Post by Joby on Oct 29, 2007 16:22:06 GMT -5
Hi Kitana,
Don't know if you were directing your question at Fred or me, as we've both posted under this heading. As Fred said, longhairs are the way to go, especially where you're at. He also discussed the sizing of the dogs well. I do differ a bit from Fred on a couple of points. Both he and I definitely agree that doxies, whatever their size are great hunting dogs, especially the long hairs. I just choose to go with the smaller ones because I'm tired of losing rabbits down ground hog holes. With a mini (you're right when you say that under 10 lbs is best for go-to-ground ability) there is no place that a bunny can go that the doxie can't. But, even the larger ones like Fred's "tweeners" or the really beefy ones ("standards") can go under a lot of stuff (although the beefier standards are really pushing it).
Regarding the digging aspect, I've only had to dig one of my dogs out once and that's cause a JRT went down the other hole and blocked him in. I have never had a dog get stuck underground themselves. But then, both my dogs are only 8 lbs., so smaller is better, although desire is important also.
Regarding the breeding, I do disagree with Fred here a bit. Not on the hunting desire (although Teddy Moritz who started the whole doxie falconry craze might disagree here) but rather on confirmation. Unfortunately, though many of the hound breeds still have the desire to hunt, they've been breeding the confirmation much more for the show ring (bassets are a case in point). So, many of the doxies have been bred to have massive chest circumferences (even the minis) and uniformly short legs. Most of the stuff that Teddy has been breeding for has been a small chest (to fit down the holes easier), for longer back legs (to cover ground better), and for a more athletic build (less "weiner length" means less back problems and thus a sturdier dog). Even in these litters you might find certain puppies with less desire than others. My most recent litter was a case in point. RT and Rdtle on this list both got puppies from Bayli's litter and when run on San Juans they both were stone cold killers, with a lot of hunt desire. The little female that I kept to work with, was a little more stand offish at first, although she's starting to come around some. So while breeding IS important, it's less from the "hunting desire" side and much more from the confirmation side. And thus, it's really only important if you're going for a mini-doxie (e.g. a small chested 16 lbs. standard is still not going to be able to go down holes).
If you want a dog for next year, I'd think about getting one of Fred's pups as you could work with it this year and have a pretty well started pup by next year. Or, depending on how RT and Rdtle tell me Bayli's pups do, I'll probably do a re-breeding next year. Or, you can always give me a call 614-312-5004 or PM me and I can find something from a some other litter of Teddy's line when you're ready. And like Fred said, the reason we chose these dogs is cause after we're done hunting, these dogs love to join us on the sofa and chill. They're just great dogs!!
-Joe
Don't know if you were directing your question at Fred or me, as we've both posted under this heading. As Fred said, longhairs are the way to go, especially where you're at. He also discussed the sizing of the dogs well. I do differ a bit from Fred on a couple of points. Both he and I definitely agree that doxies, whatever their size are great hunting dogs, especially the long hairs. I just choose to go with the smaller ones because I'm tired of losing rabbits down ground hog holes. With a mini (you're right when you say that under 10 lbs is best for go-to-ground ability) there is no place that a bunny can go that the doxie can't. But, even the larger ones like Fred's "tweeners" or the really beefy ones ("standards") can go under a lot of stuff (although the beefier standards are really pushing it).
Regarding the digging aspect, I've only had to dig one of my dogs out once and that's cause a JRT went down the other hole and blocked him in. I have never had a dog get stuck underground themselves. But then, both my dogs are only 8 lbs., so smaller is better, although desire is important also.
Regarding the breeding, I do disagree with Fred here a bit. Not on the hunting desire (although Teddy Moritz who started the whole doxie falconry craze might disagree here) but rather on confirmation. Unfortunately, though many of the hound breeds still have the desire to hunt, they've been breeding the confirmation much more for the show ring (bassets are a case in point). So, many of the doxies have been bred to have massive chest circumferences (even the minis) and uniformly short legs. Most of the stuff that Teddy has been breeding for has been a small chest (to fit down the holes easier), for longer back legs (to cover ground better), and for a more athletic build (less "weiner length" means less back problems and thus a sturdier dog). Even in these litters you might find certain puppies with less desire than others. My most recent litter was a case in point. RT and Rdtle on this list both got puppies from Bayli's litter and when run on San Juans they both were stone cold killers, with a lot of hunt desire. The little female that I kept to work with, was a little more stand offish at first, although she's starting to come around some. So while breeding IS important, it's less from the "hunting desire" side and much more from the confirmation side. And thus, it's really only important if you're going for a mini-doxie (e.g. a small chested 16 lbs. standard is still not going to be able to go down holes).
If you want a dog for next year, I'd think about getting one of Fred's pups as you could work with it this year and have a pretty well started pup by next year. Or, depending on how RT and Rdtle tell me Bayli's pups do, I'll probably do a re-breeding next year. Or, you can always give me a call 614-312-5004 or PM me and I can find something from a some other litter of Teddy's line when you're ready. And like Fred said, the reason we chose these dogs is cause after we're done hunting, these dogs love to join us on the sofa and chill. They're just great dogs!!
-Joe