I've had the privilege to hunt with many people over the years and see many good dogs.
One thing I've always strived for is to avoid the "whose dog is better" BS, and simply have challenged myself to raise and hunt dogs that suit me personally....after all I am the one paying for the feed. What I breed, raise and hunt would not suit everyone and for that I am proud. Another reason I think it is virtually impossible to ever produce a dog that everyone would be satisfied with....because everyone's expectations are a little different. I have produced some very good dogs (in my own opinion) and it's those dogs for which I compare my own to and that I strive to reproduce. I know the caliber of dogs the line is capable of producing and so my comparisons, expectations and criteria by which I cull is based on that.
Someone having a ood dog" just doesn't do anything for me personally. All that says to me is perhaps that person got lucky and raised a freak, maybe they had more money than the next guy and bought what someone else couldn't, or even someone gave them something special. What DOES impress me is someone who is breeding, raising and consistantly bringing their hard work to the woods. Those are the people who you should pay attention to, and learn from.
A person can beat their chest and claim to have the best dog in the world one minute, then find themself searching the dog trade the next when he/she gets killed.
Very well said Bryant and i agree 100%!
