I have often heard of excellent ones hounds born by chance, born to two dogs not even remotely similar from a genetic point of view, the result of random mating and, so to speak, "tempted". It is probable that sporadically this type of mating can also give satisfactory results from the hunting point of view. But the concept of selection is quite different. The transmission of certain characteristics, both morphological and, above all, attitudinal, occurs through targeted couplings, between genetically similar subjects. In choosing a puppy or an adult subject for a breeding, the attention to a bloodline consolidated for years, from which medium valid subjects have always originated will not say a guarantee of success, but at least it will make it highly unlikely that that puppy or that litter proves totally unsatisfactory. What matters most is not so much the sporadic sample, but the average quality guaranteed over the years.
The importance of genetics can also be noted in certain aspects that greatly affect hunting: think, for example, of the importance of having hounds which by their nature reject wild animals other than hare. This will make it easier to train the puppy to reject such wild animals not only because, on average, the young will be less inclined or in any case not very keen on hunting other things, but also because it will be more likely that the same puppy will find himself going out together with subjects. correct adults, and by imitation he will gradually understand that certain animals must be ignored. The characteristics of the hound are innate: starting from an ideal scale of value from 1 to 1, at the day of birth the hound has a potential within itself, consider for example equal to 8. There will be no way to make it become 10.
But it will be easy to keep him at 6 if the puppy is trained incorrectly. I have seen hounds of enormous potential being wasted by the wrong hands. Likewise, I witnessed the work of hounds of mediocre quality to be exalted to the maximum thanks to the skilful work of the hound. The choice on which current to make one's choice will depend on the needs and preferences of each one.
It is also true that the type of training that the dog is subjected to and the type of terrain on which it is used will have a certain influence on the training of the hound. But certain characteristics can neither be added nor removed from the hound, because they are innate and therefore essential to its method. Genealogy has a great influence on this concept: that potential comes precisely from the genetic makeup of the hound, and will therefore be a fundamental starting point.