by Dale Marshall » Tue 04 Feb 2014 6:39 pm
Thanks for the replies and the comments, much appreciated and taken on board, to Peter, I never stated what discipline I was referring , the dog is a hunt test dog and yes you may be right but the dogs have to complete the tests that are set, miss and your out. I have been to the states and watched field trials and hunt tests we don't require dogs to run 500 meter blinds. So the reason I have gone the way I have is train ability , we all want hard going dogs but we also want good health, brains , a nose and a great companion that be calm around us. Some of the field trial dogs are very hot, great dogs with someone that can handle them, yes there are many people in Australia that have and are importing and I commend them, myself having a pup from Red that I am very happy with. I am studying genetics and have a few friends that have Masters in genetics that I rely on. Prefixes are built on competition and top trainers can make average dogs very good on paper, 2013 hunt test national had over 700 entrants we had about 60 . Maybe some don't rate the hunt test fraternity, their choice.
I know the dog Ammo, it's a bitch and I know the owner of two of her pups- Buddy (chocolate) Scooter (fox red) both stud dogs and top trial dogs, so I do my homework. Eic has been a problem in this country for many years and where did this disease come from, USA , why because people wanted faster big running dogs that can be trained by a collar to run a straight line, no nose but that can be handled to sit on a dime, genetically modified to do this, the bitches I have purchased are genetically as good as I can find, maybe not the best around but what I chose. Bitches carry about 60-70 percent of the genes, ( so I am told) So what your bitch lacks can be enhanced by a good stud. Gareth and his syndicate are importing- why? Because they are enhancing the breed. Anyone thinking they will make money out of the venture is dreaming.
The Irish bitch,s sire won the Irish Championship a month ago so I feel I did my homework correct on that one, time will tell and I wish Gareth and other importers all the success for their efforts. Also the dogs I am bringing in will be trialled, successfully or not this year in Tasmania, so a win in Tassie probably doesn't count in some peoples eyes, but they are judged on their merits and the runs are as difficult as any other state.