Southwest Grand Champion of Show Brazos Valley Precious 2016, shown by Sandy Dixon, MFH, is a lucky mistake. Standing is judge John Tabachka, professional huntsman for the Sewickley Hunt (PA). / Tara Tibbetts photo
Brazos Valley Precious 2016, an American foxhound, was crowned Grand Champion of the Southwest Hound Show on April 22, 2017. Precious is closely inbred; her sire and dam were littermates, Brazos Valley Mystic 2010 and Molly 2010, respectively. An unusual breeding practice for sure, and about which I was anxious to talk to breeder Sandy Dixon, MFH of the Brazos Valley Hounds (TX).
Both Mystic and Molly were hound show winners in Virginia, and their sire and dam were hound show winners. The four foxhounds comprising the first two generations from Precious account for eight grand championships at MFHA-sanctioned hound shows! And if you go back just one more generation, who appears in Precious’s pedigree (top and bottom, because her paternal and maternal grandparents are the same) but Potomac Jefferson 2005, the MFHA Centennial Grand Champion Foxhound…the king…the Clarke Gable of the North American foxhound world.
Three times Grand Champion and sire of Precious, Brazos Valley Mystic 2010 / Liz Callar photoPrecious’s sire Brazos Valley Mystic 2010 won the Grand Championship at the Southwest Hound Show for three consecutive years, and was Grand Champion at the Central States Hound Show in 2010. Mystic’s and Molly’s sire Brazos Valley Catfish 2006 also won three consecutive Grand Championships at the Southwest Hound Show. Mystic’s and Molly’s dam Brazos Valley Meadow 2006 was Grand Champion at Central States in 2013. Meadow was bred at the Potomac Hunt (MD) by huntsman Larry Pitts, drafted to and entered by Dixon at Brazos Valley. Meadow’s sire was the knockout handsome Potomac Jefferson.
Precious’s dam, Brazos Valley Meadow 2006, was Grand Champion at Central States in 2013 and a daughter of Potomac Jefferson 2005. / Greg Germann photo
Precious was bred much like European royalty—all in the family. But even more so. Breeders know that the results of inbreeding can be successful beyond one’s wildest dreams. Or a nightmare.
“People are going to wonder, what was she thinking?” Dixon admitted readily. Well, just as riders don’t plan for the occasional involuntary dismount, so Dixon didn’t plan on this involuntary mount.
“I was visiting Albert Poe and had my dog hounds and bi*ches separated in the trailer,” Dixon said. “I was feeding Molly separately since she was in season, and somehow Mystic got the job done.”
After initial uncertainty about what to do, Dixon decided to go ahead and whelp the litter, then decide. Fortunately, all the puppies turned out “perfectly normal,” she says. And Precious is “beautiful” as well. Precious was introduced to the pack late last season for a few hunts, and Dixon says she behaved like “any other puppy.” She’s confident that the litter will enter well this season. She also knows that luck rode with her on this one!
Fort Leavenworth Valor was judged Reserve Champion. Valor, a Crossbred hound, was Grand Champion of both the Southwest and the Central States Hound Show in 2015. All foxhound types—American, English, or Crossbreds—compete against each other in a single ring at Southwest. John Tabachka, professional huntsman at Sewickley Hunt (PA) judged this year’s show. Exhibitors included Brazos Valley Hounds, Fort Leavenworth Hunt (KS), and Independence Foxhounds (TX). Click for complete results.
Posted May 17, 2017