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if certain traits set breeds apart then why not combine instead of saying boy i like my plotts grit but sure do wish they had the nose of a blue dog.

Thats because 2+2 does not equal a 4 in breeding anything. Scale of 0-4. 0 being worst and 4 being tops. 4+4 might get you a 2 or maybe even a 3 but most likely not even another 4. So best to best is about as good as anybody can do, registered or not, same breed or not. The list of dislikes on a dog considered for breeding had better be pretty dang short if non-existant. Otherwise its in there somewhere. It will come back up most likely. You can get lucky and mask some traits or even breed them away. I just don't see how that can be beneficial though if it doesn't work. To much time money and effort tossed to the wind on an if. Some folks that been doing this since they fell out their mammy's a$$ just know beyond the shadow of a doubt what a good dog is and does. They have the ability to recognize this in other dogs as well. Different strains and/or breeds. Using that knowlege they've got they can safely evaluate two hounds as black and white in the woods and make useful crosses. Whether registered or crossed. They also don't start out w/ anything less than good blood to do what they intend. They recognize this either by early starting or having generations already of proof. Breeding dogs is not about fantasizing or holding your mouth right.

very nice post. i can agree with 99% except i have seen 4's bred and 5's come out of it. determination of quality breeders is to have the ability to reproduce dogs better than the parents. which is not always the possibility or the case and you figure you aint gonna get a whole litter of 4's or 3's. best case scenerio is one exceptional dog in a single litter 50% of the time but this has an additional factor of what exactly the person breeding is breeding for and what they prefer compared to another hunter.

Yeah and the part you may not get is that the MAN behind that dog determines whether it becomes a 4 or maybe a 5 but its got to be there first. A 3 is about the best they crop out for me. Sadly enough everybody's 3,4 & 5 aren't the same either.

lol yea each person has a diff idea of their number ranking. i'm not the best puppy trainer in the world or even the county. i still struggle with patience. the 95% of my 4's and 5's have been bought and not trained by me. i jumped at the chance two weeks ago and bought 2 5's but it cost me. i like bout any dog that suites me but i have really enjoyed my crossed dogs this past year.

well i'll be honest with just 74 votes i'm kinda shocked by who is winning. i would have figured english would have been a number one but suprisingly enough the blue dog is ahead. of coarse around here the blue dog is not very common even though there is a few around. i have a half bluetick half black and tan that i think very highly of. for those of you that like the blue dog cross so well could you tell me why YOU like your cross. yes i know we are talking several dogs with diff traits and personalities and hunters with diff ideas of what a top dog is. just kinda wondering what about it strikes your fancy.