Bite Training?

Well its even later now and I've had a few more since my post earlier tonight, but like always these days, I am still thinking bout hog dogs.

I was thinking back bout my days of training of doing bite training with Schutzhund German Shepherds. At a very early age, we started them with a towel, or piece of leather on a rope to get them to bite and hold on and play some tug o war. Always letting the dog win to build confidence and let them carry the prize off to shake the number 2 out of it or whatever they saw fit to do. Then we'd move up to a real soft bite sleeve, and slip the sleeve once the dog got a good hold. Once again to reward them for biting and latching on, and not letting go. After that it is time to move up to a hard sleeve, but still reward the dog by letting them carry off the sleeve thinking that they "won". After they get the confidence built up for biting and holding the sleeve, only then would it be time to teach them to "out" or let go of the sleeve on command.

Was thinking and wondering if this could have any merits in getting a hog dog to want to catch or at least lay teeth to a hog to try and catch it. In my mind, I was thinking bout using hog hides on a rope to start the process like a tug of war. Then dragging the hog hide to make them trail it then latch on. Just trying to teach them from an early age to lay teeth or try and catch.

Let me add to this that I am pretty new to hog hunting. None of the guys that I regularly hunt with and that have helped me to get started in this run straight catch dogs. They all rely on their bay/strike dogs, whatever you want to call them, to catch the hog. If you hear one of their dogs barking, you can bet it is a big hog. If two or more dogs are there, the hog should be caught. This is the way I would like to hunt as well. Another reason for this is Momma is againt me having any sort of bulldog. If she is willing to put up with the rest of my crap, then I am willing to make this concession. Thats what got me thinking about anything to get a pup to want to catch from day one. I realize that a ton of it is genetics and breeding and all that. I have seen the same with the GSD's I have worked with. But with that said, I have also seen GSD's that didnt seem to show the best characteristics from birth, really come on with some good bite training.

Once again, its late and I've had more than a few, but am just thinking out loud and wondering if anyone else had some opinions on this.