Why dont more people

Yup, many of the AKC breeds are a great example. You can see from the new Border Collies that it only takes a couple generations to ruin a working dog. And there are some show quality Golden Retrievers in my agility class that can't run in a straight line nonetheless hunt all day.

But the saddest part about the Lacys is many aren't even being bred to a physical standard. The majority of breeders aren't trying to improve or even maintain working ability or conformation. They just look for papers and breed away. The only thing that matters is if they get blue and tri pups, because that is what all the pet owners in Houston are looking for. They could care less if the dog can actually find and bay a hog in the woods. For a hog hunter to pay $400 for a pup like that is a complete waste.

Then again, I don't think it's too much to ask for a Lacy from proven working lines. It's sort of like the Dogo argument, they aren't a common breed, and the working version is even less popular, so there is the novelty factor. But just like the Dogo, don't expect them to be something they aren't. In general, they have warm noses and are short to medium range. They are also wicked smart, extremely agile and have incredible endurance. Maybe they won't find as many hogs as a hound, maybe they won't stop as many runners as a rough Cat, but they'll go all day and come out of the woods in one piece. To me, that's extremely important, but everyone has different priorities.