Houndsman Spotlight By, Jim Lane

An “in-depth” Beagler Interview is an open ended, discovery oriented method to obtain detailed information about a Beagler, his hounds and beagling in general. Our goal is to explore “in-depth” a respondent’s point of view, experiences, feelings, perspectives and get relevant answers to questions that people really want to know within the sport of Beagling …

Enjoy the 12 Take Spotlight Interview of: Larry Perry

Name: Larry Perry Home Town: Branchland, West Virginia Phone: 304-778-7217 Kennel Name: Perry’s Kennels Bloodlines: Mt. Zion Pete

1) When did you get introduced to the sport of Beagling and what were the circumstances surrounding that?

“In the 1940’s, our family as far back as I can remember had dogs. Back then we had grade dogs, part beagle and part fox hound also part beagle and part feist.”

2) Once you decided to pursue Beagling, who “personally” influenced you within the sport of Beagling the most?

“The beagler who influenced me back then was Kermin Bryant, he ran a little different style dog than I have today, but they were good dogs. Some of Kermin’s blood line were in the foundation of the Gay Hounds of Frank Reese’s kennel.”

3) What were the “foundation” dogs of your kennel and exactly why did you choose them.

“The Foundation dogs of my current dogs and kennel were Deep Creek Jake and Clover Field Ginger. Jake was one of the smoothest running dogs I have ever seen, and Ginger was the hardest hunting dog I have ever seen… no exceptions! Ginger also had a big nose. I liked the “Dingus MacRae” dogs for their hunt. I have held to the Mt. Zion Pete bloodline as I liked their running style and their great running ability!”

4) What is the average size of your hounds, speed and general hunting style?

“The size of my dogs range from 13” to 15”. They are very aggressive with extreme hunt. Speed is not a big concern, as I expect them to go as fast as their nose and brains will allow them to, they are expected to do it right. They generally are between a 7 & 9, on my scale of 1-10.

5) What is your process/method and reasoning behind choosing “keeper” pups?

“My #1 reason for keeping a pup is it’s aggressiveness in hunting and in its overall personality. Sex, intelligence, nose, speed, and size also play a role in determining what pups I keep.”

6) Explain your training techniques and the methods you use to start, train and develop your hounds.

“At around 6 months old I begin taking my pups with an older dog that is slower so that the pups can get a lot of work. When I get a sense that they are well started I begin soloing the pups to see their individual traits”

7) What are the top 5 characteristics and traits that you expect and demand from your hounds?

“1- Of course is extreme hunt. I demand lots of hunt in my dogs! If a dog won’t hunt it is useless! 2- Nose, I like a really big nose on dogs. I don’t want to hole rabbits on top of the ground. 3- Brains, Dogs are like people some are smarter than others. I like dogs that know where to look for rabbits and which way to go once they have jumped. 4- Stamina I like a really tough hound one that can run all day regardless of weather and terrain, and do it day after day. 5- Behavior dogs that do not bark, fight, etc. in the kennel.”

8) What would you say your hound’s greatest “strengths” are and if you could wave a magic wand and add to, take away or change any one particular thing within your hounds, what would it be.

“My dog’s greatest strengths are their desire to hunt. The one thing to add to my dogs to compliment their great hunt, is a really big nose and the ability to use it the right way.”

9) What was the absolute best male and female that you have ever “personally” seen run?

“Deep Creek Jake was the smoothest dog with the speed he ran. Clover field Ginger was the best hunting female I ever saw. ”

Pedigree of Jake:

CH Confer's Speck Of Dynamite Playfair Cadet Showfield Winkie Little Rowdy VI Famous Amos VII Wells Vickey Doolan's Princess FC Indian Hills Majer Bell Mouth Tony Lord Buckingham VI Allmand's Fancy Girl FC New City Crystal Oxcreek Rex New City Tammy Northwood's Blackie IFC Lar-May Toastmaster FC Lar-May Huntmaster High Peak Babbling Pebbles FC Dingus Macrae IFC Wally of Floline IFC Cunningham's Annie IFC Cunningham's Janie Donna Ray Macrae FC Pate's Creek Limbo Galen Pates Boogie Pate's Reba Gibson's Hustling Peggy Jane FC Pryor's Tony Clifty Creek Boots Caney Fork Red Head

Pedigree of Ginger:

