How to handle a dog quit hunting?

[Skrag]

So I am down to one decent dog and some pups. The one decent dog almost seems like he lost his hunt. I can drop him on hot sign and catch hogs but he was a 800 yard dog in no sign cast hunting. He is around 4 years old. The only thing I can think of is last year I had alot going and didn't hunt a whole lot but still went and caught good hogs with him. How did you guys handle this and line them back out? Thanks in advance.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[hillbilly]

May be something wrong with dog. Worms or some other sickness to make him feel bad. I would get him checked out to start with. Did you use to hunt the dog with another dog? He could be missing his partner.

[hoghunter71409]

You said "I am down to one decent dog and some pups".

Did you have other dogs last year when he was doing good?  Could it be that he hunted hared or followed the other dogs and he is a bit lost with only two younger pups?

[Skrag]

I keep them healthy and the dogs he hunted with he trained. And him being a lose dog several times he was the only one healed up to hunt. I think I will go ahead and take him to the vet and have him checked out tho. But he acts fine.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Skrag]

And he has been a nice dog for 3 almost 3 years

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Skrag]

Sure is frustrating.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Mike]

Get his blood checked... Lyme, erlichia, heartworms, brucellosis, etc... anything like that will sure take the hunt out of one.

[justincorbell]

Has he always hunted with other dogs, even if he was the trainer? Are u hunting him solo now? Some dogs like havin  a  partner

[The Old Man]

If you get to always dropping them in hot sign or walking them into sign it will knock the hunt out of lots of them, they get to where they depend on you to find them hogs. Sort of like too much baypen will do a lot of them. If you want one to hunt cast them don't walk them or "road" them.

[Skrag]

Has he always hunted with other dogs, even if he was the trainer? Are u hunting him solo now? Some dogs like havin  a  partner

I have hunted him by himself and with several. I prefer 2 maybe 3 curs on the ground tho. But solo is no big deal because he is a fast and run em until they bay dog so he ends up miles away solo alot.....or use to

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Skrag]

I appreciate y'alls help. My first instinct was to get him checked out so that's what I will do first. Hope it pans out

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[chipolariverman]

If you get to always dropping them in hot sign or walking them into sign it will knock the hunt out of lots of them, they get to where they depend on you to find them hogs. Sort of like too much baypen will do a lot of them. If you want one to hunt cast them don't walk them or "road" them.

I have figured this out in the few years I have been hunting.  We hunt them in front of 4-wheelers and I have noticed that it will change the way a dog hunts in a dozen or two trips in my opinion.  Done this to a dog I got last year after my lead strike dog got killed.  He was hunting out real good and would roll off, he done got used to hunting in front of that wheeler so I am trying to sit still a lot more and let him go find the hogs instead of me putting him in hot sign.  Seems to be getting better.

[Skrag]

If you get to always dropping them in hot sign or walking them into sign it will knock the hunt out of lots of them, they get to where they depend on you to find them hogs. Sort of like too much baypen will do a lot of them. If you want one to hunt cast them don't walk them or "road" them.

I have figured this out in the few years I have been hunting.  We hunt them in front of 4-wheelers and I have noticed that it will change the way a dog hunts in a dozen or two trips in my opinion.  Done this to a dog I got last year after my lead strike dog got killed.  He was hunting out real good and would roll off, he done got used to hunting in front of that wheeler so I am trying to sit still a lot more and let him go find the hogs instead of me putting him in hot sign.  Seems to be getting better.

I really don't think that's the issue in my case. I am a firm believer that if I have to hunt for sign or ride all over then I really don't need dogs. Not that there is anything wrong with people doing it. That is just not what I want on my feed bill.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Skrag]

Just really hoping he didn't just fizzle out. To much time invested to just be a dud. Lol.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[hoghunter71409]

I don't believe dogs fizzle out; not at such a young age anyway.

[Reuben]

all good points so far...the very best dog I have owned changed on me when he was about 7 years old...back in those days quite a few of the places I hunted the hogs moved through and weren't always there...and him having a few old battle scars I think he just changed his strategy...it took me a few hunts to figure what was going on with him...when I cut the dogs loose he would make a quick loop and if he showed back up in less than 10 minutes  or so you could bet you bottom dollar there were no hogs in the area...in the mean time the other dogs were out hunting...a mile on down if he rolled out it meant he could catch a scent of hog and he would roll out...in a while you would hear him baying a hog...9 times out of ten he struck first  and he was a fairly cold nosed dog...

it is possible your dog could be doing the same...

I know when roading dogs if they get interested in some hog scent and we keep moving sometimes the dogs will learn pass up tracks if they aren't hot enough if we just keep moving along...I will wait until they either strike or give it up before I move again...this causes some dogs to only take the hotter tracks...this can be an issue especially if the places are big and the hogs few...

[Skrag]

all good points so far...the very best dog I have owned changed on me when he was about 7 years old...back in those days quite a few of the places I hunted the hogs moved through and weren't always there...and him having a few old battle scars I think he just changed his strategy...it took me a few hunts to figure what was going on with him...when I cut the dogs loose he would make a quick loop and if he showed back up in less than 10 minutes  or so you could bet you bottom dollar there were no hogs in the area...in the mean time the other dogs were out hunting...a mile on down if he rolled out it meant he could catch a scent of hog and he would roll out...in a while you would hear him baying a hog...9 times out of ten he struck first  and he was a fairly cold nosed dog...

it is possible your dog could be doing the same...

I know when roading dogs if they get interested in some hog scent and we keep moving sometimes the dogs will learn pass up tracks if they aren't hot enough if we just keep moving along...I will wait until they either strike or give it up before I move again...this causes some dogs to only take the hotter tracks...this can be an issue especially if the places are big and the hogs few...

I will say he was a nice dog but I don't think he is that level. Hahaha.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[hoghunter71409]

Rueben has a point.  My 12 year old Cat does one of two things.  Shots out (in old or fresh sign) and bays- almost like she has a sense that the hogs are their.  Maybe she can see the tracks (LOL).

Other times, she makes a small loop (200 yds or so) and comes back.  Meanwhile, other dogs are 600-800 yds and it always seems like they come back with nothing.

Maybe some dogs just have a sense if hogs are in the area or not (whether sign is fresh or not).  Maybe your dog has developed a "sense". 

[tomtom]

 Is this happening in the same area? Could be something there making him nervous. Just sayin.

[Skrag]

Is this happening in the same area? Could be something there making him nervous. Just sayin.

Nah. He hunts like a yard dog everywhere.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk