DG . . . this is all from memory but I want to say the dog was registered in April of 74 with Tom Stodghill's Animal Research Foundation by a man in Florida. Bruno wasn't born til October of 74. A fellow that I know called the registries and did some asking a few years back when the "first registered BMC" debate was going on . . . on another site. I did speak personally with the previous owner of NKC and he told me the timeline and circumstances on the first Ladner dog being registered.
I've owned a dog or dogs from Ladner and Carnathan breeding and while both produce some usable dogs . . neither of those bloodlines produce many of the type I prefer. But we all hunt differently and I'm looking for a special dog.
I've never even layed eyes on a dog from Larry Parker or Randy Wright so when I post about my preferences or my experiences or what I choose to do with my dogs I hope it isn't being taken as a slight against either of them. I know there are a lot of hunters who like what they've gotten from both of those breeders and that must count for something.
As for the family of dogs standing in my backyard . . there are probably a lot of folks with better hog dogs. I hunt several days a week with Bob Owens and I get my ass handed to me regularly . . . but that's by a man with older, finished hog dogs who has been breeding towards one goal for over 30 years vs. this Yankee and some young, bear bred Plotts. I have a ways to go, for sure. Now, if any of you would like to see how yours do on bears then bring your best and let's go.
It's a different sport.
I know that from these dogs that I have bred . . . every one I ever sold or gave or traded away made a good to great dog except one that I know of. That was a young female pup and she was re-sold at nine months old and her second owner says she made an excellent dog and he's now bred two litters out of her. That is a 100% success rate. As for the ones I keep for myself from those same litters . . . seems like I get about one in ten that pleases me. Either I'm a lousy hand with dogs or I'm lousy at picking pups or some folks are more easy to please.
