The build of your dogs?

[Jeff Eberle]

How important is the build of a dog to you? I like mine up on legs, deep chest, straight back legs, tight footed (cat footed where they stand up on the balls of their feet) I lean more to a smaller frame dog that is light on their feet. I guest that is why I've always loved the looks of a well built July. Where I hunt it is very brushy and steep, running Bear,Cat & fox. I know someone is going to say they don't care as long as they catch game but if you are breeding the best to the best what about the build? Or do you even look at it? I think a dog built like this will hold up better in the long run Not the looks but the Build What do you like and why?

[Melanie Hampton]

I think actually that I am pretty pick about what I want in a dog.. And to stay around it is going to have to be built the way I want them..

I prefer small dogs, deep chest, narrow guts.. leggy (but in proportion) Feet I seem to be just a little less picky about, just because my dogs have nice feet, but long toes.. Or I should say they have tight feet, just long toes.. All my dogs are a touch long in the back.. I would like to get this out of them, but I don't want to loose my hunting traits, so I am trying to be selective on breeding..

Actually coastrangecathunter has a little dog named Alice that is about perfect for what I like.. She does not the best feet (She is out of my dogs so I am allowed to say it ) but everything else about her is just about perfect for what I want..

I will get rid of a dog that does not match what I want.. or at least not put it into the gene pool.. I can't stand big thick dogs.. No way I am going to feed it..

[ferjr]

i tend to agree with you about the build, i like mine to have long legs, deep chested, tight footed, lean with no fat, and well defined muscles but i dont like smaller dogs, i like my dogs to have some size to them. where i hunt it is very steep and brushy also, and i find that a smaller dog to me has no advantage over a large dog, your dogs just have to be in shape. i have seen my bluetick run off and leave smaller dogs with no problem and do it 10 to 15 miles. its all in the conditioning. JMO.

[larry]

Chest is deep and moderately broad, giving better than adequate heart and lung space. Back is broad, well muscled and level. Loins are very muscular and slightly arched. Round, cat-like foot, with deep pads and well-knuckled toes is a must. Smooth, round hips proportionately wide and well muscled. Legs are strong and muscular above the hock. Short and straight from hock to heel. The biggest red flag i see in alot of peoples crosses are feet. I hate a loose or coon footed dog, not worthy of reproducing IMO. I like a smaller dog 40-55 lbs. An athletic build is a must if you want athletes!

[Jeff Eberle]

ferjr

What are you running 10 to 15 miles? The smaller built dogs (40lbs) that I run have never took that long to catch up to one (Bear) I would love to see the bigger built hound that can pull on mine. They are fast head up running style I'm sure they could be bet but I don't think it will be by a big frame hound. But if you want to come out here and show me I have a extra kennel and spare bedroom If they can leave mine I will take my hat off to you

[Jeff Eberle]

Larry

That is what I see alot of is the bad feet I just don't see why Guy don't try to breed it out. That is why I ask the ?. maybe some guy don't care. But I like to run mine avery day I can not staying home with sore footed dogs. What is your country like that you hunt?

[ZeluvaRIP69er]

I like 'em to have ears that touch the ground, eyes that look like they came from a Ceech and Chong movie, legs as bowed and curvy as a VW Beetle, hair longer then a hippie chicks, feet as flat as mine, and the speed of a car with no wheels

Just kidding folks!

Though I do have pretty flat feet. Pretty much as Larry described them is what I like to see.

I like to hold the dogs ears back and see how pitbull their head is built, for some odd reason I like that shape of cranium better then a very narrow head.

Too much leg can look a little odd... My mom's Dobberman is very wierd lookin when he stands on his back legs and towers over me. I am 5'8" lol. But bear dogs don't need to look like little weenie dogs hoppin through the forest lol.

