[falco]

Actually Erin the reasons for breeding are personal. Some of the best dogs available are cross breed which are not shown and do not contribute to any breed. You may or may not make money. Probably not, but that is probably OK. To say that only show dogs are worthy of breeding is flat out wrong. Some of the desired traits that certain breeds are known for have actually been hurt by only breeding for conformation and not performance. Chesapeakes come to mind. There are already plenty of pups and dogs in the world without another litter, but if you want to have a litter and will be responsible with the litter's health and placement, then the rest of the reasons are up to you, nobody else.

Good Luck,
Falco

 

[falco]

Originally posted by Aruuuu:
Falco,

Are you a breeder of quality dogs of any kind? While pups are bred for conformation, those who will not make it into the show ring are often used in field trials, doing what I believe bassets were originally bred to do. To say that breeding for conformation is NOT breeding toward the breed's intended use is a completely false statement. In the dog breeding world, the expression 'Form FOLLOWS function' is tantamount to everything. No one should breed their dog/bitch without keeping that in mind.

A 'personal' choice? Maybe. Do you have the time and resources to breed? Can you afford the health testing, the puppy immunizations, any treatment for those emergencies that may arise? Are you willing to take back a ten-year-old dog when their loving owners can no longer keep them? Those are the personal issues that need to be thought out.

Someone breeding 'just because' should not be breeding at all.....

I'm not discounting all your statements. You do bring up some very good points.
However, as you stated, "those who do not make it in the ring, are often used in field trials." This may be true, but that doesn't mean that they are the best suited for this. For some field trials having a "show dog" with great conformation but without having bred the genetics necessary to perform with the best trial dogs would be pointless. A Lab, Chessy, or Golden from proven field trial champions would likely have much better success then a bench dog that was bred for confromation, while ignoring the other traits.
Now lets talk about real life. How about the duck hunter who wants a dog for the 10 times a year he goes out but also needs a pet. Odds are he'll opt for a dog that has some intinct, some conformation, but really wants a great family dog for the other 355 days a year. For a guy like this trainability and disposition is everything. A trial dog would be too much. A bench dog may not be enough or could be too much or maybe just right.
I doubt you and I would agree the term quality dogs. However, when I have chosen to have a litter, I have always bred dogs that had health guarantees, had bloodlines consistent with traits I hoped the pups would have, and have raised healthy pups with veterinarian checks, and placed in what I believed to be good homes. To me thats good enough. If not for you then great. My point is the bench isn't the final say when choosing to have a litter.

Regards,
Falco

[ February 22, 2005, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: falco ]

 

[falco]

What makes you believe that dogs cannot be used for rabbit hunting in Utah. It is not a traditional way of hunting them here, but there are no laws against it. In fact for Jack Rabbits there are now laws regarding them at all, as they are a non-game species. But for Cottontails, which is what I'm interested in chasing, as long as they are in season where you are hunting you can use a dog.

Falco.

Just as a disclaimer. This is my first basset and I am learning a lot about the breed. I have had more experience with bird dogs and some of my comments are based on this. Perhaps bench and field bassets are closure to having both form and function then other types I am familiar with.

 

[falco]

Actually Betsy I did check. Your post got me thinking maybe I had missed something. I checked the 2005 Upland Game Proclamation. Page 12 states that a dog may be used for locating and retrieving upland game. In the cottontail sections there are no restrictions on dog use. I think they would specifically state it it there was a prohibition. Maybe this is an un-tapped market Anyway thanks for the comments, I hope to take Chloe out in the next week or two. If for nothing else just to let here run and sniff. If we stumble across a rabbit, then thats a bonus.
She is now 12 weeks old. She is starting to pick up on the house training thing. She now goes to the door, and if I'm quick enough she waits to go outside. Sometime her early warning system is still a bit slow. Patience is a NECESSARY virtue.

Falco