Reuben,
One thing that we have not talked about in this discussion is speed. Raw speed and track speed. For me a cow dog/hog dog has got to have outstanding raw/track speed. A cow dog has got to be able to get to the head of 700lb brangus heifers (one of the fastest critters I need to catch). Same on a running hog, the dog has got to have the speed to get to the head and "force" the cow/hog to hold up and bay.
A dog with not quite enough speed will end up falling in behind the cow/hog and push it rather than stopping it. I don't want the hog or cow to pick the place to bay up. I need my dogs to force the issue and make the hog I am proud of my dogs when they stop a hog that has broken bay and run and have it backed up on a small tree or fence post. When they bay up in a thicket or in water the hog has chosen that spot not the dogs forcing the issue. Speed is the problem most of the time when this happens. Now dogs get hot and thick brush interferes but on the average the dog needs the speed to get to the head.
If the runner does not check up and give the dogs the chance to get a solid bay, the dogs should start trying to catch. The dog has got to have the speed to wing out beside and ahead barking and positioning to jump to hit the ear nose or jaw. When the hits the head the cow/hog throws the head up and flails both front legs. This will impede forward motion and give the dogs a chance to hold up the cow/hog. If the cow/hog does not want to stop and keeps running it will have been slowed enough by this initial hit for all dogs in the pack to get a chance to get a hold. My dogs will hang on a cow like this from both ears and both jaws. Four dogs hanging on that head will pull it down and force the cow to stop and fight instead of running.
This is when the cow has a choice. It can stand and fight and get caught or run like the dickens for the safety of the heard. The dogs I prefer for hog dogs are this type of cow dog. If a pig breaks they have the speed to get in position and if the hog will not stop they will get the the head and catch. I don't have any long races with these dogs. If I hear a bay break I send the Dogo from any distance because I know we are fixing to have a caught hog right quick and I want a big dog to get there quick and catch solid.
They have got to have the speed to get to the head quickly or nothing else really matters.
I Agree...but we do have some good hog dogs that grab a mouthful of nuts or ham and sit back like a good roping horse and then move around to the front end.
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