Message #562315

[t-dog]

IN MY OPINION, for the way we hunt,  I like the bigger catch dogs. I have had some of everything and there were good  ones and bad ones in them all. I have caught my share of big hogs and bad hogs. In nearly thirty years of running my own dogs, I have only lost a few catch dogs. Only one of them was big. He got hung up by the vest on a tree out in the river and drowned before we could get across to him. I had one female that caught everything we aimed her at. She was about 40lbs. One boar cut her 25 times while she was caught and wearing a vest. We were only 40 yards away in the wide open and were right there to leg him. He started slinging her the second she eared him. That's how fast it happened. Another 45lb female was killed and not even cut. Big hog hit her one time and sent her sailing. Another Male about 50 lbs  caught a boar about 200lbs. The hog slung him around past his head as he hit and caught the dogs front leg and crushed it. The hog broke and was bayed 30 yards away. 3 legged  he hit him again and the boar hit between the vest and cut collar. By the time I stuck him the dog was gone too. Another Male about 50 lbs was caught and the hog cut and nearly ruined my  best find dog because the hog didn't even notice  the catch dog on his ear. These are examples of why I don't use smaller catch dogs. My bigger catch dogs have the wind, the brains,  the style, and the disposition to excel anywhere. I have watched them outrun 45lb athletes. I have solo caught hogs that were said to be "uncatchable". I don't have to lead them so there isn't an issue of them dragging me or getting tangled up. When  I'm ready for them to leave the hog alone, they do. There's no tree or leash chewing. No screaming or grabbing at anything that's moving or running past. They think on their feet. I'm not saying that mine are the greatest. I say all this to say that they are on the bigger end and they possess the traits and style that work for me. I  don't have hogs moving around with them. They can take the punishment dealt them. I can crawl in on my elbows and know its caught and not coming to me. I can catch as many as I can get bayed in a day. They get through the brush as good as my bay dogs. I like'em.