what is it you are wanting in a "catch dog"

[t-dog]

Reading some of the posts on here, it makes me wonder if folks know what they want or if they realize the things that are possible in catch dogs. I don't know it all. I have been very fortunate to hunt and be mentored by some very successful, senior dog men in my past 20 plus years of hog hunting. I know this post will likely tick some folks off. That's not the intent nor am I trying to insult anyone. I have a size, intelligence, disposition, and athletic standard for my catch dogs. I prefer the 75-95# with 85-90 being ideal for me. They should be linebacker types. Big enough to take the unavoidable punishment from the big hogs and athletic enough to catch the elusive hog with stamina for all day hunts. I want them to evaluate the situation. Don't run through a wall when the front door is open three steps over. Take good angles on hogs in motion. The ability to adapt and over come. When I go to get them off a hog, they should leave it. All that lead chewing, tree chewing, air fighting, dog grabbing stuff is ridiculous on several levels. Sit down and shut is my liking. Pulling on the lead going to the bay is another thing I don't want. Most dogs are gonna do one or more of these things. They can be taught different though. If they can't it's because they are lacking in the willingness to please (disposition) or intelligence. My current catch dog is nearly ten and I don't lead him and he don't go until told to. It's been several months since I hunted him due to starting a young catch dog. I took him a couple weeks ago and from start to finish it was just like he had been being hunted everyday. He didn't miss a beat. I was by myself, and after we caught that first boar, I told him to sit beside the hog to take a picture. He did and never once bothered the hog. I don't have to use a break stick anymore. A Simple that's good Vegas, caught hog, get back and an easy pressure on the collar and he is done with that hog and waiting for the next one. Thinking once they are excited seems to be a problem for a lot of catch dogs. If a hog breaks across a field and he runs him down, I'm ok with them grabbing the hog in the rear until it stops then moving to the ear. I'm not ok with them staying on the rear. I don't want them catching "Anywhere" but the ear outside of that unless it's obvious that that wasn't an option. A hog with no ears is an example or when there isn't a vacant ear. The second example is another topic but not the dogs fault. I want speed when needed but they have to be under control. To go crashing and tearing through the briars and breaking a bay when they could have took a little time and made a catch is unacceptable. Again, there are always circumstances. I have seen my buddies gyp take a trail, back up, take another and another until she found the one. Once she sees the shot, she knows where she is gonna hit before she gets to him and explodes into it when she gets there. Very accurate because of her style. These disciplines don't happen in a week, but it don't take years either if your willing to do your part. Someone will pop off about this is what everyone wants but it's not realistic. I say it is. I have it, it's not my first, with another one coming on good and several of my buddies have it too. Those are my likes and dislikes. Some folks are satisfied as long as the dog has a hold. They have no standards or real expectations outside of that either because they don't know, think a catch dog is a catch dog, or just plain don't care about the dogs enough to care about them before, during or after they do what we ask of them. Just my opinion.

[KevinN]

Sounds like you've got a good one.

[Judge peel]

I like your post. As you know to get one of these dogs your talking about takes yrs and many dogs to get one like that. many dogs will  get close but few will have all you are asking. I have had many and been around bulldogs my whole life have had many different lines and styles for me the 40 to 60 lb pit is the best for me. the ones with temperament and heart will make the cut for me and teach all my dogs to set come with leash training way before they hunt if they don't sit they don't eat. Food control works best for me to achieve these goals back to what you said most people won't take the time to do all those things your talking bout but if you can you would be happy

[Hunt the Grunt]

To describe what I want in a catch dog, I'll describe the one I have now and then list his faults. The one I have now is about 60-65lbs, clean catching, athletic, ear every time, leads good for me, fairly well for others, he won't pick a fight with another dog, he's not one to fly in to a bay and slam a hog like my last cd. I love the style he has, he'll get to the bay quick, but when he gets there he will slow down just enough to see the ear good, almost like a studder step and then he catches. He isn't hesitant or anything like that, he just makes sure he can grab an ear instead of flying in catching blindly. Once I throw the hog and we get him off he doesn't go nuts like some dogs but he won't calmly take a picture with one either lol. I don't mind that and I don't won't him coming off by voice command either (previous bad experience with different dogs). What I consider his fault is that if the bay breaks before he gets there he will sometimes run with the bay dogs until they stop him again and will even take his own trail sometimes. I like my catchdogs to come back if the bay breaks. I can't really fault him for doing what he is supposed to do which is catch the hog but I'd rather him come back until the bay dogs stop him instead of running the hog and catching it 1/2 a mile or better away from me. I would rather him run it a couple hundred yards and if he hasn't caught by then he needs to come back. Sometimes I can call him back, but sometimes he'll keep on truckin. He also don't like to be worked on when cut. Thats the biggest problem I have with him. He absolutely hates any type of spray. He doesn't like stitches and staples but I can normally put them in without too much of a problem, but you pull out some blue kote or iodine and he's tucking his tail and trying his best to get away.

[t-dog]

Running way off if a hog breaks is something I don't like either. I'll give him a 100 yards or so then come back to me if you haven't caught up. As for other people taking Vegas, not if I'm the area. He's mine and is gonna stay right with me. Even before I had him broke to stay with me off leash. I like that in some ways though, loyalty. He's ok if they take him one way and I go another though. I'm sure he don't mind them like he does me though.

[reatj81]

As for other people taking Vegas, not if I'm the area. He's mine and is gonna stay right with me. Even before I had him broke to stay with me off leash. I like that in some ways though, loyalty. He's ok if they take him one way and I go another though. I'm sure he don't mind them like he does me though.

Vegas is enjoyable to watch. As far as listen to me!  Not.     May as well be speaking Chinese.  He is good for me on a leash, but listen not so much.

[t-dog]

lol

[Squearl66]

Ive had the pleasure of hunting with Vegas as well. I now have a female pup out of him. But my current watchdog is a pleasure to handle he's not of the line of dogs Tdog is talking about but he has shot of smarts about him I have him also leading in the woods without a lead. I've only had him a year but in that time I've seen what a dog with brains can become . My only flaw I have found so far I'd his  size but I wouldn't change anything else about him. Oh and he came from the pound lol.

[TexasHogDogs]

Yup watching Vegas work is a pure pleasure .  Its amazing how he just sits there unleashed still as a statue , never makes a sound never even moves till he hears the word Go .  Not to many like him that's for sure . Great dog .

[WayOutWest]

I have seen both Vegas and Big Mama and they are everything you want in a catchdog. That's why I have a pup off them and am going away from the type dogs I had. I think with time I could have made catchdogs out of them but they were so excitable it was extremely hard to get thru to them. My pup is a week away from 6 mo. and hit 50# on the scale today.

[Reuben]

I like a 70 to 75 pound dog that is leggy and agile and naturally muscled up...laid back and quiet...no hyper dogs for me in any breed...ear dog and break off with a  steady pull from his collar, tapping on his head gentlyand giving the command to break...if it takes a minute to break him off is ok with me...Like T-dog said...middle linebacker...not the quarterback and not the center...not the fastest and not the strongest but probably the best all around athlete...colors don't catch hogs but I like certain colors and I like a good looking dog that's built right and the least amount of white the better...

[LTcaughthog]

Good post. You mind postin a pic of Vegas when you get a chance! Love a calm and collected bulldog. I've dealt with the crazy hyper ones and they aggravate the hell out of me. Especially the pulling.
Hope them young pups & started CDs work out just as well!

[reatj81]

Ltcaughthog I don't have any I can get to easy, but do have some, just have to get in old computer & figure photo bucket out again. I may have put some up in an old post, not for sure. I do think you can do a search on way out west & find a couple.


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[reatj81]

Joel just weighed Matilda 52lbs.


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[LTcaughthog]

Ltcaughthog I don't have any I can get to easy, but do have some, just have to get in old computer & figure photo bucket out again. I may have put some up in an old post, not for sure. I do think you can do a search on way out west & find a couple.


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Well I'm bored at work so did some investigating lol and saw a couple of pics of Vegas and that mama dog and they both good lookin dogs! Hope there pups work out !

[WayOutWest]

I'm seeing some things out of this pup that I really like. My gamebred pups thru the years have raced everywhere without seeing anything. This guy has a slower pace and is always looking around. He is very good at coming and I can just go to his kennel door and call him and he goes in. Never had a pup do that. He really likes to please. I think he is going to be real trainable. I have high hopes. Sounds like his sis is gonna be bigger than him tho, huh Jody.

[oconee]

Discipline brings out the best in everything:  dogs, horses, mules, human athletes, as well as just people in general!!!
BUT!!!!   You can discipline the DRIVE out of everything as well!!!  I think t-dog is teetering on the edge with what he wants!!!   Just my opinion.

[Judge peel]

I hear ya on that I think a lot of guys want a machine for a dog I don't like robots and if you push a animal to far they will set down on you the worst are horses and bulldogs you will create a fire breathing dragon

[reatj81]

Some things in life need to be seen to be truly understood.  I can promise you his drive has not been hampered one bit. T dog is bring out the dogs drive to please his master also.  He can have him sitting loose on 4 wheeler hogs running buy, tell him go and run one down and catch it.   Thomas go to the catch, grab hog, tell Vegas caught hog, Vegas will release, back up a couple feet, and wait for Thomas to tie the.  I have watched this happen several times.   


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[t-dog]

I have seen exactly what you guys are talking about. It does happen. The reason I'm not worried about that happening is because of the dogs. The disposition I talked about has so much to do with it. It don't take a bunch of reprimanding. They just want to please like Way out West was talking about. Because they are intelligent, it doesn't take long for them to figure out what it is that you want as long as you are consistent. A dog that don't catch on quick or is gonna do what they wanna do instead of what you wanta do, would definitely be easy to ruin.