duckhill kennels????

[Nate40302]

I got a pup from Haynes in October from Kimber and Dell. I'll be sending him to Steve Vires next month. Seems to be a great pup. Haynes was easy to work with and had him delivered to my door. He runs a 1st class operation. You won't go wrong with him.

[Duck$$$]

Haynes trained my Brit dog when he was in Como. Had nice dogs then and I talked to him not long ago about a new pup. Very nice guy.

[Cat Squirrel]

Personally, I wouldn't touch one. I've judged several "Brit" dogs in HRC and minor stakes in FT's and always find them lacking, but I think it's more the training style. For the record, I never know a dog's origins until after ribbons are handed out. I deliberately do not look at catalogs and judge what's in front of me.

Notable exceptions are Mark's Ellie Mae (never judged her, but love that dog and would grab a pup out of her) and Bill's dog (again, never judged that dog) as well as Mark Sehon's Zeke (deceased).

I would weigh their advice heavily.

It might sound like I'm down on Brit dogs, but that's not so; I just think the training methods don't produce for "our" type of games and hunting style.

But, whatever makes you happy!

Mark, have you considered Ali? That would be interesting.

[GulfCoast]

Kevin: Thanks so much for the kind words about my puppy. That means a lot coming from someone as knowledgeable and dedicated as you. EMD had very cystic ovaries, and could not be bred, and has had her plumbing removed. I would have given an arm and a big fist full of dollars to have been able to breed her to Mark Sehon's Zeke and create a litter of little British Nature Boy Ric Flairs and Hawk & Animals to train for the big stakes. What fun that would have been, even if we never got any blue. I was set to breed EMD to NAFC Buster when we figured out she was cystic.

Of course, two of the "famous British dog guys who never trained in Britian" think EMD is "too hot" and not a suitable candidate for breeding anyway.... Despite my getting inquiries from a couple respected operations in the UK about my plans for breeding her as they were looking for a bit more "bottom" and blind running precision for thier lines. What a hoot the US "brit dogg" marketing machine has become. I hemmorage respect for Tom Hamilton but get highly annoyed by certain others trying to swim in that pond that are afraid to keep score.

Again to the OP, if you truly want British, look at Tom Hamilton (sires: Thor or Tommy x hunting/HT titled bitch) or Haynes Floyd (any HRCH/MH x hunting/titled bitch), and put the dog through US style basics without a heavy hand, and you will most likely have an animal that will do you proud unless you want to step up to AA stakes. If so, buy a horse bred for that particular course. Train for MOMENTUM, and you will get precision eventually. But get momentum, early.

If your not dead set in your "British" choice, don't overlook the hundreds of fine, easy to live with, jam up US hunt test/field trial litters, with health clearances, that are real bargains right now compared to the "going rate" for "british" puppies from untitled sires that are not even FTW's. And, you don't have to wonder about their "water attitude" as they were selectively bred for it.

Buy the genetics of a specific pair of parents, not a "lable" or "alleged generalities" from any particular marketing niche, from either side of the pond. And if you call Mr. Hamilton, tell 'em "Ellie Mae" sent you.