OK, I have some questions and thoughts on owning this unquestionably good looking pup.
First of all, he has a beautiful expression, is outgoing and so far, at twelve weeks has no obvious conformational issues. The parents are great- he's "all grand" for five generations- so all of his immediate relatives are nite hunting grand champions, and his pedigree is liberally scattered with show champions as well, including his mother, in both the PKC and the UKC. Should he trurn out well, we would like to take a crack at showing him.
I think I would like to register him in the AKC. He is eligible, and, since the Walker was just fully recognized last year, it's kind of interesting. I feel weird about this because I actually dislike the AKC, but maybe I can do my small part to stop them from screwing up my favorite breed of dog by actually participating....or am I just rationalizing. I don't know. Frankly, I don't think the breeder is too thrilled with this idea either.
Then there is issue two: there is no health testing in coonhounds. None of his relatives have had a hip x-ray or anything else. Neither have they ever had any health problems. The stud dog is nine years old, and has a web based TV show where I have personally seen him running for miles over rough terrain without a bad step. He is currently the top coonhound stud dog in the country.
The bitch is a resoundingly healthy dual champion with most of the best dogs in the last thirty years in her pedigree. I'm just not too worried. But I am prepared to listen to what people here have to say about these issues. I guess if i wasn't bothered at all I wouldn't be bringing it up.
First of all, he has a beautiful expression, is outgoing and so far, at twelve weeks has no obvious conformational issues. The parents are great- he's "all grand" for five generations- so all of his immediate relatives are nite hunting grand champions, and his pedigree is liberally scattered with show champions as well, including his mother, in both the PKC and the UKC. Should he trurn out well, we would like to take a crack at showing him.
I think I would like to register him in the AKC. He is eligible, and, since the Walker was just fully recognized last year, it's kind of interesting. I feel weird about this because I actually dislike the AKC, but maybe I can do my small part to stop them from screwing up my favorite breed of dog by actually participating....or am I just rationalizing. I don't know. Frankly, I don't think the breeder is too thrilled with this idea either.
Then there is issue two: there is no health testing in coonhounds. None of his relatives have had a hip x-ray or anything else. Neither have they ever had any health problems. The stud dog is nine years old, and has a web based TV show where I have personally seen him running for miles over rough terrain without a bad step. He is currently the top coonhound stud dog in the country.
The bitch is a resoundingly healthy dual champion with most of the best dogs in the last thirty years in her pedigree. I'm just not too worried. But I am prepared to listen to what people here have to say about these issues. I guess if i wasn't bothered at all I wouldn't be bringing it up.