Just like some people assume a long-range hunting dog is one who flies out the box and never stops running until he hits a mile, folks assume an open track dog is a slow, methodical dog that will trail a hog from here to the east coast but will always be a mile behind.
If a dog can flat smoke a track, it really makes no difference...more just personal preference. I'd bet 95% of the people who will come on here and tell you an open dog will clear the country are just repeating what they heard somewhere along the way.
I will throw out there that an open tracking dog probably won't get you many invites to go hunting with your buddies though...haha
I agree Mr. Bryant, alot of common misconceptions out there involving dogs. I prefer silent dogs simply because I don't care much to listen to a dog opening much on track but it doesn't have anything to do with that dog pushing the hog. In my honest opinion a good open dog is as good as a good silent dog. I just personally prefer silent dogs myself. Now if we are talkin about chasing corn bandits around the tree tops i'll listen to an ol bawl mouth hound all night long and love every minute of it!
I'm with ya on the hounds bawlin there Justin!! Music for sure!!
And yes, this hear topic has been beat to heck on many a thread... But to answer your question, we've got curs that are open on track. I hunted horseback this last weekend, and we were hunting a field with broom weed, so I had a clear vision of what all was going on on top of my horse, which was really neat. We've got a gyp, Roxy, that I talk about alot who is open on track. She yips on track and barks once the hog stops. Now obviously, it helps me know what's going on (I usually don't have the garmin to look at). She's works a trail fast and yips while she's going. This weekend the hog ran RIGHT in front of us, and Roxy relies solidly on her nose. She won't look up and chase the hog and she never has. (as you can imagine, I'm on my horse, yelling at Roxy and pointing at the hog like she knows what the heck I'm talking about, lol, but I couldn't help it!) Instead, she's nose to the ground, weaving in and out, working that trail... and I'm watching that hog boot scoot. Once she hits open grass, she figures out it's a straight shot, and she goes to yippin again and boot scootin too, and draws the other dogs to her. She's our top dog, so in my eyes, they are learning from her.
So to get to the straight 'n' narrow, (sorry, I like to talk alot, lol):
I love open dogs. Pros and cons?
Pros: -Draws our other dogs to her while she's working a trail, teaching them what we're out there for
-We know what's going on
-To be honest, I just like it
Cons: I couldn't tell you of any, because this is what works for us, and our style.
