty daughter with a normal tail and may use her if she proves worthy in the field. Kinks appear to be a hereditary problem. I would not breed one who had them. Sorry

[Honey Pot Hounds]

He looks cute! Maybe you can have the vet fix/shorten that kinked tail when they remove all of those dewclaws IF you decide to show him in AKC.

His muzzle doesn't "suck" at all right now...maybe she is used to seeing the snipey muzzles. Those can ruin an otherwise good showdog.

[Beagled1]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied! The consesus here, and to other breeders I've been speaking with has been the same regarding the kinked tails - they don't improve. For that reason alone, I'll be selling him as a pet. Have a good home lined up already, but I just wanted to double check before we went ahead and took a deposit for him.

I'm glad to hear others here don't think his head "sucks", lol. I was wondering if my friend was right because his muzzle does look different to me than some of the other pups I've had with the better heads in the litter. If I did show the boy, it'd be in UKC, and I thought if he were ever minus that stupid kink, he might do well in that format (once we hacked off his rear dew claws, that is, lol). I've decided to keep back his sister, a smaller bitch with less bone but has an equally nice temperament. I am also hoping to show her in UKC, if she's good enough. But either way should make a darn good rabbit dawg

This is the bitch pup I've decided to keep from that litter (I know the stacks aren't that great but she stiffened herself up like a board, the stinker) ... Any constructive criticism welcome <G> Again, thanks!!!

[Honey Pot Hounds]

I am SOOOOO FAMILIAR with the old stiffened board effect, LOL. Stacking puppies is a talent i just don't have but Leah could stack your puppy and make her look like a million dollars!

Anyway, I think she looks real good!!!