I have bred dogs for many years and have learned two things. The first being, no matter what you start with or how you breed them, dogs will gravitate to average over time. The second being, after hunting with great and really good dogs, you realize average is not all that good. The sad part is, people are hunting and breeding dogs that would not make the cut back when dogs were needed to survive. I know it's due to the land and hunting situations of today but it's still sad that the the get it done or die trying dogs or disappearing.
bigo...I agree on 2 things you are saying...if left on their own, dogs will gravitate back to average...but if bred right..the dogs will improve beyound where one starts a breeding program...I truly believe that...
and in reality for me there are no such thing as an average hunting dog because that dog belongs with the culls...now there are times that we must tolerate that dog until the right replacement comes along...and...that average dog shouldn't be bred because it begits more of its kind...which is a dog that is a cull or on the replacement list...