Playfair Cadet Little Rowdy VI Wells Vickey FC Indian Hills Majer Lord Buckingham VI FC New City Crystal New City Tammy Indian Hills Tonto FC Lar-May Huntmaster FC Dingus Macrae IFC Cunningham's Annie Julie's Hustling Sally Mae Galen Pates Boogie Gibson's Hustling Peggy Jane Clifty Creek Boots Smith Black Oak Black Diamond Rudy Terry's Smokey Mountain Patty FC Andy's Clover Patches Coldwater Billy Jack Eversons Patches Miss Mickey Roys Midnight Suzie Little Rowdy VI FC Indian Hills Majer FC New City Crystal Carrolls White Lady Damron Colonel Redman Carroll S Bonnie Blue King Jacks Little Queen

10) Who is/was the most knowledgeable trainer/handler and the most knowledgeable breeder that you have ever known?

“Mr. Kermin Bryant”

11) If you had to start over today with a total different bloodline, what bloodline would you choose and why?

“To start over with a different bloodline would be very difficult for me I have refined my lines for 40+ years and I really love my dogs. If I had to start over with different lines I would like to have some of the very old yellow creek dogs or some of the very old fish creek dogs. I think that these dogs would most fit the criteria of what I look for in a dog.”

12) What is your advice to the individual that is just beginning their journey in the sport of beagling?

“To young beaglers I would say try to watch as many dogs run as possible. Then figure out exactly what YOU want in a dog and go out and get it. Then try to improve upon them with selective breeding. I would also urge people not to get caught up in the “trends” go with a line of dogs that have stood the test of time the dogs that are the same day after day every time you take them out.”

More concerning FC Dingus Macrae, IFC MT Zion Pete and the bloodline that Larry Perry’s hounds derived from…

The Dingus Macrae story begins in May of 1973 when Lewis & Sandra Wormuth took their female; IFC Cunningham's Annie to breed to a very potent stud that was a proven producer, which was Homer Larmay’s 2006 Better Beagling HOF Inductee, FC Lar-May Huntmaster. On July 25, 1973 Dingus Macrae was whelped along with Catskill Mountain Darby and Juniper Swamp Tess. This “cross” was so successful it was repeated in November of 1974. On January 20, 1975 the second cross was whelped and included Dutch Fork Huntmaster, Hatfield's Prissy, Juniper Swamp Poly and 1980 Better Beagling Award 13" Bitch, IFC Hunter's Little Annie.

FC Lar-May Huntmaster was from a long line of Homer Larmay favorites. It included dogs such as IFC Lar-May Toastmaster, IFC MT Zion Pete, FTCH Model Swampy Toastie II, IFC Lehigh Abe and 4 crosses of FC Dagwood's Labaan in 4 generations. Most all of these dogs went back to Yellow Creek, but a particular dog was FC Trigger XVIII. Trigger was a favorite of Mr. Larmay and was used many times. He went back to Sutton’s and Sheik of Shady Shores breeding.

A look at Lar-May Huntmaster’s {Dingus’ Sire} pedigree:

FC Trigger XVIII FC Dagwood's Labaan Dewey Lake Clipper IFC MT Zion Pete FC Dark Knight Butch FC Baronet Darkness Baronet Belle IFC Lar-May Toastmaster FC Concord Sindy IFC Lehigh Abe FC Yellow Creek Abigail FTCH Model Swampy Toastie II IFC Pleasant Run Diplomat Model Swampy Floreen FC Model Swampy Toastie FC Trigger XVIII FC Dagwood's Labaan Dewey Lake Clipper Rekkabed's Danny FC Dagwood's Labaan Don's Little Lady IV Pewabic Hot Penny High Peak Babbling Pebbles FC Happy Tone Buck FC Horner's Happy Tone Buck Happy Tone Tot Ed's Suzette FC Dagwood's Labaan Clyde's Miss Midge Jim's Floa

IFC Cunningham's Annie & her littermate IFC J-Wal of Roxline were out of IFC Wally of Floline and Cunningham's Janie, which was out of a host of dogs that derived from Yellow Creek and Fish Creek, dogs like Fish Creek Andy, Fish Creek Butch and leading back to Fish Creek Farmer who also derived from Yellow Creek.

