BigGameHoundsmen.com

All, I repeat all treeing hounds are running dogs crossed into dogs with treeing ability. It doesn't matter if it was done now or a hundred years ago. There has always been strains of hounds not used for competition cooning. Attempting to claim you get something that did not already exist when u cross modern running hounds with treeing coonhounds is false. You could claim that this is how you found what you like, but any other claim is an insult to the true houndsmen that originated the concept. Furthermore, making these crosses anew would produce less reliable results. Some would come out performing as running dog, some as treeing dogs and some with both traits. The older crosses that were bred back into themselves to solidify both attributes over generations would produce greater reliability in offspring having desired trailing and treeing traits.

I think genetic isolating of traits by good breeders solitifies those traits, also. Do the guys back east who have running dogs who tree get that tree by crossing out to tree dogs? I am guessing not. I think they breed dogs who show treeing instincts together within their strain to solitify that trait. In other words you don't breed a bloodhound to a greyhound and get all fast cold nosed pups. It is a long process no matter how you slice it. There are many ways to breed for desired traits and it is all based on integrity. I was always told that it is best to breed to likeness rather than oddness.

007pennpal; You are absolutely right and here lies the problem. With breeding we all have what we think is the perfect dog for us be it a bear, coon, lion, bobcat, coyote or hog dog. Or a dog that can do it all. It would be a insult to a true hound man and should be with all the breeding being done just to have a pup to sale or out of on so and so. For me it is a fine line to get what I want in a dog if they have to much of one type you get to go to trees with nothing up, to much of anther you don't move a track fast enough or you over run a track. It is like walking a fence it is easy to fall off of. Some of the thought from other breeders like Lyons or Tant said if you breed to much track ability you lose the tree, to much tree you lose the track. Charlie Tant as I understand it,every third generation he would breed Goodman back into his dogs. What ever he did work out fine in my opinion. There are people that have been breeding the two for years the Turnners are some of them and doing a great job at it. They have 1/2 and 5/8 running dogs that are good locating tree dogs and move a track fast. A difference of opinion is what makes all possible, ignorance and being judgmental is where we run into disagreement. A good debate brings up new ideas for all. Dewey

I don't know a single breeder that honestly believes they have the perfect hounds. Although I do know a few that advertise such a thing. Nobody can do it all in a lifetime. Its a constant struggle to improve what we were given by ole timers. And that is why we use other houndsmen's names beyond their years of breeding. I think it is the ultimate complement. Everyone with good dogs can't be famous.

[quote="cobalt"]I think genetic isolating of traits by good breeders solitifies those traits,

That's true, in respect to genetic isolating of traits, not by good breeders but by great breeders. Who knows how to achieve that goal? JTG

I was waiting for this to come up. Because out crossing anything is not a magical answer to success. AS with line breeding. It is a tool or strategy, that will be a life time comitment. Or possibly a person that just gets lucky, or feels lucky enough to try. And I guess people play the lottery all the time?????

Take care, Willie

With no malice towards anyone or what they hunt,just let me say that running dogs can be bought for a few dollars .A tree dog will cost you thousands !

With no malice towards anyone or what they hunt,just let me say that running dogs can be bought for a few dollars .A tree dog will cost you thousands !

Very well said 1bludawg "A Tree Dog" that is an honest Locater is a very valuable commodity. You said "Tree Dog" not "Tree Bred Dog" there is a big difference in those two titles.

But what use is the "Tree Dog" till the Varmint is forced up a tree?

And you are right there are lots of Running and Running Bred Hounds that are priced too high at a "Dime a Dozen".......yet I know of several that have sold for $15,000 and up in the last year or so and I know of about 40 that NO AMOUNT of money can buy.... They are the kind that made it necessary to own a "Tree Dog".

Oh and by the way some of these mentioned in the above Paragraph are "Tree Dogs" as well!

there are alot of tree dogs that can locate bobcats in 80 % of the countries terrain but few that can locate in the big timber. True locating tree dogs are worth a pile when you are hunting 100 ft timber. The trick is to have tree dogs that run like arunning dog.

Just have a quick question why can't the tree breed dog have the trail and tracking abiity of the running breed dog? Andy

Some of them do! Most of my good ones have been grade dogs but i've had some registered dogs that could run with anyone's dogs .I believe i have one now!

The Blueticks I hunt have been great on track and locating in Big timber, There ran with Walkers out of Cat dog lines and ran with some running dogs and my Blue's dont have a problem getting to the front of the Pack and holding the lead positions till the Cat is caught. They seem to locate the Cat's fairly quik compared to the other dogs Im hunting with....

merlo_105 wrote:The Blueticks I hunt have been great on track and locating in Big timber, There ran with Walkers out of Cat dog lines and ran with some running dogs and my Blue's dont have a problem getting to the front of the Pack and holding the lead positions till the Cat is caught. They seem to locate the Cat's fairly quik compared to the other dogs Im hunting with....

What bloodline are those blues? Asking about the you brought from back East. Al

Merlo105, Do your Blues have the S.R. Diamond Jim bloodlines? They are the best blues I've seen for bobcat! Cold nose,drifters,fast,and pressure tree dogs!&