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I LOOKED THROUGH THE TOPICS AND DIDNT SEE AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, IF I MISSED IT SOME ONE TELL ME I'LL ERASE IT.

WHEN DO YOU CONSIDER A CAT DOG GOOD ENOUGH TO BREED, IF HE CATCHES A CAT ALONE, DOES HE HAVE TO OUT STRIKE ALL OTHER DOGS IN THE PACK, OUT TRAIL ALL OTHER, HAVE A BETTER MOUTH,PICK UP LOSSES FIRST OR MORE OFTEN,HOW ABOUT CONFORMATION DOES HE HAVE TO HAVE PERFECT CONFORMATION FOR YOU TO BREED HIM,HOW ABOUT HOW HE HANDLES.DOES HE HAVE TO BE THE BEST LOCATER OR ALL THE ABOVE.DO YOU LOOK AT YOUR PACK AND ASK WHAT AM I MISSING THAT THIS DOG COULD POSSIBLY, (POSSIBLY) BRING INTO THE NEW BATCH.YES OF COURSE THIS QUESTION APPLIES TO FEMALES AS WELL, BUT WE SEEM TO LOOK TO THE MALE (TO OFTEN I THINK) TO BRING THOSE QAULITYS WERE LACKING MORE THAN THE FEMALE, MOST FAMOUS DOGS REMEMBERED ARE MALES, JUST LIKE STUD HORSES SELDOM DOES THE MARE GET HER CREDIT FOR WHAT SHE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT MEN

A whole lot of variables but I woulod say your comment(IF HE CATCHES A CAT ALONE,) he might be worth consideration. Never know the proof of the pudding is in the eating but you have to get the right mix.


Whe I find a dog that can (CONSISTANTLY) catch it's own bobcat. I usually consider breeding that dog or possibly counseling it to make a serious run for the next Presidential election. LOL!

I know jack about breeding but fwiw I have been told its easier to find a top notch male worth breeding but hard to find a female.
I think if you have as many traits in the female you want to strenghten or add as you do the male, you've found your pair.
I bet thats hard though because it probably takes a real critical eye to find traits to bring in/strengthen that the other half to be bred doesnt have (bet most people think they are great already so what can they really be missing on that side? I am guessing this is where the cross is really made great or not, by recognizing this or not)

Then I hear there's that whole reproducing problem where a great dog ust throws average pups or culls, just not a proven reproducer.
So i think that means your first cross is going to be a trial regardless and you need to have/keep enough of them alive to see if they 'make it.'

How long does that take, 3, 4,5 years ?
Lengthy process.

Good point Mike, I should have said COSISTANTLY catch his(her) own bobcat

My take on this would be, if you like the dog you have, it does a good job for you, and you want more of what you got, then breed it. The qualifications you listed sound like the things to be looking for and considering when choosing a mate for your dog. As an example, right now I have a female I plan to breed to hopefully get a litter of cat dogs. I like her looks, how she handles, how she hunts and how she's bred. Would she be a top dog in everybodies book? Probably not, but I like her and she's the best I have. I can't go out and buy a top cat dog, and I could buy more pups, but I'd rather have pups out of her. My hope is that by finding a good stud from the same family line, I will produce a litter better than my female. I think in my female I have the nose I need and hope to improve confirmation, track speed and drive with the male I select. Right or wrong, that's my plan. Hopefully with each generation, I'll improve a little each time. Just my two cents....Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Cas

I have always been told a true reproducer throws better offspring than he/she is. Just my 2 cents.

I would agree with casb. If the dog meets up to YOUR expectations and make YOU proud, then I think that dogs would be worth breeding. The catch is is you are breeding for yourself and plan to keep the pups close, if so it does not matter, BUT if you market these pups you better hope they are born with an A game or your name will be held responsible, and you should really make sure the parents can do it all. JMO Lance

I agree with casB,Pretty much all you can do is breed the best you have to the best you have or have available to you.Try to find a dog that has strong points that your dog might be a little weak in.You never know for sure how they will end up until you try it.Then try to get them in good hunters hands.Good Luck.