The ultimate goal is keeping the best performing animal but without a crystal ball I just rely on looks, personality and gut feelings. Something that I'm a sucker for is if there is a pup who seems like he is near the top of the pecking order . . but without being the most aggressive. I think it's a confidence thing and the other pups know it without him having to bite holes in their ears. IMO . . confidence, self esteem, independence . . whatever you call it . . is a big factor in a dog being great versus being a decent representative of his pedigree

X2
If I had to choose at 6-8 weeks old, this would be my pick.

I love to watch the dogs work but this is probly even better than that.


Shotgun
Arkansas

That's where its at.....Priceless!!!!!!!

[10 acres]

If you reside in Texas and shoot on your own property, how many acres do you have to shoot on? From the research I've done, I found something that said 10 acres but that sounds like a lot of acreage just to shoot on. Any info would be greatly appreciated, I'm looking for a property but want enough land to shoot on. Thanks.

It would be more efficient to check with county and city reps in your perspective area.  Just cause ETHD says "I think maybe". Won't get you out of a pickle down the road. Some counties probably don't care if your neighbors don't care, others may string you up.  Hand guns shot against a tank bank and sighting in a deer rifle are huge differences.

I think it's starts as looking for common ground to start a conversation. I think it ends up them reciting every thing they have been told to sound more knowledgeable about it. Once they get going they are scared if they stop they will loose their train of thought. 


Shotgun
Arkansas

LOL And show their ignorance /misinformation  about what really happens. 
 
You would think with the popularity of it, the folks with the nerve to stop you to talk would be more experienced or at least better informed.

I don't necessarily mean indoors. I just mean around the house in the yard with the family when not being hunted.

It will be different from line to line, and probably more important how you socialize and discipline them. I have had patterdales as my buddy and house dog for about 11 years now. They have been fine with my kids, most are aloof toward children. They would happily greet them but weren't usually interested in playing kid games like dress up and tea. The drive can be managed and trained to appropriate time and place usage. BUT  like I mentioned it varies greatly by family/line.  So much so you'd swear they were different breeds.

As far as blood trailing, they should be more than capable, but keep in mind there drive is not to please a handler, it is predatory.....traditionally. By that I mean they could very easily be side tracked toward live game vs trailing a scent they have learned will not put up a fight.

Why even bother with it? You already know a littermate has a full on case of deafness, so just skip on that litter, or possibly even that breeder all together and get something that's more genetically sound.

Just friendly advice, you may take it or leave it.

That would be good idea, but he would have to avoid every breeder that had a Merle color dog whether it was cat, aussie, leopard hound, collie, and farm Shepard's. Oh and dotsons lol.  It is very much genetic but is also directly connected to the  mutated Merle gene, in most cases double Merle but in some as Mr Whitten mentioned the ghost or "Cryptic Merle".

http://www.fairmatecatahoulas.com/merle-gene.html

Sure worth the time to prep and cook. I told the wife just last week it was getting about time for another roasting.

How do they hunt for you ?

I tend to keep mine pretty close, they won't bark much in a group over 1. They hunt hard though. Different family lines can be VERY different from one another, enough to make a guy think they were different breeds. Different style of dog obviously makes for different showing in the woods.

They are real good little dogs, generally.  They are smart, head strong , independent, and Prey Driven. If you start with good blood and invest the time to disapline , train and direct that Drive. You would have a real good dog. Most are hotter nosed, but have plenty of hunt......comes with the drive thing. LOL. They are not for everyone for sure!

actually it has nothing to do with DNA it is just that 6 generations bfore that dog has been registered  . my leopard hound gyp is not pr bred because some of her ancestors where not ukc bred dogs .

You'd have to really stack em up to get 6 gen. since 2008. I know they're around but darn that's quick.

Some are just like that....don't need your attention. I have one coming around 3, don't know for sure she was given to me at about a year old.  Couldn't catch her off leash.......still can't.  But I bet if the tail gate is down when she get off the chain....where going huntin' . I have to handle her different than the others....not really handle her at all. I give her the option to come along or not. I've never left her by her choice.  I guess you need to assess the hog catching value with yours, does it WANT to go hunting & catch game. That alone can persuade the dog to respect and get along with you...if it is driven.  If your mess in with a timid dog with no game getting' / hunt to catch drive....your wasting your time.  If the dog is driven but questionable about human interaction, leave it alone...provide the option to go hunting/get on game.  If you read back there are a great many stock/ hunting dogs that are said to be "owned by nobody" most times those where the better working dogs and therefore bred off of. 

