I always thought that the best thing the BMC had going for them was when they weren't as well known. There sure wasn't as many to pick from in the past as there are now. I imagine is was just the same with any other breed. Popularity leads to all kinds of breeding. For money by some and alot of breeding with good intentions by others. "much of it misguided". Breeding to preserve the breed as they were when they were founded has it's merits and I strongly support that, but is not practical for the way most folks hunt these days or for the pigs of today. People didn't want their pigs or cattle all chewed up and wanted to lead all their stock to the pens in the past. Most people don't have the patience to let their dogs work and settle a bay and as soon as they hear a bay they send the catch dogs. I think you almost have to hunt this way some places these days as the pigs are going to break bay and run more often than not and alot of the dogs today don't have what it takes to keep them bayed or the bottom to find, stop and keep them bayed as long as it takes. I not only think it is due to the popularity now and junk breeding as I think there are very few who still use these dogs on a regular basis to work stock for a good part of their living. The dogs are so varied now you can almost get what suits you for your needs if you look really hard. From the stock dog with natural lead ability and classy baying style to the rough, catchy type of dog which seems to be more the norm these days. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to hunt. A man just has to sort through a bunch of BMC these days or know who has the dogs that suit the style of hunting a fellow is looking to do. Seems like hunt and bottom have taken the worst licks of all.
I agree Bob, you just keep line breeding for hunt and bottom or "prey drive" as we call it and thats all we can do for the breed. I think as time goes on the hunters will get pups from you and Spivey and help this breed out in the future, I appreciate all yall do