Too much muscle can be a little offensive... Look at Brok Lesner for example! My pit is a butterfly, but when you look at him, you see the hunk who ordered a cheeseburger with no pickles and got a butt load of pickles piled on there >.<

Pretty is as pretty does sometimes though. No matter what the dog could do Dad and I would always say something like "I wish I could just add 2 inches at the shoulder" or "Dang Socki needs to lose some weight!" Lol.

[ferjr]

ferjr

What are you running 10 to 15 miles? The smaller built dogs (40lbs) that I run have never took that long to catch up to one (Bear) I would love to see the bigger built hound that can pull on mine. They are fast head up running style I'm sure they could be bet but I don't think it will be by a big frame hound. But if you want to come out here and show me I have a extra kennel and spare bedroom If they can leave mine I will take my hat off to you

they normaly dont run that far but on occasion we do have runners go that far, our bears up hear do a lot of running, and am afraid you probably wont like what you see, i have seen my dogs put it on a lot of supossibly fast walkers, i have heard the same from alot of people but after they see it with there own eyes i never hear it out of them again. and you couldnt pay me enough money to go to california, but i would make you the same offer.

[larry]

Larry

That is what I see alot of is the bad feet I just don't see why Guy don't try to breed it out. That is why I ask the ?. maybe some guy don't care. But I like to run mine avery day I can not staying home with sore footed dogs. What is your country like that you hunt?

If they don't care about their dogs feet, what else are they accepting as OK?
Mainly the dogs are on decomposed granite and snow when we are home. The crusty snow is pretty hard on feet, if they're loose, I don't want to have to lay a dog up for two weeks after 2 days of running. Nice thing about the granite is that when the dogs are in the kennel they're feet are getting conditioned non stop.
Far as big dogs out lasting the racey athletic ones, not gonna happen. How big are we talkin? You don't see heavy, large framed guys in triathalons or winning marathons..........

[larry]

ferjr

What are you running 10 to 15 miles? The smaller built dogs (40lbs) that I run have never took that long to catch up to one (Bear) I would love to see the bigger built hound that can pull on mine. They are fast head up running style I'm sure they could be bet but I don't think it will be by a big frame hound. But if you want to come out here and show me I have a extra kennel and spare bedroom If they can leave mine I will take my hat off to you

they normaly dont run that far but on occasion we do have runners go that far, our bears up hear do a lot of running, and am afraid you probably wont like what you see, i have seen my dogs put it on a lot of supossibly fast walkers, i hear the same from alot of people but it only takes one outing to make a beleiver

Where are u hunting in ID that yer finding all the running bears?

[ferjr]

Larry

That is what I see alot of is the bad feet I just don't see why Guy don't try to breed it out. That is why I ask the ?. maybe some guy don't care. But I like to run mine avery day I can not staying home with sore footed dogs. What is your country like that you hunt?

If they don't care about their dogs feet, what else are they accepting as OK?
Mainly the dogs are on decomposed granite and snow when we are home. The crusty snow is pretty hard on feet, if they're loose, I don't want to have to lay a dog up for two weeks after 2 days of running. Nice thing about the granite is that when the dogs are in the kennel they're feet are getting conditioned non stop.
Far as big dogs out lasting the racey athletic ones, not gonna happen. How big are we talkin? You don't see heavy, large framed guys in triathalons or winning marathons..........

i aint talking huge dogs, about 60 to 70 lbs. and you dont see ponys winning horse races either. do you? my dogs are very athletic built and i wouldnt be affraid to run them against anyones.

[ferjr]

clearwater county. the bears here have been hunted to death and will run the hell out of your dogs

[African]

Large frame with lean muscle. Long ears, long neck and long muzzle.Foot shaped more like a wolf than a cat - must stand well on toes. Light colour coat on dark skin (not too pink) and hair not too dense.
Dogs must be able to move with ease, not just for endurance, but also to be able to work through the heat.

[Jeff Eberle]

African

When you say work through the heat, What is the temp when you are hunting?

[African]

Jeff, although it gets hotter here, the temperature that is about limits for the dogs is around 28 deg C (82,5 F).