finished dog $$

Alot of good points made. I want to add my 2 cents worth also. I know alot of people always say "well if the dog was anygood or as good as the seller says he would not be selling it" I have a totally different opinion on that matter, because over the years I have bred alot of dogs and can't keep them all, they continuely have gotten better by breeding, raising and working them to be them to be better, with each breeding. Generally I keep three pups from each litter for myself and by two years old I know which ones fit my program and which ones will better work for other folks, that does not mean that that I kept the "best". For instance two weeks ago I sold a 3 and half year old male dog, one of my favorites and a proven strike dog 99.9% trash broke, that would find, stop and hold a bay by himself. The reason I sold the dog was because I know he will become an better dog where he went and I take pride in knowing the dog is going only get better being the lead dog and will get get more hunts and hogs where he is at. I adore the dog, but by my hunting program, he will have had to stay in rotation with my other dogs, that I am also trying to "bring out the best in" meaning he would only hunt 3 to 8 times per month and at new location he will hunt 12-20 times a month given him the oppertunity to really show what he is made of. So I guess what I am saying is I did not want to sell the dog, (or others the same thing) but by me sacrificing him, I in turn will better my program as I hope to better my breeding and training program by building further on a good & fair reputation. When I get calls from people who have my dogs, and they are very happy with the dogs and give me feed back that "Joker was out in front, threw his head up and took off, 875 yds by gps and bayed till we sent the catch and then caught a big boar" I am tickled to death and guess I feel like I can be happy knowing that dog, a 3rd generation bred dog is giving them exactly what I would expect from him, is pretty darn satisfying. I have gotten two calls from Florida about an 11 month old pup, completing the hunting pack as able to stop and holding the biggest hog that they have ever caught, helping me to know that what I take satisfaction in knowing I am doing something right.
Call me GOOFY or whatever, but there are dogs out there off this yard better than the dogs I hunt for myself. I feel like I sell you a crappy dog, you won't be happy and my name will be MUDD, but I sell you a dog that you are happy with then I will hopefully have your respect and will come back to me for the next dog, when you are ready, and I should be able to have the right dog for what you want, because I will know what you want in a dog.

So to what a dog is worth question, I have to say what do you want in a dog? what are you willing to put into the dog? And are you willing to pay a fair price for a dog?

Most people say "I am looking for a strike dog" well if that is all that you have to say, I can find you twenty different dogs that will strike hogs, but will they make you happy, doubt it, cause that term has too many variations and needs a much more detailed description, plus If you don't come see the dog hunt, and see for your own eyes if it works well you are setting yourself up for failure in finding the dog you are wanting and by the time a dog has changed hands 3 or more times, the dog may be confused as hell. No two people handle dogs the same, My husband and I get different results from these dogs that have been our pack for 8-10 years when we hunt seperate then what they do when we are hunting together. That is because even he and I work them differently. I got a dog here that will roll off a hog and hustle hard for me, if anybody else is there he will stay caught and have to be pulled off a caught hog, it is hard for me to believe, but when I am up at the hog he is gone already. Thomas has a 10 year old gyp that will hunt close and wind or take hot tracks and she is good, but when he is not around she rarely checks in with me, she don't like me much except at feeding time. We have owned both these dogs all their lives, but are a great example of how much conditions and enviroment can affect a dogs behaviors. So when it comes down to it, I still believe what works for one person won't work for the next person. Your junk could be my treasure and vice versa, finding the right match will take some time, miles on your vehicle, research on the buyers part, and alot of time in the woods paying attention to dogs behaviors, and an open mind, eyes and ears. Sorry to be so long, good luck, Krystal