Why are pedigrees so important?

[Plotts]

A pedigree works two ways; it helps you ensure there are dogs in your pups history that you want, and more important, it really helps you in keeping certain dogs or lines out!

[Benny G]

If everyone were serious about improving the dogs that they hunt, there would be more records. I keep "pedigrees" on all of my dogs. I hunt grade dogs, but that's no excuse to not know the history and genetics of them. By keeping track of the crosses of the past, as well as the present, we have a better chance of producing dogs that fit the bill for what we seek to pursue, as well as, the conditions in which we pursue them.

[sourdough]

I know there are some that have prejudices when it comes to papers. Now, I don't know if it's because they have some top notch grade dogs that they believe to far out perform the papered dogs or what. I have both grade and papered hounds both having a written pedigree. The goal to raising hounds, should be to have a high percentage of the offspring go on to become good trail hounds just not one or two. You can’t do that playing a shell game it’s done by writing everything down and putting some thought in to it. If I can’t make it work with what I am breeding then I will go to the man that is having success and fix my problem. I will admit that people see the money others are making from successful lines and try themselves to replicate what the other man is doing, with little to no thought as to how that man got to where he is. I wish people were more responsible with breeding programs we would have a lot fewer culls. That being said there is some great information above as well as on some past breeding topics. My suggestion is to read through it and study it carful, as there is knowledge to be gained.

sourdough