This is a good post, and something I've thought hard about while putting my pack together. I would be what most would consider a beginner, but I’ve spent a lot of time and money putting together the pack I have now. I like a good help dog that isn't afraid to honor a bay, and put teeth on a hog or help bay it up. I like to run a good strike dog, a good help dog, and a good lead in CD. That's not what always happens, but it is just my preference. I'd rather not have a whole pack of strike dogs on the ground. It seems that you would have trouble with them honoring each other’s' bays, or always having a competition of who is Alpha dog and having split bays. If you don’t have multiple hands in the woods, and two Garmins this can get frustrating and confusing. I would say I watch for certain things, sure... but to say that if they won't go find their own hog then they're a cull is a little overboard to me. For example I have my main dog that is med-long range and will go find and bay a hog by himself (and catch if it’s not too big), and has tons of bottom and drive. Then I have a short-med range strike dog that will find his own hog and bay/catch, and will stick with it too, but prefers to stay in close, honor bays, and help get gritty
. (and I like that he stays close because I know that if the long range dog misses something he will probably pick it up) Then I have two dogs that I am trying to really evaluate hard to see what they're capable of, and this takes time. One is 16 months, and will get out and hunt on his own. He has good bottom and will stay with the pack on a chase… but I haven’t had a lot of time to take him by himself to see what he is really capable of though. The other is just now a year, and she doesn’t “hit the ground running” like some, but keeps her nose to the ground and will stay with the pack if they take off on a track/chase. I think those are both good signs for started dogs, and will continue to feed them because of such. I think that there are a lot of dog men that make decisions too soon on whether a dog will "turn on" or not. All dogs, from what I've seen, are different in a lot of ways. Some out of the same litter will turn on at different times as well. I’ve been through a few dogs, but not as many as some, and I am a firm believer in giving the dog time to adjust to your pack, putting them on a lot of hog signs, and time to come into his/her own as well is important in being able to judging a dog. I don’t know a lot, but I know what I’ve observed so far and partially what I am looking for now. Like Ninja said, it’s a constant learning curve! JMO, whatever its worth…
great post ryan i agree totally abt the help dogs they def have their place if they will stay with your main strike dog and bay till u get a catch dog there
