I want all my dogs "
to be able " to do it by themselves. That is drop them ( CAST OR ON SIGN OR TRACK), leave, find a hog, stop it and then keep it stopped / BAYED till I GET THERE WITH THE CATCHDOGS. I can tell when a pup is young if he is independent or not and thats what i look for along with hunt. The rest of the above listed traits will come with experience and time and exposure to the woods. I want an independent pup. I think a lot of people would see holes in there dogs if they dropped one dog by its self where they didn't have another dog to help them out. ( IF AN OLD DOG IS ALWAYS DOING THE WORK THE REST OF THE DOGS LEARN TO FOLLOW THE OLD DOG THEN THE OLD DOG DIES OR GETS KILLED THEN U REALIZE THE OLD DOG WAS DOING EVERYTHING THE WHOLE TIME AND THE OTHER DOG WERE JUST FOLLOWING THE OLD DOG) I think a dog that will do it by himself / compared to a dog that will do it with another dog it what seperates a great dog from an ok dog or help dog. I dont have room on my yard for a help dog so if they cant do it by themselves they don't stay. I like an independent pup one that will leave and go hunting even if he is by himself. If they show me that trait when they are young thats all I ask for then its my job to hunt them and put them on property that has hogs and they will make a dog. MY OLDER DOGS HUNT BETTER BY THEMSELVES AND U WOULD BE SUPRISED HOW A HOG WILL BAY FOR ONE DOG COMPARED TO 3 OR 4 DOGS. I like my old dog to teach my young dogs but in the same note i dont want my pups to become dependent on the older dogs. I like when I have a finished dog on the ground with a pup and they both strike an run there own hog. I also like when they leave together and bay together I guess I like one that will do both solo and honor.(not all will do both) .......THIS IS JUST my thoughts and WHAT I LIKE AND PREFER IN A DOG. AN INDEPENDENT / RANGEY / STOPPING GRIT / NOSE / BOTTOM AND PREFERABLY SILENT. NOT TOOOO MUCH TO ASK LOL.......
