Strike Dogs! (The most sought after trait)

[YELLOWBLACKMASK]

Each of us have our own methods and preferences when it comes to the most important dog on the ground....your Strike Dog....   Traits such as Range, Bottom, Independence , Intelligence, Nose, Heart, Determination..ect.... are all great together but if you had to choose only one... Which would it be?

The question is what is your personal most sought after trait in a strike dog. Let's here it and also why that's your choice.

Enjoy

[Reuben]

Each of us have our own methods and preferences when it comes to the most important dog on the ground....your Strike Dog....   Traits such as Range, Bottom, Independence , Intelligence, Nose, Heart, Determination..ect.... are all great together but if you had to choose only one... Which would it be?

The question is what is your personal most sought after trait in a strike dog. Let's here it and also why that's your choice.

Enjoy

Well you really can't have a good strike dog without all the above mentioned traits...I know a good cold nose with lots of brains equals to finding hogs before the other dogs know there is one in the vicinity. I have had quite a few good dogs but I had one that was super smart and when he got old he would make a quick round and if he came back you could bet there were not any hogs in that neck of the woods....all the other dogs would be hunting hard and when he slipped off he was going to be bayed 1/4 or a mile away in the very near future...I am going to have to go with the brain power....because a dog that knows where to look for game and then knows how to straighten out a track and make it look easy is still brain power at work...

[Reuben]

I was thinking about a hard hunting dog...but not all hard hunting dogs can consistently find game because they lack in nose power but mainly lack of brain power...

[TShelly]

It must be yellow!! Wait no that's ybm's answer

Id have to say they must have the " hunt"  in them.. with brains being a close second

[blakebh]

Hunt, Bottom and Nose!

[bigo]

The best find dogs will come from balanced dogs, that being dogs that are good in all departments, with an emphasis on nose and the desire to be first. There is no one thing that makes a good dog.

[Centexhogdogger]

The heart would be mine..

[TShelly]

Good to hear from you Big O and I agree. It's not one trait but I think he was asking what trait would you say is the most important if you had to pick. We'll get that hunt worked out this next spring can't wait to get together.

YBM: you asked why also

Say your hunting a 2k acre pine plantation, you could have the best nut dog in the world; with the type of bottom that he'd finish 99% of his hogs... But if he never gets more than a 200 yards away from you hunting the entire time chances are you won't even find the hog.

It's a pointed question just because I feel like the terrain you hunt and style in which you do, plus the environment will dictate which quality suits your dogs best!!

For us, it's kick dirt in your face, go find one, hunt! Mainly because we hunt huge blocks of timber land with hogs being anywhere

[ROCKIN ROO HOG DOGS]

HONESTY ! Alot of the time i have the landowners wanting to go along with me,i enjoy it because they know the lay of the land and i get turned around pretty darn quick at night time which is when i prefer to hunt. I want an Honest dog that knows his job and when he hits the ground hes hunting HOGS. It is not embarrassing to come up empty handed on a hunt but Boy Howdy its not fun having to explain to the landowner why your dogs caught his calf or you just watched them trail bark 3 deer 20 yards in front of you crossing the road! I gaurantee my dogs 100 percent trash broke when i approach a landowner and that puts all the risk on ME,i am relying on HONEST dogs and although we all strive for as much BOTTOM as we can produce,i sure like being able to call mine out from 800 yards on a still night when im ready for bed!

[BOSS HOGG]

Range, I figure if he covers enough grown he'll eventually run into one...

[bullet72]

HONESTY ! Alot of the time i have the landowners wanting to go along with me,i enjoy it because they know the lay of the land and i get turned around pretty darn quick at night time which is when i prefer to hunt. I want an Honest dog that knows his job and when he hits the ground hes hunting HOGS. It is not embarrassing to come up empty handed on a hunt but Boy Howdy its not fun having to explain to the landowner why your dogs caught his calf or you just watched them trail bark 3 deer 20 yards in front of you crossing the road! I gaurantee my dogs 100 percent trash broke when i approach a landowner and that puts all the risk on ME,i am relying on HONEST dogs and although we all strive for as much BOTTOM as we can produce,i sure like being able to call mine out from 800 yards on a still night when im ready for bed!

                    (    x2 thanks u saved me alot of typing    )

[Bryant]

If I had to pick only one, I would have to go with independence.  Several other traits (range, hunting drive) are often the result of a dog being very independent.  Might not make the best dog in the world, but a dog that will at the very least get deep and look around will usually make somewhat of a fair dog.  It's also a trait that can begin to be evaluated in pups at a very young age and often times can tell you what to expect of a dog later in life.  I believe it to be often overlooked in a lot of today's breedings, and I also believe it to be one of the traits that can be negatively influenced early by improper handling.

[djhogdogger]

Range, I figure if he covers enough grown he'll eventually run into one...

x2

[Reuben]

If I had to pick only one, I would have to go with independence.  Several other traits (range, hunting drive) are often the result of a dog being very independent.  Might not make the best dog in the world, but a dog that will at the very least get deep and look around will usually make somewhat of a fair dog.  It's also a trait that can begin to be evaluated in pups at a very young age and often times can tell you what to expect of a dog later in life.  I believe it to be often overlooked in a lot of today's breedings, and I also believe it to be one of the traits that can be negatively influenced early by improper handling.

I agree with a lot of what Bryant is saying here...a certain amount of independence is needed but not to the point that the dog won't honor a bay or pack up. Most of the hunting traits can be tested for in certain breeds when they are pups...and the right handling will bring out the best in what is already in the pup...

[redneckrob]

  This is just my opinion i prefer to hunt several different breeds.Dogs are like people we all have different traits and skills i like my dogs to strike bay and catch some days one strikes before another is one really better or did he find the scent before the others got there.They all do there job and do it to the best of there ability.Some have better noses but some days they dont always strike first but the mission is still completed.I myself would say team work is the trait i look for if all cylinders are firing then the motor is runnin.But we all have our own preference to this as we all train different i have since buried my entire pack of dogs all lay next to each other because they where a team.

[TexasHogDogs]

If I could only choose one of those off the list up there you would not have much of a dog.  I would just quit hunting and start fishing more.

[TexasHogDogs]

But if I had to choose just one it would be Heart cause with out that all the rest is worthless !

[redneckrob]

 i hear that

[redneckrob]

 If my new dogs turn out half as good as the last i wouldnt be disappointed.My boss sent me a stray pup he found in downtown dallas he said bet you cant make that a hog dog guess what she was one of the best.

[craig]

one that finds hogs were ever i drop them.   thats my favorite trait.