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June 2022 Newsletter Flipbook PDF
June 2022 Newsletter
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Hunt PELO RASO A number of people have been curious about the Pelo Raso in America. I wanted to inform everyone that they have arrived. They came special delivery via “Red”, the stud currently housed at the Master of Hounds kennel. They were a part of their recent Pelo Forte litter. Everyone meet Chloe, a very handsome bitch whelped by three time BIS (Best in Show) winner Arca (That’s 3 out of 4 shows! Each one, equivalent to majors).
BOOKS The club has been lucky enough to have gotten the much sought after “Il Segugio Italiano a Pelo Forte e a Pelo Raso” written by Mario Quadri & Pialorsi Falsina.
Mr.
Quadri has since passed, but the book is known to be one of the best books on Segugi Italiano in Italy. The book is in Italian, and we are currently working on having it translated into English for English speaking readers. In it is a wealth of knowledge, which includes important illustrations for judges’ education as well as the care, character and breeding of the Segugio Italiano.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
A successful future for any breed or organization is rooted firmly in its stewards’ mastery of foresight, and therein lies the vision often placed in a single sentence called the vision statement. Our vision is “A breed without compromise”. The vision is for both the breed and the organization. It is based on a triad breeding principle: “Companionship, Work & Morphology” three characteristics that should be the pillars of every breeding program, a requirement for all breeding stock. Health of course, goes without saying. This can only be achieved through GOOD kennel management.
VISION DISECTED History A co-worker once told me “When you understand a thing, you do it better.”
Let’s
take a look at where these ideas are coming from and why it’s important.
Origin Whenever the club makes decisions, Italy, Italian breeders of both Pelo Raso and Pelo Forte are consulted.
So, they have been very much present for everything that
we do/have done thus far, giving our stance more of a world view than a country wide one. When one has a vision it needs to be one that reaches far into the future. Many people, especially those who have contacted me directly regarding the breed have heard me mention my desire to acquire less expensive Segits for the “common” dog owner and hunter. My first breed, the one I know best is the Beagle. I literally grew up within the Beagle community, reading The Rabbit Hunter, Better Beagling, Hounds & Hunting, writing and communicating with people all over the world, going to dog shows when I could, collecting and devouring every book in print on the breed. The first path I thought to set the Segit on, was the one I was most familiar with, “the beagle”. “Everyone” loves a beagle!! Hunters buy, sell, and trade them like playing cards. They’re inexpensive easy keepers that are a lot of fun. I wanted
America to fall in love with the Segit – even more so than the beagle, as they are most things a beagle is and many they are not – in the best way. I thought this way, without even thinking. I have a BS (yes BS not BA) in Marketing; my specialty is product management. I have an MBA is in accounting, and my not yet finished Ph.D. is in Organizational Psychology.
My mind is ladened with
business. With a Type A personality, sometimes one can get lost in the goals and miss out on details.
My goal is to make the Segugio Italiano a successful breed.
What does it mean to be successful? What does that look like? That translates into a breed that is well known, well liked, and enduring. I thought to do that through access, accessibility to expedite their popularity and price them in accord with the American hound community.
It was instinctual, but ultimately, it’s
marketing, Price Product Promotion and Distribution, the mantra of any marketer. But like many leaders, I am supported by consultants and often I don’t make a move without them. Even this article was not published and written without consultants and subjectivity.
Foresight: Building for the future As I started forward thinking, I began to see the damage of an old adage from bygone times. It was the separation between the field dog and the show dog. How? Inexpensive Segits are not easy to obtain from Italy; however, they can be inadvertently created. Not every puppy is show quality. A puppy begotten in America with good hunting instincts but less than amiable conformation would be a GREAT deal for a hunter & hunting. They’d be sold less expensively than a dual-purpose puppy. That’s what the field dog is in many cases, a great hunter with less than adequate conformation. What I’m about to say, should’ve been my first clue that my vision at the time was skewed “My own kennel would never have such a dog, as I ONLY deal in dogs that can work AND show.” Breed never mattered. If its job is to be a companion, it should be a good companion. No exceptions. Let me say that again “My kennel
would never have such a dog. No exceptions.” Yet initially in my mind it was okay for OTHERS to have in their kennels what I would NOT. Today, it boggles my mind that I would lower the club standards and the breed standards to something I wouldn’t put in my own kennel. Conformation
Role of Conformation Some don’t understand what makes morphology/conformation important.
It’s
important when the standard and the utility coincide. The Segugio Italiano breed standard is written to optimize performance in the field. An English Bulldog can have all the nose in the world, but without the physic, he cannot run game. This is an extreme analogy, but simply put, a dog with poor conformation will be outrun. The Segugio Italiano standard is not LIKE the standards from some other breeds where the standard is creating a dog too stocky to run like a field bred dog. The Segit standard was written to a fast-running field bred dog. this way for centuries. It is what we seek to preserve.
The breed has been
The dog should be quick
with stamina and a keen sense of smell.
