Loose or Rough and Justify

[Critter Catcher]

I'm sure this has been debated before on here but just a refresher...What do you prefer and why?
I have both..my main dog is loose and his pure cat son looks to be the same but I have a couple of rough suckers too..a cat/pit that is 10 months now and is cut or poked every trip (extremely rough) and a lacy/ybm that gets grabby but must jump that a rabbit because he hasn't been cut with me (knock on wood). With all the runners I've been seeing this debate keeps runner thru my mind as to the best approach to stopping these hogs. It seems the hogs out running or outlasting dogs with LOTS of bottom. As hot as it's been these hogs just don't stop..I've run 2 dogs out and up to 6 dogs out just trying to switch it up a bit to see if the hogs will stop and fight but I'm getting the same results. I'm catching several smaller hogs 150lbs and down but the bruisers are not stopping. I'm about to release a pack of pits on the bruisers..I've discussed the trend with a few people and I believe the theory I've come up with that over time we all have been catching the slow and dumb hogs now the runners and smarter hogs are breeding and we are getting smarter and more apt to runners. To combat this, styles will have to adjust and packs will as well. Just wanted some feed back on the issue...

[T-Bob Parker]

Just had to pick that scab didn't you. grab some popcorn and take bets on how many posts in the first fistfight will be challenged.

[Circle C]

Just had to pick that scab didn't you. grab some popcorn and take bets on how many posts in the first fistfight will be challenged.

Use the search function and you can read on this topic for days....

Use what you like, as they both have their merits.

I prefer loose baying dogs, with plenty of bottom.  I  caught plenty of hogs with my old rough pack too.  The biggest difference for me, is that I don't want a rough dog hunting long range, I want to be able to take my time getting to a bay, and not worry about stapling dogs after the hog is caught.

[Reuben]

in the open woods or open land a pack of gritty to rough dogs can keep a bad hog stopped.

In the thick stuff these rough dogs can't stop them because they can't stop what they can not catch up with/to...

[T-Bob Parker]

Well alright fine, ill give my opinion, I seek excellence. I prefer baying dogs to catching dogs, but neither style will work if they suck.

You've seen red hunt plenty and you know him by now so lets use him. He is a relatively close baying, dog who does not use to much teeth. Some would call this loose. As far as his hunt,bottom and drive he is a bit above average, but he, in my opinion, sucks hardcore at making a boar respect him. I enjoy him and think sort of highly of him, but I'm realistic. For now I have to continue using his positive attributes the best ways I know how but I'm rambling...

Both of these styles will produce hogs but I feel too often people attribute hogs getting away to dogs being too loose or rough when in reality the dogs are just ignorant, they ain't got engh hog sence.

[Noah]

First off, let's narrow the "type" of hog down you're speaking of... Dog educated runners...

This, I believe, is the true test of a hog dog... The ability to produce them consistently...

I'be seen dogs of both styles that are good at it... Personally, I'd rather get it over with quick so as we can go catch more if you know what I mean 

[arrowbar]

Loose with just enough pressure to keep them bayed

[halfbreed]

thats why i'm going to the hound cur cross noah . as far as dogs i want my main strike dogs to be loose because i think a big hog will stand for a loose baying dog till the rest the pack gets there and then by all reasoning it should be to late he may break but with the rougher dogs haveing alot of leg and more running ability they should be able to keep up and put enough pressure on the hog to make him stand and fight till the bulldogs get there . thats my theory anyway .

[coyote hunter]

Im going to ruff dogs. If i have to unload a bulldog it had better be a big pig. But here they run quick,before the dogs even get their feet set to bark so im going with rougher dogs. I hope it works. But i prefer loose dogs with just enuff grit to keep em bayed also.  

[halfbreed]

i hunted the rough dogs for 7 years and did plenty good withuot a bulldog but i could have fed dogs for a long time with the money i spent in penn. and staples and vet bills main reason i backed em off a bit .

[Critter Catcher]

The vet is my thing about rough dogs,I do like the loose baying dogs myself but there is the thought of what if when in the field. I have 1000.00 in 1 dog an she is real rough. She got 2 bad cuts and several small cuts to the point of retirement at 3 yrs old. This is my main reason for wanting a looser pack. With maybe 2 RCDs on the ground to slow things down a bit. So I guess my true response is a mix with a balance to be ready for whatever happens.

[Mike]

If a hog wants to run, it's gonna run no matter what you throw at it... period.

[Critter Catcher]

If a hog wants to run, it's gonna run no matter what you throw at it... period.

yeah Mike if you're talking about Carl Lewis on the river you are absolutely correct, we have thrown loose and rough and end up with the same results. The rough dogs had him for a minute but got shook off and cut up then he pulled his same routine.

[Striker55]

Loose with just enough pressure to keep them bayed

X2

[arrowbar]

Too loose and they run all day. Too rough and you either have a roughed up dog with injuries, a busted bay  or both. How much is genetic.
 Vs. learned?

[Reuben]

Too loose and they run all day. Too rough and you either have a roughed up dog with injuries, a busted bay  or both. How much is genetic.
 Vs. learned?

I would have to go with mostly genetic. But an old gritty/rough dog can learn to wear a hog down and be cautious doing it under normal circumstances and then increase the pressure when the hog has slowed down. That would be learned behavior...but then, if the dog learned that on its own then it probably is genetic to a certain extent. It is almost like what came first? The chicken or the egg...

[make-em-squeel]

I prefer loose baying dogs, with plenty of bottom.  I  caught plenty of hogs with my old rough pack too.  The biggest difference for me, is that I don't want a rough dog hunting long range, I want to be able to take my time getting to a bay, and not worry about stapling dogs after the hog is caught.

Im with you on this circle c. As long as my loose dogs can stop a runner and know when to help catch if needed Thats my preferance, no point in hurrying to a bay until the cd is cut in my opinon. I also hate dealing with a cut up dog all the time!
 

[mutlycrewhogdogs]

If a hog wants to run, it's gonna run no matter what you throw at it... period.

very true!!

[TColt]

I hunt, I guess you could say regularly, in all different types of terrain with all different types of dogs. I seen real rough to real loose and everything in between stop hogs. I'm a student and don't have much money, therefore I can't have a bunch of dogs. I am slowly building my pack around close baying, not rough except on the rear end of a runner (once stopped to at, back up and bay), with a lot of bottom that don't help catch big toothy boars. Then cd with enough bottom and hunt and lung to stop a runner if needed and a little size so they don't need cur dog help. For example, I can only remember my lacy dog having to take off one day in the past year and that was mostly cuz she had already put in 40 mi in the 48 hours before, but she did have a small cut on her cheek.

The reason I am building my pack this way is because I don't really feel like you can get the best out of a bay dog when they are geared up like a cd and if I get a dog cut down with only four dogs (one being a pup so really only 3), I'm out of hunting till they are healed up. If I had the space and money, I would have a few rougher dogs in the lineup as well though. I like hunting with rough dogs and seeing everything biting onto something when we get the the catch  

[djhogdogger]

We have both in our pack and I like'em both. Good dogs produce hogs no matter their style. IMO  As long as we keep on catching hogs, I will keep hunting the dogs that we have.