I know this is something often talked about amongst dogmen/women alike for hours, days, weeks, months, years and decades. But truly in your opinon how do you feel a gyp should be managed? We can look at past success stories but lets be honest, some of them were out of this world bitches that had ability to produce, some just got bred to studs of a lifetime and most good bitches were lucky enough to have 2 of the key componets: 1. Bred to a valuable stud dog 2. a competent owner who raised schooled and showed offspring or placed them with good men to do what they would do.
When we think of the gyps of times we have to realize that of the millions of dogs, we always seem to name the same bitches, to me that makes them the exception but not to be excused from conversation because those bitches were great. But really how does one go about picking his foundation bitch for his yard and yard to come? Is it simply a good bred bitch that you approve and when she gets to maturity you breed to a few studs of choice and raise, school, cull & work the offspring? Do you believe the foundation bitch should be a bitch that has proved or showed what she has in according to how she is bred so you have an idea what to add or breed her to in hopes of adding to create complete package?
I ask because there are exceptions to both processes, we have dogs like Black Widow, Awesome Baby, Ms Trinx, Faith, Red Baby, Boudreaux Scream, Maloney's Dolly and so on, who never had to win a "show" to prove there worth.
We also have the Ch Honeybunch's, Art's Missy, Miss Pool Hall Reds, Miss Spikes, Rocca's Cherry Bomb, Lee Ling's etc, that had good or great careers and then went on to produce above average and create some great hounds.. Again I know there are literally millions of other dogs that are wasted, destroyed or life cut off short before they have a chance to equal these dogs but of the thousands upon thousands that do make it almost 98% fall short.
We all can agree production and performance are different worlds but often we approve a dog to go for production means after he/she has proven his/her performance abilities. We also can agree on "average" that males are often asked to prove more than the gyps. I understand if you chose her to be your brood bitch then she doesnt have to perform because you have her to basically equip your yard with hounds to do the performing. But what in your opinion has worked for you or have you seen work that often manages the gyp best. Performing then producing or given a chance to produce? Is it often that most performing bitches dont live as long as bitches that arent taken thru 2-5 keeps? Being on trail leaves less time to produce, as Im sure the owner's of the Tornados's, Queen of Hearts, Molly Bee's would have loved to enjoy more..
What route would you pick? Which route seems to have most success in your experiences? How would/did you pick out your brood bitch to be bred? Linebred, in bred, 50/50 75/25 or almost as pure as you can find? How would you consider her first 3 breedings? Looseline breed her to family member, inbreed her to father, brother? outcross her?
Just something to think about?? Interested in your responses
