well i thought i could avoid stepin in this but i put my boots on this mornin so her i go.
and im just like everyone else all i have to base anything on is personal experiance.
you can hear about anything if you listen long enough rather it be from an old timer or someone passing along second hand info. some is usefull some is not.
none of my statements are dircted toward anyone, so dont go cyber space on me.
i have owned and used cow dogs and alot of my freinds have cow dogs (curs :bmc ,catahoula,lep,and crosses).
im talking about head dogs, dogs that stop cattle and bunch cattle.
and the dogs i wanted where dogs that had alot of intelegance(brains) a dog that looks you in the eye and trys to understand you and what you want.
i like a leggy dog won that could head a runaway cow, with the leg usually came stamina(the ability to work a long day) and speed(fast on his feet) catch up with a cow in a hurry and get her turned back to the bunch, cause you might need his help back with the bunch if the cattle arent dog broke. and usually another dog goes with so the faster their back the sooner i can carry on movin cattle.
now there are alot of other thing to add to that, just like our hog dogs some dogs are naturally rougher than other dogs, so you have to know your dogs and put together a set of dogs for the job at hand.
and then there is hunt the dog that will go out and find cattle in the brush, and just like our hog dogs some are super and some are average.
then there is handle( call off, get ahead, get out,ect,evryone has different terms.) a cow dog has to have alot more handle than a hog dog and thats what seperates a good dog from a great dog and i had a couple of really great dogs and a train load of good ones.
guys us everything from a 22 pistol to pop of rounds,a bull whip or a shock collar to get handle. and the really good dog men where always good horsemen as well , understand the animal and how to comunnicate with them.
so i think there are alot of similar traits that i look for in my hog dogs(woods dogs), speed, stamina, handle (at least come when called
), and hunting abilaty.
im shure ill think of something else to add later, my .02
good topic.