A look at Cunningham's Annie’s {Dingus’ Dam} pedigree:

FC Concord Spot II FC Katmir's High Speed Billy Dot's Chin Chopper IFC Mon Chien Wally FC Pastime Playful FC Mon Chien Pat Orchard Farm Streak IFC Wally of Floline FC Fish Creek Andy FC Flat Shoal's Buck Pine Hill Polly IFC La Reine Des Bois FC Ohio Diamond Windy Hill Lassie FC Swingalong Lassie FC Shaw's Clipper IFC Bealwood Mister Clipper FC Hayes' Hi Queen Otsdawa's Mohawk Otsdawa's Smokey Joe Otsdawa's Sandra Otsdawa's Two Spot IFC Cunningham's Janie FC Bear Creek Baldy FC Fish Creek Andy FC Hunter's Pollyann Otsdawa Stormie FC Fish Creek Butch Fish Creek Duchess Tinker Girl

Dingus Macrae was acquired by Bob Nicoll of Scotia, New York. Mr. Nicoll campaigned Dingus with great success. Over the years many trialers and breeders from many different formats have campaigned their dogs and have placed stud ads offering to the general public an opportunity to partake of a their male that “proudly” finished their championship. However, as great as that achievement was, very few could compare to the accomplishments of Dingus Macrae. Where some hounds take 30, 40, 50 and even up to 70 trials or more to achieve their Field Champion status,

Dingus Macrae was only entered in 14 Large Pack trials in 14 months. He placed in every trial that he was entered in and finished 1st place 6 times. He was a Field Champion at the age of 3 yrs and 1 month. Dingus was a 13” well balanced and solid rabbit dog that was trained on cottontail but was trialed on hare. Those that ran against him in trials nicknamed him “The rabbit machine they couldn’t stop” and the judges that judged him also nicknamed him “Mr. Consistency”.

Soon after he achieved “Field Champion” status, Dingus’ owner Bob Nicoll was asked the question “will Dingus produce good hounds?” Bob Nicoll answered; “Only time will answer that question, and over the years that has been the name of the game. With a trial record second to none and some of the greatest producing strains in Large Pack history behind him, there is ample reason to bet on the future of Dingus as a producer.” And for those that did indeed “bet on the future of Dingus”, it paid off. Dingus was bred over 50 times producing dogs such as; FC Maggie M III, FTCH Wabasso Sherri Lou, FTCH Mitches Roy Of Stratford, FTCH Branko's Close Call Girl, FTCH Branko's White Blizzard, FC Cane Country Jennie, FC Smokey Macrae, FC Perch River Little Colonel, FC Bungalow Hill Gert, FC Dygert's Duke, FC Dingus' Big Shot, FC Macrae Little Pete… just to name a few. Dingus Macrae was used to establish the very foundation of many beagle kennels, and is still the main focus and backbone of many breeders today. Dingus was “known” for his jumping ability, extreme hunt and “grit”. But Dingus became “legendary” by being a consistent reproducer of these traits in his offspring.

Mr. Perry has enjoyed the trickling effect of the consistency of the reproducing power that stemmed from Homer Larmay’s best for many years. When Clover Field Ginger was bred to FC Macrae Little Pete they produced “Perrys Sam”, who produced FC Chapman’s Hunter… and the list goes on and on.

Pedigree of Sam:

IFC Lar-May Toastmaster FC Lar-May Huntmaster High Peak Babbling Pebbles FC Dingus Macrae IFC Wally of Floline IFC Cunningham's Annie IFC Cunningham's Janie FC Macrae Little Pete CH Valar's Gruesome Grizz New City Bear New City Lonesome Lisa New City Perkin Panda Homer Bill New City Perkin Sandy Princes-Angie Little Rowdy VI FC Indian Hills Majer FC New City Crystal Indian Hills Tonto FC Dingus Macrae Julie's Hustling Sally Mae Gibson's Hustling Peggy Jane Cloverfield Ginger Black Diamond Rudy FC Andy's Clover Patches Eversons Patches Roys Midnight Suzie FC Indian Hills Majer Carrolls White Lady

Carroll S Bonnie Blue

From FC Trigger XVIII to FC Dagwood's Labaan to IFC MT Zion Pete to IFC Lar-May Toastmaster to FC Lar-May Huntmaster to FC Dingus Macrae to FC Macrae Little Pete to Perrys Sam to FC Chapman’s Hunter… an example of a complete model of consistency from Sire to son over and over again for 8 generations, within this particular cross. However, Mr. Perry has several branches {selective crosses} of this tree all going back to Trigger, Labaan, Pete… etc.