Current Breeding

Perfect Ten Kennels

Breeding for Spring 2010

*March 15, 2010*
I dropped Louie V off yesterday at Bubba's, and no confirmation yet, but Hazel is definitely in heat and vet checked ready to breed. We're gonna let them spend the week together and hopefully we'll have some buns in the oven soon. Hazel is the gyp pictured below posing proudly on her dog-box. This is a first cross, but should produce some really beautiful pups from some great hunting pedigrees, and will hopefully turn into a proven repeated cross for both our kennels. Pictures to come as soon as possible. Thanks and check back soon!

Also been talking with my buddy who sold me my first RedClay pups a couple years ago, trying to get a half-brother/sister out of the same line to breed some line-bred pups out of in the fall. I'll update this soon with much more information/pictures.

  If you'd like to have your stud dog or brood gyp posted on our breeding page just EMAIL me and send pictures and info.

Billy (top) Rose (bottom)

Louie V

Bubba's gyp's we plan to breed to Louie V

Looking for a blue-ticked stud for Dixie Dot (above)

Should be between 14-18" at the top of the shoulder

Willing to travel/negotiate stud fee

B.G. at stud

($150 or pick )

Willing to travel or host

Let our error, be your trial...

A little bit about our breeding strategies, success, and mistakes.

When it comes to breeding, I'm still learning more and more with every cross we make, and I have a lot left to learn. The genetics involved in breeding are not unlike the genetics involved in human reproduction. There are so many factors and genetic inheritance issues associate with reproduction that being able to predict the outcome of those genetic variations can be a career all in and of itself.  I'd like to think that after learning as I go, maybe in 30 years I can call myself an amateur geneticist. HAHA

The truth is that it is extremely difficult to predict the outcome of genetic crosses, although some of the variables are very visible and easily detected. Colors, size, and shape are all easily identified through a quick visual analysis of the dog, but it is the underlying invisible genetic traits that pose the most problems to potential breeders. As a rule, we do not breed dogs with known health concerns that may be inheritable. By removing these potential threats from the breeding gene pool, we are hoping to reduce the risk of passing these problems on to the next generation of pups.

I select my breeding crosses by matching up the dogs on several levels. First and foremost is hunting ability. Next I evaluate the dogs based on size, build, and color. The last thing I look at is speed. Some folks will undoubtedly disagree with me on this, but I feel that speed is individualized between dogs, and not necessarily inheritable. Certainly two fast parents have a higher chance of producing a fast pup or two, but I feel this is more due in part to the parents overall physical condition. For example, a cross between an older stud who's lost some of his speed, to a younger gyp can result in an entire litter of fast pups. To me, speed is not so much a factor as I like to keep dogs of various speeds for various uses/drives. When hunting I match my dogs up based on speed, so having various speeds is essential.  However, I also understand that folks who may only be able to own a couple dogs, would be more concerned with having all the dogs around the same speed. Thats why we like to lightly start the pups first before selling, so we can better judge the speeds and seperate them accordingly. 

There is a movement towards breeding beagles to walkers and vice versa, resulting in taller hounds.  I personally do not like this cross, as it sometimes results in bringing undesirable health/genetic problems into the beagle bloodline. Rather, by selectively breeding taller beagles, you can achieve the same results with less potential for disaster. With the internet becoming so popular, it is no longer necessary to restrict your breeding within your local area. By expanding your area of search, your now able to find bloodlines to breed with that better meet your specific criteria. More to come on this post soon....