BigGameHoundsmen.com

COBOLT must say I saw some blueticks from your breeding program, those are some of the better looking hounds I have seen. Thick coats, very impressive looking feet with dark thick looking pads & lots of hair between thier toes. If those are from your linebreeding you are sure doing something correct. Coarse you didnot need me to tell you that but felt needed to after posting my reserves about close line breeding. Thanks Al Ba ldwin

I got two see 2 more dogs from Cobalts blood or close to it this last weekend, plus I met the guy who owns Ty's dad. Both those dogs look alot like the others I have seen from his line or close relation. Heavy cameron looks, but some small differences. Biggest things I noticed was under hair where alot don't have it(and thicker in some areas), the head has the coloration but a little sleeker looking to me, really tight feet, smaller built dogs, and that's all I can think of now.

nice guy with nice dogs none of the growly problembs some of the other lines are noted for

They sound like some nice looking dogs. Just wondering how they work out on bobcats? Has anyone seen them go?

Cobalt is on vacation I believe. His buddy culverz on here should have some insight on the older dogs. I know of a couple guys who have em that made good bear dogs, cobalt catchs some bobs himself with his. My pup I have from him should be a good dog on them I think. Ill pm you a story later.

Twist, I think U.R.E. has one of these that he hunts straight on cats, but don't quote me on it.

Al, thanks for the nice words about the dogs you saw. I do like dogs that have a conformation that is appealing to others as well as myself. I will tell you that the dogs I own and breed are not the product of what I would consider mine and many of the dogs out there that have my name on them are are not closely linebred. My comments about linebreeding are from what I've seen and some of what I own. I fully understand what you allude to with linebreeding, but I think that generalizing about the negatives of it isn't fair to the few who are really successful at it. Linebreeding is a very tough, precise game and when things go bad it usaully means the end. But in my opinion, it is the only and best way to firmly solidify certain genetic potential.
I am NOT a breeder, although I do breed dogs occasionally. The small amount af progeny in the lines that I run are just now getting to the point where I want to try much closer crossings to get dogs that are more uniform in looks and ability. I will say that what I keep and/or breed to must fill a certain cryteria in looks (esp. feet) and must have the ability to catch and stay treed without help under what I consider reasonable conditions. I like dogs with good speed on a jump and a bottom end that can keep pressure on for hours if necessary. I also like dogs that are easy to be around and easy to make. Brains are controvercial with me. Some of what I consider the dumbest dogs I've seen and owned were some of the best game catchers and some of the smartest (border collie type) were the worst. Brains to me is track savvy and trainability (things that can't be determined as puppies). I am much more of a dog trainer than a breeder. There have been very few dogs that I couldn't build into at least fairly reliable hunters. If they showed treeing instinct and wanted to trail and weren't growly, I could usually make a dog out of them. I hunt bear, cat and coon and have done well on all over the past 20 plus years and have been chasing hounds and beagles for over 30 and am self taught. I am not color blind and can appreciate the talents of all dogs who can catch. I run what I run (blues) because that's what I have and know and like and respect others and their preferences, but I'm competative and won't apologize for it. I wish I could hunt more like I used to, everyday, year round to really make the best effort at having and making the best dogs, but at this point, I can't. What I say on this site is from my experiences of the past and from longtime acquaintances with accomplished houndsmen and from some reading. At this point I am only able to go out once or twice a week and only go to about 50 trees a year and that's mainly bear trees. I think I have good catdog stock (as good as I've ever had), but probably couldn't prove it with the dogs in my kennel. Moving to Boise, Id, from Medford, Or. a few years ago and starting a family has slowed me down a bit in the cat department. I make enough comments on this site that I felt I would clarify some of who I am.

twist, most of my pups go to multiple species hunters, but a few go to straight cat hunters. I can PM you a list of people on this site who run dogs out of my dogs and closely related dogs as well as others who aren't members. I've never claimed to have superior cat dogs. Most make people happy, some not as much and I'm sure some think they're junk, but that's the nature of this sport.

Cobalt, sure sounds like some nice dogs. Al give me a call the other night and told me they were some good looking dogs. Andy

I've hunted with cobalts hounds and owned a few. They are the real deal. In my opinion I would definently buy another when I get the chance. I try to run mainly bobcat which they havnt had problem with and they excel on bear from what I've seen. Very happy with the dogs

Dont let him fool you andy,he has always had good cat dogs and i personally think he is just being modest.which i can respect. But when i was still in oregon i tried hunting elk creek where he lived and the lack of cats more the spoke for his dogs ability to catch cats. He has great dogs that are easy on the eyes also.