Hunter’s Vice You’ll see a number of photos/videos of Segugio Italiano in a line hunting. What is shown is line control. The dog(s)’ ability to track exactly where the prey had been. If hunters seek a slower dog, than we’d suggest picking a different breed, as that has also been the bane of some breeds. Hunters have mixed and breed away from what the dog is meant to do/be to create for themselves a bloodline that suits them. I have seen big running dog breeds be bred to run closer. I’ve seen slower dogs sped up. It is not JUST the show breeder creating distance between the standard and the breed, but hunters breeding dogs to perform in a way they were not meant to. While I cannot readily see any complaint with the way this breed runs, it is something to stay acutely aware of.
‘If this breed is not what you want, don’t attempt to
make it into what you want. Simply pick another breed. There are many. ‘
Poor quality puppies should be sold as pets or as spayed/neutered hunting companions. Dealing with the breed in the ‘fore mentioned manner only takes the breed a step back. It’s not just ONE breeder that needs high standards!! Kennel’s Role
Breeder’s Standards Many people who own and breed working dogs blame the AKC for the state of the breed, to share the blame or to outright own it, is the breeder, as well as the breed clubs. Breeding standards are but one aspect of kennel management. AKC is a registry, but the people who drive the breed club, the conformation standard, health standards and the breeding standards is important. Most important however, are the breeders, the people who deal with the ins and outs of the breed in this country every day. Who breeders choose to sell their dogs to and the level of quality they decide to produce is of the utmost importance. There’s dozens of little articles and sayings and check lists on “what makes a good breeder.”
I’m sure many of you
have seen them. If not, I’m sure you’ll find some if you look it up. Ultimately, breeders are choosing the next “generation” of breeders, and with it the direction of the breed.
Operations Something that may be an afterthought, is kennel management.
One issue in
particular is breeders not having space in their kennels to keep all their puppies if they don’t sell (and be alright with that until the situation changes). This has a direct correlation to “who they sell their dog to”.
In many cases they have a
number of breedings planned for the future. It creates pressure to move dogs on in order to open space in the kennel for the “new arrivals” (puppy or dog). Whether the puppies come or go shouldn’t matter. When we start to feel that pressure, that’s when we’re in trouble.
Breeders should be able to live independently of the
income or space a puppy sale can provide. As a buyer, you may want to find out, not only the qualities the puppies are bred for (as well as ensuring all testing is done), but why the breeder is breeding in the first place. Ask yourself if their answer or perhaps your own is a good one. We don’t need extra dogs in the world. There
are tons in rescue, shelters, and available as pets from quality breeders. The world is FULL of nice, wonderful dogs. Triad
Working Ability as a Pillar The importance of conformation has been discussed, but there’s two other sides of the triad. The first was companionship and the second working ability. Why is working ability important? When a breed loses its working ability, it loses its purpose and with-it part of its character. It is no longer a Segugio Italiano.
The
loss is more obvious when you think of a companion dog that is not a good companion. A companion dog that snaps and bites, doesn’t have the temperament or behavioral traits known for the breed.
Without an acute sense of
smell, the antics, drive and behavior of the dog will be lost. Imagine yourself with poor eyesight. You’ll no longer paint or draw or “see” the world as you once did, rather, as you would have, not ever having had good eyesight. The way you interact with the world will be different. Without nose, the way the breed interacts with the world will be different. The way he experiences it will be different. his behavior will be different. His character will be different.
Thus,
Ergo: “If it can’t work,
don’t touch it”.
Companionship as a pillar Poor temperaments/poor companion qualities must be culled. Eventually-, the dog will no longer be suitable for work, for breeding and likely too old and out of shape for show. What will “he” do then? What will the ugly puppy do?? He MUST be a quality companion.
One day hunting may disappear.
In order for the breed to
continue, it must possess the qualities of a great companion. “Companionship, Work, Morphology” In that order. Cuteness has been the bane of a number of breeds.
Beauty and coat cannot be at the center of any breeding program. Work
is a part of the breed’s character, but companionship is key to its longevity and ability to retain its home. Club Official Stance Biddability, working ability and physical characteristics all come together to make the Segugio Italiano who, and what it is. The club’s official stance is a dog should not
be bred without the character and characteristics that make a Segugio Italiano a Segugio Italiano. No dog should be breed without a working certificate, without health testing (none required for Segits), or with poor confirmation. Given that the Segugio Italiano is new to America, there is not yet a singular working certificate available. There are two certificates that a dog should have a Tracking certificate and a CAT certificate, not to be confused with Fast CAT. These events are open to dogs of any breed. It will test the dog’s tracking ability as well as its stamina and ability to chase. Two working certificates along with a major conformation win are the minimum breeding requirements for any reputable breeding program. Once hunting clubs are established, the standard will revert to dogs requiring either a hunter’s certificate or the two working certificates in addition to a show win equivalent to at least ONE major (4 or more dogs) preferably a Certificate of Merit or Championship. A decision regarding a petition to participate in Lure Coursing will depend on CAT runs. These standards have also set the bar high for my own breeding stock and breeding program. As a word of warning, before CAT training learn about bloat, as the breed should be handled as if it has a propensity for it. Our next article will talk about bloat and morphology.