who is your most valuable hound?

timberdoodle · Post by **timberdoodle** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:03 pm

The most valuable hound to my way of thinking is the one who can go out alone find a rabbit and circle it with a minimum amount of down time to my gun. In short, a rabbit dog. The complete package. In a pack the dog should hark in and do his job within the pack. Run the front, run the middle, or come up from behind. Work the checks properly and the rabbit that doubles back or v's back will be soon found out. Handling is very important as well. Nothing can spoil a hunt quicker than dogs that won't handle.

A hunting dog.....a very valuable commodity.

Cottontail Chaser · Post by **Cottontail Chaser** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:49 pm

My favorite is the Jump-Dog. He gets the day started and its the most exciting bark at the beginning of the day and all throughout, that first bark is why I love running rabbits.. I have two exceptional tracking dogs that also hunt well and get alot of the checks but a Jump-Dog is the best dog to have, you build a pack around them..

klrconcrete · Post by **klrconcrete** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:04 pm

I favor the middle of the pack checking machine my old female is and has always been this way just a darn good gun dog no matter what the conditions, I have a young female out of the same bloodline that is much footier but stradles the line and takes more than her fair share of the checks, she is only two so the best is yet to come.

BJK · Post by **BJK** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:33 pm

Wow! Full Circle,

This is a good topic, no excellent topic. Very thought provoking.

Anyone that knows me knows that I like FAST hounds. I like my action on the front end! However, for the last 3 years I've been tweaking my dogs, by breeding. I've been putting more brains, line running and game accountability into the dogs I kennel. I like fast dogs that can do it all, however on any given day, depending on terrain, scenting conditions and how the cottontail runs determines which dog gets MVP for the day. I gun hunt and run a pack. Everyone has a job to do, they all bring something different to the table. I have a bitch out of Dreamboat/Bredemier bitch that can make a pack look excellent. She runs a close line and is close on her check work. She runs in the middle and is very quick at cleaning up a check. Before my season was interrupted due to medical issues, she was always in the running for MVP of the day. I also have a son of Moneysunk Mountain Man from Awful Bawlin Kennels that has the same qualities as Dreamie but different. He's faster, hunts wider but produces consistently and he too often receives the award. Then there is a red and white Crain bitch that's fast and never gives up, that makes checks that seem impossible.

With all that being said, I like a balanced pack that covers all bases. As to individual dogs, I prefer the faster hard driving front end dogs that account for the game. However, I have learned to appreciate medium/med-fast dogs that are good too. Speed does not determine how good a dog is, accountability and accomplishment does.

tnbeagleman · Post by **tnbeagleman** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:33 pm

My jump dog usually loads first!!!

Honey Pot Hounds · Post by **Honey Pot Hounds** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:27 pm

My most valuable hound is my first showdog and foundation bitch "Honey."
She is a beautiful 14.5" dominant tri bitch and together we have shared so many "firsts."
She has a temperment of gold and she is an excellent freewhelper and mother to her pups. Her last time in the ring she showed beautifully for me on our first time ever showing at Westminster. Honey has done everything I have ever asked of her. If my house was burning and I could only grab one hound and run, she'd be the one.

Cindy & Honey ~ CH Lanbur Lil Mis Honey Pot

ohlinger.s · Post by **ohlinger.s** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:36 pm

my front of the pack dog is my most valuable he might mess up, and over run when he's catching pressure but he goes back and gets the check most of the time when those other dogs are pushing and go right past the line with him. I don't believe that a good track dog is ever at the rear of the pack. he is'nt doing the work from the back he's just following the others.

houndsound · Post by **houndsound** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:37 pm

I like the best of both worlds, I'm breeding for dogs that are extremely slow and can't work a check.

dk

khensler01 · Post by **khensler01** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:40 pm

i'd like a line running ,check machine with great brains to find the hard check!!!! Don"t care if runs the lead or not.i think there worth there weight in gold!!!!!!!khensler

tommyg · Post by **tommyg** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:49 pm

I like my front runner alright but when it comes to putting meat on the table its my 13 in female,one fine jump and track hound. Seen her educate alot of fast hounds.

coolbrze · Post by **coolbrze** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:12 pm

I'd have to go w/ my jumpdog or my FC. The jumpdog hits the brush hard, and I mean hard. Most likely a once in a lifetime hound. Out jumps any other dog I've EVER ran with. He is Shake, Little Man, and Weir Creek breeding. My FC is Branko top and bottom and is a h*lluva check dog. Picks up 3/4 of the checks when we're out running and he does it from the inside out! Got a couple more that are working their way up there, but not quite yet.

mc2you · Post by **mc2you** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:21 am

I'm just curious but I'd like to hear about the bloodlines on these posts. Might help us all in our future! simple poll of who is on the board and what blood they have and like!!

TOUCHSTONEBGLS · Post by **TOUCHSTONEBGLS** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:58 am

I prefer a dog that stays on the line. The more speed the dog can do it with the better. Not interested in slow dogs. If a dog is overrunning or skirting around brush it will tend to turn the rabbit or sometimes jump another rabbit. Not getting a true "circle" may take longer than a medium to medium fast dog that goes right where the rabbit goes. Also enjoy hearing dogs run with few breakdowns. The most important trait is having great search and jump instinct/abillity. Even in programs that reward search and jump, great ones are not prevalent .

Duke · Post by **Duke** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:13 pm

I am spoiled, I have one hound that can jump his own rabbits, has unblelievable hunt, Brains and can control the race with most any group of hounds. So he gets the nod everytime out. He really has no faults and does just about everything better than most hounds. I will probably forever chase finding a dog like him again.

I also have a very good jump dog who has good hunt she gets the nod almost everytime out.

Larry G · Post by **Larry G** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:34 pm

Well what is the most frustrating thing about hunting or fun running rabbits? You can kick one up yourself, but you can't run it, so it has to be running to a loss. I know of one old hound that fixes that most of the time, has the rabbit when he opens, and will tattle on junk runners. Minds without a collar, jumps way more than his share, and gives a good effort every time. He's going to be hard to replace.