Message #258338

[TColt]

I think if you have a dog that is excellent at hog/cattle, you could teach them to run a blood trail pretty easy. They may not be the best at it but they can get the job done. I like the jack of all trades dogs because I cant afford nor do I have room for a ton of dogs. But my dogs will be masters at catching hogs. Hopefully one day I will have some dogs that are masters at hogs and cattle, then can do whatever else I might need them to do, like blood trail. I got a buddy that his first hog dog is now 10 yo and he retired him and trained him as a blood trail dog and he is an excellent dog on blood trailing and could still be an excellent hog dog if need be.

I have been out with Paul, Silverton Boar Dogs, and watched his dogs (even the young year old dogs) go out and work cattle, and they are masters at it. He can call them out by name, and they are excellent at their job. Then we take those same dogs hog hunting and they are 500 + yards out and dont touch a cow.

It takes a dog with true brain to be able to be a master at two + trades, but it also takes one heck of a handler. Someone who spends every day with their dogs, and someone who culls hard. Im not saying that a great handler can take any ol dog and make them a master at cow and hog with a great handle on them too. But the right dogs with the right person can do some amazing things.

I do personally think it is easier to make a good hog dog than a good cow dog. But I also think that when it comes to stopping and baying a hog, sounder, stray cow, or herd of cattle, the technique is interchangeable. Working wild cattle will make working a hog easy for a dog.