Choosing The Right Pup

Rueban, I agree with your statement completely.

and you are right about the smart pups sometimes don't make hunting dogs...but in my book the once in a lifetime dog is one that is a top hunting dog and has above average smarts to go with it...

I was just pointing out, that I picked that pup because she was smart. I have linebred these plotts where I know what most of them should be doing at the age I culled her & I will admit that 7 months is early to cull a dog but when you have 5 or 6 of her littermates all running & baying & she is just standing there, she did not meet my criteria.
And yes, most of the very top dogs are super smart.jmo

There are some very good points made on choosing a pup & most will go with what has worked for them in the past.
The only thing I disagree on what you said is picking breeding ability. I dont know how you can pick that until a dog proves himself in the woods & when he does, there is no sure fire way of knowing if he can produce himself until he has some litters that are being hunted. Not arguing, jmo Now also like you said if you know the ancestors of the dogs in the pedegree & their characteristics you should have a good guess on what the pups will do. We do think a lot alike.