Mostly leopard curs, but I keep a plott or two around and a houla.
you gotta have at least one yard dog...
JK
First thing I would recommend is a true honest evaluation of him. Grab a pen and pad and list out the good and bad about the dog. Major and minor. Breed worthy dog is going to have a larger group of positives than negatives, but no dogs perfect. Got to be honest about it too, will only hurt your program if you make excuses or overlook the downfalls of a dog, its called kennel blindness and its been the downfall of several programs. Look back over that list and figure out what traits are most important to you. Really this process just helps in defining what to you is the perfect dog, how close a current one is to it, and helps set you up for what direction to take. If a dog is lacking in an important trait for you then it is time for an outcross, find another line thats renowned for what yours is lacking and go from there. If all the most important traits are there then its time to look back into the ped for a line breeding or possibly even an inbreeding. The goal of any breeding should be maintaining and improving upon what you have. Linebreeding/inbreeding amplifies all traits, good and bad. Your not introducing anything new into the gene pool. Its often a good way to find out what your stock is lacking because it will bring it to the surface any flaws. Its also the only way you are going to get consistency. Out crosses bring to the table whats known as "hybrid vigor". This is why you will often see exceptional dogs from 50/50 crosses. If you keep doing crosses though you will never have any consistency. This is an extreme simplification of some breeding tactics, but its a start. And of course there are always exceptions to the rules.
In regards to your dog in particular I can give you plenty of insight and direction on the OFRN side of things, but my first hand experience with those particular garner dogs is limited, so you will be better of searching for someone actively working those dogs to figure out what they bring to the table and what they lack. Just be be mindful of salesman tactics. Many will say whatever it takes to sell you what they have.
-Joe Corvino
we must of read the same book...
and this is worth repeating...
Just be be mindful of salesman tactics. Many will say whatever it takes to sell you what they have. one thing I learned years ago...when shopping for a pup or dog don't tell the seller what you are looking for because it never fails...they always have exactly what you are looking for...
always make them tell you what they have...if they can't tell you what a good dog is supposed to like... or hunt... then they don't have any business breeding dogs...much less selling them...
