Selling dogs

[mike martell]

That is why it is so important that people come hunt with dogs they are looking to buy or do their home work and check the breeder or hunter to see how how they or he hunts and what to expect. Each to their own. Dewey

This was my vision on selling out after forty plus years of hound hunting.

I was asked if my hounds could perform in Montana and tree bobcats and lions? My response to the buyer? You have the money and serious about buying these hounds? I will drive to Montana, 2200 miles round trip, you pick the location, track and I'll show you game in a tree, fair enough?

The first track was a bobcat in a frozen creek bottom, iced over, dogs walked the track until they could line it out, get it jumped and rocked up, buyer got to jump it out and see the bobcat exit and then treed. This was on a ranch the buyer wanted to know if these hounds would perform on. How would I know if these Oregon hounds would catch game in Montana? I was more than confident these hounds would perform any place they were released.

Even if the perspective buyer drove to Oregon, how would the buyer be confident the hounds would work on his home turf?

Next morning we set out on public land, cut a tom lion track and buyer asked if the hounds could catch it in the bluffs in two to three feet of drifted snow? I said, they can and will. Six hours later, buyer and his wife make the tree where his wife harvested her first nice tom lion.

Buyer makes the rig and we talk, I tell the buyer, I'm heading home to Oregon in the morning and either buy the dogs or there heading home with me....Buyer, follow me to the ranch where I have cash waiting. In two days, I treed the dollar amount I sold these hounds for in treed cats!

Moral of the story? He got to see the hounds on his turf, not mine, I got to meet this man in person and see for myself where and how my hounds would be treated more so than how and where they would be hunted, I never met this man prior, I don't know anything about him, would he screw up these hounds? the only way to find out?, do as I did and any issue comes up after the sale? Not my problem, I showed you game while there and what to expect! Both the home and hunter met my approval and I know that for the fifty grand I spent making these hounds and selling them for 20% of what it took to develop them, was worth it in the end!

Good luck to you all!

[pegleg]

Peg leg, this is a bit off topic, but i am curious. You stated:

'I admit that very few people see as many hounds on a yearly basis as I do so they might see things differently'

My question is how about many hounds do you see in a yearly basis? Are they all your hounds, hounds your trying, pups your starting, or do they include others that you may hunt with on occasion? The statement just struck me as interesting so I'd like to know, if you don't mind sharing.
Perk

[pegleg]

Well shit. I had a answer and then the phone rang. Usually a lot of of new dogs each year. I have three kennels and there's four of us hunting the dogs and sometimes we try new dogs for whatever reason and others we hunt other people's dogs. The last couple years I've been dialing that all back since there's not a real need for it. I know it's a poor answer but if you want a more thorough one pm me. There's a lot of reasons behind these choices and they might not be all the best one but what seemed best to me at the time.

[catdog360]

Mike, that is why I sell every hound with a trial, no matter the price. Some dogs just won't get along with just anyone. I won't sell anyone a dog that they can't get along with. It's not worth it for the dogs sake.

Mic

[Clyde Lawson]

Its simple, if you are buying a dog go to where it is and hunt with it and its owner. If the dog suits you and your style of hunting buy it. If you dont have the time to do that you probably dont have the time to hunt it either. Even then when you get the dog home many dogs take some time to settle in and accept their new owner and kennel mates and surroundings. Some never do. Dogs that come from a person who has raised them from puppies and have really worked with them and spent countless hours hunting them seem to be one hunter dogs,not always but it happens. When a dog wont hunt for their new owner tjat is where a lot of the problems on dog sales start.

Mark, you did state it correct, in my opinion.
When I sell a hound, I request and press to insist that buyer comes and hunts with me and hounds for as long as they wish. With the Delta 70, a buyer can see and then hear what is offered is what will work for them. Buyer can check out the country and make determination if that same country is close to theirs or not and if prospect will perform as they want.
Also, with that hunt and introduction, I can size up if I want this buyer to have one of my hounds. Sounds crazy, but I put a lot of time in raising and training in my hounds. Getting attached is a problem around my la casa. My better half last fall heard me describe one of my oldest hounds that I would consider selling. When I hung the phone up she advised that old Sue did not owe us anything and she felt that Sue should live out her life in our kennel! Case ended!!!

John Wick, on picking pups, states that when he was asked what he was keeping? What ever is left. Very true statement, as being able to pick out the best of litter, a man has to BS himself. Just saying.

Another comment--Running Hounds and Cross Running Hounds do tend to get one-mannish? Likely not a word, but describes my point. And, it takes time for the older hounds to accept their new owner/partner. It is also dramatic for the hound when they leave where they are raised and familiar with. Then the issue of trust in another pack/individual?

A past buyer of pups came last week and hunted, bringing a pup that is 2 yrs. plus and hunting with two littermates. These littermates had not seen or been hunted with each other since seperated at 9-10 weeks. We had three great races with his pup running to front and picking up a loss or two in race. SO--that makes me scratch my head about effect of strange country, strange hounds, trust, handle(he handled just like my hounds), and many other questions. This hound was raised in Vermont and hunted in snow conditions, where my hounds have not seen snow! He ran like a dry-ground hound.

Thanks for reading,