hunt14 wrote:Devin,
Hey just some questions about the dogs that you have bred so far. I know that you use your dogs to run all game whether it be lion, bobcat, bear. Have you found that some crosses produce different traits that make them a better lion or bobcat dog apposed to another cross that seemed to really excell on bear but were still good on lions and bobs. I know that alot of the old time breeders made different crosses for different reasons and many times it was because that particular cross made good dogs no matter what you ran them on but also that they really excelled at on one or the other. I have talked to a few houndsman and gotten a pup or two from them in the past and many times they ask me what I prefer to hunt and how I plan on hunting the dog. Usually they say something like, "well they all make fair dogs but there is one cross that I like a little better for bear and there is this other cross that I have been making that do real well on bobcats or lions etc....Yet its the same line of dogs. I hope this all made sense.
Reagan
Reagan, to throw in a few thoughts. from past experience. If you breed good lines of hounds, that has been bred mainly for bear, they will be bear dogs. You can run a cat, or lion, and do a pretty good job, maybe even one that is special. Will the whole litter turn out as good as a man that has bred a line for straight cat dogs, I doubt it. Can you take the cat dogs, and make bear dog, same applies, if you mix the lines, good houndsman has bred for years, well, you will end up with some liking bear, more and some prefer cats. They will run either but all dogs have a preference, cats, bear, coon, deer etc. Then it boils down to what fits you and your area you hunt, speed, grit, nose, feet, etc. In my opinion, you can make a dog to run about anything. But to have aline, that fits you, and your not culling hard, may want to find some lines, in terrain, the same as you, which hunts the same game, with sucess.