Does anyone have suggestions on the best JRT-beagle lines? How about some examples of great dogs, their best traits, their parents names and their owners or breeders names.
I'm leaning toward a smaller dog - I get frustrated when the rabbit disappears in the brush/scrap pile - so does my hawk - she still thinks the rabbit will come out if she waits long enough.
But I also want a dog that can track better than my vizsla - she does track, but tries to use her eyes when she needs to use her nose sometimes.
as for lines etc.. i have no idea... most of the beagle/jrt ive heard of are all bread in the Pacific Northwest area, but thats only the ones ive HEARD of.
as for using a nose... ive seen them use their nose in the bush and around them, and then across open cover, if they see it they will track via eyesight, but if lost they will turn right around and go back to the ground with that nose.
The hawk chassed it and pinned it and mickdog saw the flight and followed the hawk from 200 yards away. I was expecting the rabbit to flush for the hawk but mick plowed in and got um before he could.. poor modoc was still watching the bush even after i packed the rabbit and moved on.
I had the pleasure of seeing Joby and a few other falconer's mini doxies hunt, on an outing Joby was kind enough to invite me to. Those little dogs were awesome. We worked 2 wooded fields in particular that covered a LOT of ground. There were spots with fairly sharp 20' steep drops. Those little guys could go through anything. The range of ages of the mini doxies out there varied quite a bit, yet all the dogs pushed rabbits consistently for hours. I saw a lot of bunnies die that day. That was the key for me. When it was all said and done not a single mini doxie complained about a bad back. I did a little, but that's besides the point.
A lot of breeders of different breeds will probably tell you similar stories about how great their dogs do in the field. Picking out a breed and pup eventually comes down to personal preference. Go out and hawk with the breeders of the breeds you're interested in, if they're kind enough to allow you this privilege. If you pick a breed you like, and it's breeders are successfully doing the work you intend to do, and don't have a history of the problems you're concerned with, the odds are in your favor. Don't sweat the health stuff TOO much. When you're at that point, address your concerns to the breeder and listen to what they have to say. All they can really go off of is their experience in their past breedings. If you're still concerned with a low risk chance of an issue, see what kind of guarantee they offer that address your concerns, come to an agreement, and go have fun with your new pup. It's pretty simple stuff, really.
Post by pioneersnt on Mar 12, 2008 22:22:36 GMT -5
diane said:
So, I'm asking questions, reading, etc. Then I will get a pup and hope I made the right choice for me and my family.
Diane
It's nice to hear someone being responsable and doing the research before getting their pup.
You're on the right path. Keep up the research.
Some will say that one aspect of the dog is more important than the rest, but you CAN find a dog that fits your needs that has it all, Health, structure, temperment and workability. You just have to do more work to find them.
Good luck.
Edd/ Rural SoCal "Question with boldness even the very existence of God; For if there be a God, he must surely rather honest questioning, than that of blind-folded fear." Thomas Jefferson
Post by Falcon Boy on Mar 12, 2008 22:46:23 GMT -5
Maybe, but if you nit pick every breed and find flaws in every one you will never be happy. Find a breed that will do what you want, find a responsible breeder, and there isn't much else you can do except keep the dog healthy. If you are overly paranoid about every single thing that CAN go wrong with a breed you will never end up with a dog.
And i agree with this quote from k9jay-
If you pick a breed you like, and it's breeders are successfully doing the work you intend to do, and don't have a history of the problems you're concerned with, the odds are in your favor. Don't sweat the health stuff TOO much. When you're at that point, address your concerns to the breeder and listen to what they have to say. All they can really go off of is their experience in their past breedings.
Example- I personally have been researching basenji's, which can get fanconi syndrome as well as an assortment of other genetic problems. The key is go to a responsible breeder, with basenji's that usually means having their dogs DNA tested before breeding, and do your best to keep the dog healthy
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
Maybe, but if you nit pick every breed and find flaws in every one you will never be happy. Find a breed that will do what you want, find a responsible breeder, and there isn't much else you can do except keep the dog healthy. If you are overly paranoid about every single thing that CAN go wrong with a breed you will never end up with a dog.
I absolutely agree.
I was just stating that she should be commended for the approach she has taken, and the most valuable step in selecting a pup is the research BEFORE the breed or the pup is selected.
As Diane stated, every breed has its issues. By doing the research she will be aware of the issues and make an educated decision about what breed is best for her. She will also know what health certificates and test results to ask the breeder for. I don't just ask the breeder what the test results were, I want to see the documents. If it is at all possible you should get as many generations of information as possible. The health of the pedigree is sometimes as or more important than the health of the sire and dam.
Disclaimer: This is my opinion. The following statement is made from a breeders perspective. Others opinions and expectations may vary. As consumers you should not only expect, but demand more of breeders. You should expect the pup to be healthy, have proper temperment, be structurally sound, and to perform the task they were bred for. There are breeders in every breed that produce to these standards. With the right amount of research they can be found.
P.S.
I also looked into the basinji breed some years ago and was impressed by the testing requireed by the parent club for recognition. However after researching the breed, it was the number of potential problems and the high occurance rates at the time that ultimately led me away from the breed. Hopefully the number of tests required by the parent club has helped reduce the issues within the breed.
Edd/ Rural SoCal "Question with boldness even the very existence of God; For if there be a God, he must surely rather honest questioning, than that of blind-folded fear." Thomas Jefferson
Post by forestfalcon on Mar 13, 2008 18:18:02 GMT -5
joby said:
Isn't the Basenji the dog breed that doesn't bark? Boy would my neighbors love that. ;D -Joe
They don't bark, but instead they yodel. In my opinion, yodeling is much worse than a bark...unless of course, it was my old mini dox, in which case, I'd rather shove something sharp into my ears than hear her bark.
"We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?" -Bloc Party
Post by dirthawker on Mar 13, 2008 19:29:58 GMT -5
forestfalcon said:
joby said:
Isn't the Basenji the dog breed that doesn't bark? Boy would my neighbors love that. ;D -Joe
They don't bark, but instead they yodel. In my opinion, yodeling is much worse than a bark...unless of course, it was my old mini dox, in which case, I'd rather shove something sharp into my ears than hear her bark.
Post by basenjishunt on Mar 14, 2008 10:05:55 GMT -5
I've got 2 Basenjis. The only hereditary issue to be concerned about is Fanconi. There is no various DNA/hereditary issues. They are for the most part the most unchanged breed of dog you could ever get. They are the same as 4,000 years ago. My 1/4 pure African is completely clear of Fanconi. Also, I personally don't know of any "B's" that have it. Testing for it is easy, and so is the protocol fro treating it. The dog will be 100% for it's lifetime even if it has Fanconi, as long as it gets the ....I think it's actually bicarbonate, or something cheap like that. If you get a Basenji, or see one( or 2) hunt, you'll be a believer........... ;D
Edd/ Rural SoCal "Question with boldness even the very existence of God; For if there be a God, he must surely rather honest questioning, than that of blind-folded fear." Thomas Jefferson
Post by basenjishunt on Mar 16, 2008 8:38:32 GMT -5
I hope people keep believing all that! The less people that are interested in a Basenji, the better it will be for the breed. That way there won't be any real problems bred into them. Try doing some research(if your interested) as to how they stack up statistically against any other breed, as far as health problems. One can compile a list like that for any breed. If you want to see an honest(no propaganda) site about basenjis go to basenjis.dk. If you fomulate opinions by taking info from websites, and not actually talking to ,or corresponding with people that know, you will be missing alot. Just my 2 cents.-Tim