Message #201563

[uglydog]

I feel like its a complete package hunt, heart, drive, brains, and built right. Lacking one or the other its gonna have its effect in the woods in the long term on the other traits. If a dog is great hunter, heart and drive but physically not able to have stamina, or stay sound those other traits are not gonna matter/factor when it comes time to choose which is brood quality. I will still hunt a dog if I like the dog but it is a prospect for spay/neuter at that point.
I will also take into consideration a dog that has had several serious injuries (not genectic faults) for instance cartlidge/scar tissue build up in an elbow joint, of a dog that has been cut in the same local area multiple times, and that dog becomes lame after a hard workout, that dog is not a weak speciman but a factor of circumstance and that dog is still breedable. However if I have not raised that dog from start to finish and definate about the health history than a serious limp after a hard race/fight, will be a considered a fault in my book. I have a gyp that fits this description of injuries, at nearly 8 years of age, and only bred once, the offspring are coming two and the pups that are still around are doing well and I may consider using her one more time, IF I need another pup.
I also do believe FORM follows function, if a dog is not sound physically it can't keep up and work strenuosily multiple times a week for years. A dog that only hunts or works a couple times a month can't be judged the same way. Hip, joints, hearing, sight, issues will come out when a dog is being worked solid, won't have the shelf life. To me it has to perform, if it can perform to the standards I set, then I will consider it for breeding but it takes the whole package to be an effective animal