Rat
I would actually consider "not" getting a MVC since your lifestyle doesn't
seem to include much hunting - and let's face it, you are considering a
hunting dog, probably with a high prey drive, who will have his nose to the
ground when out and about, and will have "very" limited hearing when you
call him back if allowed to roam free on your jaunts. I can see you now,
trailing along trying to catch up with such a dog, mile after mile and
possibly never finding him.
He will bark continuously when finding a cat on a fence or up at tree and
will not stop until "you" get the cat or whatever. It is what he was bred to
do.
Personally I don't think this is a good choice at all. For a hunter, yes but
for a family dog - no.
One cannot get a dog specifically bred to do a certain job - AND with a very
small gene pool at present, and somehow expect him to turn around and become
a happy at home companion. It just doesn't work.
This breed will "need" to work I can bet on that.
EGD


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Howdy Rat,
Make a fast friend...... Adopt a Greyhound :-)

Frank X. Morris
http://community.webtv.net/Sulkhalil/SalukiCornerChime

"Sunflower" wrote in message
...

Yes, I have a suggestion. Go to a shelter and pick out a happy tail
wagging
mixed breed. Mixed breeds can have all of the qualities that you are
looking
for, and if you talk with the rescue people about your specific
temperament
requirements, they are sure to help narrow down the animals you may be
looking at. For family companionship, you can't beat a generic rescue
dog.
And, you will be saving a life. All good things. Don't encourage the
formation of questionable "new" breeds by making space in your home for
one.

I certainly think a rescue is a good idea, but I'm sorry, most shelter
workers I know are absolutely clueless about dog temperament. Heck, most of
them can't even begin to come close on breed or mix of breeds or have any
idea what size a puppy may get, and you're going to say they are good judges
of temperament?

Breed rescues DO often have a good idea of temperament. But most humane
societies I know employ mostly very low wage people and/or have young
volunteers who are long on enthusiasm but unfortunately pretty short on real
dog knowledge. And most are simply desperate to place the surplus pets
anywhere. An example is that after my neighbor killed his last humane
society rescue by leaving her out in the sun on a 100+ day with no water and
shelter and ignoring her barks and cries for help I called the office, gave
them the name and address of the neighbor and told them to red flag them for
another dog. The result? The neighbor had a new humane society puppy within
a week. And guess what? That dog is almost always tied outside, no matter
what the weather, with no water, food, or shelter. Hmmmm.

If the OP wants a purebred puppy, he has the right to get one. He's
obviously done his part by rescuing dogs for many years. I too would
recommend something other than the Mountain View Cur. A lab might work, or a
Boxer.

"avocado" wrote in message
...
If the dog "trees" racoons, might it not also try to "tree" a 3-year-old?
I
don't know, but I was just wondering.


Not in the sense of actually chasing him up a tree (unless he was willing to
go), but it would definitely be a game to bark tree on someone, say,
standing on a bed. I've known beagles who would use their tree bark on
cookies on the kitchen counter. Got your attention, which is their whole
intention.

A coon hound doesn't necessarily *want* to tree a coon. What he really
wants to do is catch it. It's not like a herding instinct. The treeing
aspect comes in when the coon naturally climbs the tree to escape and the
hound remains at the bottom, marking the coon's location.

~~Judy

"queenmother" wrote:

.. If
these dogs are being bred to be specialized hunters, they probably have
some
traits that will make them not the easiest of dogs for someone living in
the
suburbs.

That was the first thought in my head, even before I read the web page. I
have a suspicion that the OP really doesn't understand what "not hyper, but
a very active hunting dog which needs a lot of daily exercise" entails.
I'm also betting that he doesn't quite understand what the bit about the
dog checking in every 20-30 minutes means, nor the bit about "winding game
from hundreds of yards away". Translation: these dogs run miles away from
you, hunting prey independent of the humans, and circle back 2-3 times an
hour to check in with you.
That's not a dog well-suited to, nor intended for, suburban life. Which
is not to say they can't make good pets, but a dog like that is going to
need at least an hour of hard off-leash running a day, is going to have a
very high prey drive, and is going to be independent.

this is a type of coon hound, bred particularly to tree, the
barking issue will be a major one!

It says on the web page that they tend to be silent trailers, but I gotta
wonder what the neighbors are going to think of the described "high ringing
chop" when the dog's got an object of interest in sight. G

"queenmother" wrote:

The treeing
aspect comes in when the coon naturally climbs the tree to escape and the
hound remains at the bottom, marking the coon's location.

Yep. And the "high ringing chop" is going to carry for miles, and most
likely be deafening at close quarters... and will most likely be heard any
time the dog is excited. Brenin (who's half Redbone) doesn't sound off when
he's chasing something, but as soon as it stops (and that includes other
dogs in chase games), or when he wants something (his ball, my attention,
etc.), he makes non-stop noise.

I would suggest a Blue Lacy. Not too well known (as the MVC), not
inbred, has their own registry, highly intelligent/trainable, moderate
energy level, no typical 'herding' instinct (nipping at heels of kids,
etc.), weight 25-45#, very low maintainence coat.

I have my first Blue Lacy, who's now 13 wks. old. Hasn't chewed or dug
anything inappropriate, except uprooted my two potted ivy's--probably
because the trailing vines looked TOO enticing!). Is clicker-learning
sit/down, knew 'fetch' instinctively since 8 wks., gets along well
with my 8 cats & 2 other dogs, & started very promisingly on tracking.
Oh, also plays with my 6-YO son & his friends nicely, knows not to
jump on people, & loves rides in the car. Fairly low-maintainence
puppy, & I've been around a LOT of puppies.

Here are 2 web sites for more information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bluelacy.htm
http://ourworld.cs.com/bluelacydogs/.../business.html

I love 'em!

deb c.



(Rat Salad) wrote in message . com...
After reading all the "best breed" questions I am tyrying to ask this
one with enough information to get an answer.

deb c. wrote:

I would suggest a Blue Lacy

snip
Here are 2 web sites for more information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bluelacy.htm
http://ourworld.cs.com/bluelacydogs/.../business.html

I love 'em!

Too bad that the registries listed are scam registries.

Beth

Not the BLUE LACY registry. Perhaps the others, true. BUT the Blue
Lacy dog has even been recognized by the Texas Senate as a historical
dog breed in Texas. IMHO, you can't get too much more 'official' than
that for a non-AKC breed.

deb c.

ojunk (Bethgsd) wrote in message ...
deb c. wrote:

I would suggest a Blue Lacy

snip
Here are 2 web sites for more information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/bluelacy.htm
http://ourworld.cs.com/bluelacydogs/.../business.html

I love 'em!

Too bad that the registries listed are scam registries.

Beth