If given the chance does the dog do a job? If you like it leave it be.

Just my nonsence take for what it worth

So much for a phone call and hand shake.  That's the problem with the Good ole US of A every f-&+ thing is a national issue.   Call in Obama care!!!!   Keep it up and get more assistance than you ever dreamed of.

dogs, horses, kids (and women ... a joke) any pack animal, and yes humans are a pack animal, want a clear definition of the hierarchy inside the pack. To have success you first have to make sure it is clear in YOUR head and the dogs that YOU are the alpha. Heavy handedness alone will not get you this spot and many people miss that point. Dogs, kids, horses and women want to be punished when they screw up, it not only hopefully solves the problem but re-asserts you as the leader. Most problems with a pack of dogs, a marriage, a work place, or a country can be traced back to an unclear definition of who is in charge! Fairness goes a long way too. In apes, a big male can be alpha on force alone, but once the strength is gone,  he is overthrown. If he was un-fair or brutal in his reign he is either killed or shunned, but if an alpha ape was fair he is allowed to stay with the pack at a lower rank.
Dogs do warm to some people more than others, I don't think it is a gift, or some psychic power. Its all in body language, how you walk to a dog, your voice, your role in the pack, past experience with you etc. Its a tight rope walk between confidence, leadership, punishment, and careing. We can all learn to have this "gift", and it should be something that every dog man is working on everyday.

Agreed and very well said...but, to me, it doesn't explain situations like the one I described in ny original post.  This gyp is a very "alpha" type dog, hell she even hikes her leg to pee and will go mark after another dog uses the bathroom:D.  The gyp and my daughter had never seen each other before and that was their first encounter.
It's these "one off" encounters that people get to witness that sometimes bring their attention to a possible "animal whisperer"

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Have to agree with Ed. The gyp does not sense any reason to display or assert her dominance, she is ultimately confident and not remotely threatend by your daughter who had no intention other then love on her.

Great Topic!!!   I feel like those that have it are born to it. Yet seem many loose it with life taught lessons. I am not convinced its confidence specificly but maybe more a lack of pretensions, a genuine what you see is what you get. 

Obviously just an opinion though.

Be real careful with that young one though, I feel like animals build the same pretensions based on past encounters and are not always receptive.

If you had a question about the dogs why didn't you just ask it instead of bashing a mans add because it wasn't to your liking?  Who cares if you don't like the way it was written.  It's not your add.  Even if he had posted a huge pedigree, coming from a line like shives, I doubt too many people would recognize many, if any dogs.  Some lines are still kept close and kept right without a lot if advertisement.

That being said it probably could have been handled better via pm...

Just responding to provocation..... can't handle it???

I'm not real big at all, but at least have enough to take it up one to one, unless provoked.

You have a very valid point,  he needed my opinion like we needed yours.

Yea but his opinion made better sence than ur pm to ked.
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LMAO......I so sorry oh judge of men.

If you had a question about the dogs why didn't you just ask it instead of bashing a mans add because it wasn't to your liking?  Who cares if you don't like the way it was written.  It's not your add.  Even if he had posted a huge pedigree, coming from a line like shives, I doubt too many people would recognize many, if any dogs.  Some lines are still kept close and kept right without a lot if advertisement.

That being said it probably could have been handled better via pm...

You have a very valid point,  he needed my opinion like we needed yours.

I see you decided to add a picture, tell your buddy they are good looking, healthy looking pups. I still don't see any mention of the exemplory qualities of the parents beyond Shives, Thorton, and a 30 year hog hunter of OK.
Beside the fact that my point was terribly missed...........

You advertised pups, That you don't get your hands on....but you don't have pride or respect enough for them to mention anything about the parents that make them breeding material that they, themselves show you in the woods on a regular basis. Looks like to me that you are selling these pups based on the supposed blood line and quality of somebody elses dogs. My  PERSONAL MESSAGE to YOU was not initially directed at you or the quality of the pups BUT the lack of merit in your statement/advertisement.

The pups I can't get my hands on, (and actually want to) are not advertised in this manner.

I still have have a question though, what qualities are required to qualitfy as JAMMED UP! ?? or PROVED THEMSELVES!

You are very right about the sad state of our culture

Some breeds have ole tales about better dogs being naturally bobbed and dew clawed.

I've read about litters of game dogs killing each other as pups.

Some lines of hard terriers will too.......its probably the screaming  distressed sound from the attacked pup more than anything.  High prey drive !!!!!!???