From the Archives

Above is a copy of one of Willet’s catalogs.  I am very hesitant to put things like this online as there are always those “haters” out there as well as others with diverse intentions.  Several have inquired about these catalogs and have asked for copies.  Some folks are just curious and others want something to legitimize their own kennel.  I have said before that my take on many of these kennels is that they are trying to ride the coattails of the line.  Many are putting “Patch” or variations of the name on their hounds and they are nothing resembling the original hounds or the vision that was set for the future.  As far as I know, back in the day, no one was attempting to use the kennel name OR name hounds 7, 8 or more generations removed from the Patch Kennel with the AKC registered kennel name. (There is a reason AKC protects registered kennel names.)   Ray Roberts of Lazy Acres fame, did not use “Patch” on the hounds he bred, and his foundation stock came directly from Willet and Mike.  Willet and Mike saw the Lazy Acres hounds and bred back to some of them on numerous occasions.  Hounds that are 17-18”, swing, cut and cheat or with poor, poor conformation are not what Willet was striving for.  Willet trialed in Large Pack and wouldn’t have lasted long with these negative attributes.

Also people doubt that Willet was selective in where his hounds went.  He was indeed selective.  He was not against selling pups and hounds but they did not go to just anyone that had the cash in hand.  It was a different time and the hounds were Willet’s livelihood, but there were those that were never getting a hound from Willet and he stuck to that, same for Mike.  You didn’t have to be someone special, but you could not be an idiot and still acquire a Patch direct from Willet or Mike.  The sales brochures of hounds available were mainly from the early years of the kennel and people were different in that time.  As time went on and people changed, Willet became even more selective and advertised very little. The Patch Kennel has not or will not (as long as I’m around) operate as an island, just extremely particular as to what is bred and where they go. (There are many GOOD houndsmen out there, unfortunately, many poor as well.)  I can list many outstanding houndsmen that the kennel has gone to and trusted through the years, they are just not the “wacko,” mouthy ones out there.  Just as a mouthy hound is a scourge to a pack, a mouthy houndsperson is a curse to a line.

Willet and Mike had discussions about the future of the kennel after Willet’s death and Willet outlined a vision to Mike.  Mike has outlined that vision to me and we have spoken about the kennel’s future after me.  Will I breed them exactly as Willet or Mike? Probably not as two people do not see the same but the standard does remain the same.  Willet wanted the hounds to go on and Mike and I are here for Willet and the hounds.  Willet saw the hounds Mike produced and approved, Mike has seen the hounds I have produced and has also approved.  How many kennels can show that connection? Continuity?

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