Don't know where you live, but I live in Hillbilly country. The term Hillbilly used to describe proud mountain dwelling people of Celtic descent, fiercely independent.
Not now. There are a lot of inbreds (not dogs, humans) here, who have become dependent on years of liberal guilt-laden government interference.
Anyway, I live in bear and 'coon hunting territory. The 'coon is the official state animal, and the hunters here have been known to pay upwards of tens of thousands of dollars for a good 'coon hound.
That same dog owner might be govt. dependent, living in a trailer, with a satelitte dish and trampoline outside, but he knows a good hound.
Consequently, we live where dog thefts are routine. If you'll check your hunting dog history, Tennessee Lead, the sire (listed in the AKC) of all of today's American hounds are descended from TL. He was stolen from here and taken to Kentucky.
The official wildlife agency reports from the 1970s list the good hound bloodlines here as being the #1 factor behind the decline of the raccoon in that decade. They have since rebounded, mostly because the 'coon hunters have quit shooting them, and just use the hounds for treeing and bench events.
I know a thang or two about dogs :)