BigGameHoundsmen.com

I was just wondering what and why ya'll prefer the hounds you do and your favorite crosses?

I prefer crosses for hog hunting. Most hounds have too much nose for the smaller properties of cenral california. Also the hog races have changed in the last 10 years. Not often do the hogs stop and bay anymore. They have seen the dogs before and know the drill. Catahoulas would be the most common purebred but are losing their sent ability and are bred for in the pen competitions. Short range (1000yrd), silent, extremely rough dogs are the desired dog for the job. purebreds havent been able to fill this slot. They either have too much nose, are open mouthed, or lack stopping power. Im sure there are many exceptions. Im my neck of the woods however running crosses is standard practice.

like a regestered hound BUT the best 1 i own for bobcat is hound-beagle cross. cold nose.

I run Registered Walkers. I just prefer knowing whats behind my dogs to better my dogs in the future. I find something I don't like in a line, I can stay away from it. I find something I like I can breed for it. Breed the best to the best of the same line or complimenting lines, and I think your chances of success are alot better. One "once in a lifetime hound" that can be replicated or reproduce isn't much good to me. They don't live forever, and I'm always looking for one just a little bit better than the last. Having a pedigree and knowing what it means is a wonderful asset.

Some people like to plan their success, others would rather stumble upon it.

I prefer dogs that run and catch game. Doesn't matter if they are papered or not. Buckshot made a post in another forum that I liked. Next time you go hunting, put your papers on one side of your rig box and your best crossed up dog on the other and at the end of the day see who is catching more game.

That being said; the guys running good clean kennels who keep their lines pure to papers have their place in the world. I think they do us all a favor and I commend them for all the work and effort they put into trying to keep breeds pure.

Oh and one more thing; you can certainly have a successful breeding program without having papered dogs. Just keep your own impeccable records and know the history of your dogs.

Like your signature says, HUNT WHAT WORKS

JMO

I appreciate the replies! I own registered and mixed dogs! I was just interested in others opinion and breeding programs and maybe learning a thing or two!

I think as far as the individual dog goes, grade dogs are as good as papered under any tree. BUT, I guarantee that every grade hound out there was at some point in it's history a part of an intense breeding program of registered stock, whether it be walker, bluetick, B&T or what have you, to do the job you are now asking it to do. In my opinion, the odds are better with papered stock because there was more deliberation. I've had many grade dogs that were game catching machines, but I never could reproduce the consistency like I can with dogs that had a formal history. There are grade bloodlines out there that are kick ass, they have been bred for a long time, are tried and true. they are just rarer. The only thing papers are good for are to wipe ones ass when you're under a tree. Papers might help you get to that tree.

I like a certain "Type" of hound. The type that gets whatever we are after caught. If it comes with papers... I have a box for those around here somewhere. I certainly don't get caught up in producing fancy papers. Good dogs are where you find them, with papers or not. There are guys out there breeding families of grade dogs that are awesome and produce some awesome dogs, without papers . Don't get me wrong, I do believe that pedigree history knowledge is very important. It's hard to bake a cake with no recipe, it's even harder with no ingredients.

Take care.
Mason