EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

I have been catching hell from my father in law over catch dogs. I am looking to replace my old female, but I refuse to use a 35 pound dog for a catch dog. In my opinion, the bigger the better. I know everybody has their preferences and i dont want this to start a fight, but what is yalls take on it. Me personally, nothing under 60 pounds.

I like a bigger catch dog if use one (my dogs usually catch out) but a buddy used to have a little 30-40 pound gyp that he loved.  She was so small he could carry her through the palmettos and just drop her where he wanted her.  She caught hard and was he!! to get off.

Any size will catch and catch hard if its  a good one.  I prefer a bigger one...  I want one with leg and a set of jaws that are deep.  When getting a dog like this you ar looking at 60lbs. or better.  I understand their are smaller versions that catch hard and they work great also.  Its not how big the dog is but rather how good the dog is at anchoring the hog.  Bailey you have to remember.....Everything is bigger in TEXAS!! ;)

If the dog catches hard it doesnt matter the size.  I have seen several 300# plus hogs caught with a 35-40# pit and I have seen hogs walk/run with two 85# bulldogs on it.  It might make you feel better seeing that bigger dog on the hog but if he decides he wants to move around or run or walk he can and will.

im not saying that a small dog cant catch and catch hard. im just saying that i prefer a bigger dog. i guess its no different than prefering a yella dog or a leopard dog. i guess im just on my soap box cause im tired of being ragged on for passing on smaller dogs.

I prefer a good performance type AB.  75 to 85 pounds.   I agree with others that number one thing is the dog  catches hard.  Size is not worth anything if the dog does not catch solid and have heart. 

Bigger ain't always better. It's more about the ability of the dog than it's size. There is a point that big or little can hinder a dogs catching ability.
I don't like em too big and I don't like em too small.  ;)

What kind of hell is your father in law giving you about it anyway?

he is one of those that "knows what you want and need" no matter what you reall want or need. the way i see it, as long as they are in my yard and im footing the feed bill, im gonna hunt what i want to. really dont care what he thinks.

Lol. Well, folks like that are the best ones to prove wrong and I agree. We feed what we feed and hunt what we hunt.

Get what you want and when your father in law complains just tell him he ain't got to hunt with you. I figure you feed what you want and feed what I want. I like a bigger catch dog myself but I have seen the smaller ones get the job done. So I ain't gonna say bigger is better. But I want a leggier dog because I want a running catch dog. but they sure eat and poop more ;D

i like to run a 50 pound APBT, but i also take a 100+ AB just incase ;)

An APBT between 30 and 50 pounds.

I used to think bigger was better til i got a little female bout 35 lbs, caught hard and solid, buddy of mine has a tiny little black pit gyp that is quick as lightnin, and can run with the bay dogs, and caught some some big boar hogs.

My biggest pitbull dog is 50 pounds and I will be willing to put my APBTs up against any catch dog no matter what size or breed!

I totally agree with The BoarNinja...I believe that the dog needs to be big enough that the hog has trouble slinging his head around or for the hog to get tired of slinging its head, this will reduce the chances of another dog getting cut down or worse yet getting crippled or killed. Just my opinion.


I have seen some smaller pits handle a big hog but these were wide, solid, quick, and no fat on them. I like a 60-65 pound dog.

or you get a pig enough dog that it picks the hog up off the ground  ;D

I agree 100%, sometimes my 80 lb american is a little clumsy through the thick stuff but I've seen first hand him caught on one ear and another, smaller dog caught on the other and him able to plant his feet while the smaller dog is actually off the ground, we caught 6 toothy boas back to back pretty much this spring and I never had to put a staple in but huntin partner wasn't so lucky... we watched a big boar throw his 40ish lb pit around and into his teeth until we could get into the creek to him.

I would like to request a picture to compare sizes for the fella here, Bailey you looking to stay around pits or bulldogs? And Jburns i know what you mean but we all manage to get by

I like big bulldogs, for example
(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/southrnboi069/e5745291.jpg)
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/25039_1261293380637_1478787185_30681834_7266948_n.jpg)

80-100 lb athlete.

My girl is 55lbs and 21 inches at the shoulder at 6 1/2 months old. Will most likely reach 75lbs-80lbs and 24 inches at the shoulder when full grown. My favorite size for an all around dog. Pic was taken last week in the desert. She easily climbed this 10 foot wall.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250053_2005161243500_1077701012_32421193_6180574_n.jpg

I like a big gator mouth pit!(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv10/ETHHUNTERS/967942555_photobucket_24135_.jpg)

i like to run two catch dogs, one about 55 lbs the other around 75
CAM AROUND 75LBS
(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/Linda_Kilani/dogs049.jpg)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/Linda_Kilani/dogs051.jpg)

SHAMUS little blue bulldozer

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/Linda_Kilani/dogs050.jpg)

(http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x439/Linda_Kilani/dogs044-2.jpg)

I have a 10 month old blue/pinhead pit 70 pounds and bout 24 inches at shoulder. Maniac on a hog and will only get bigger and better i think. He's the one on my profile pic

I don't own one but I like those Chicken Pits that cward breeds.   ;D

Just wanted to share an observation that seems to be what everyone is saying.  No matter the size the dog has to be athletic is kinda what im getting from all this..  And all the pics that were posted.  The dogs differed in size but all had good muscle tone and appeared that they could handle themselves.  If the dog stands 20 inches at the shoulder but weighs 65lbs and solid muscle, which categor would it fit in?  ;D

u would be looken at the perfect specimen of a well bred APBT in my book!!!!

x2 thats what i would always aim for

I like two and I like em big!
(http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j350/SneakyCreek/a63ddfd6.jpg)
The blue with white head was killed in combat

 


I have seen small and large catch dogs that have been on so many hogs they lean or try to pull the hog over so it cant walk off, seems like some do catch on the ear and walk with the hog too, I seen some that catch on the balls and the hog sits on them about to smother them u would think, had a terrier that would nut any bad hog he could get too, be would not touch a sow at all, he got so bad about nutting boars had to place a bell on him to find him since he would not bark with mouth full of oysters, thats also why i used to put bells on pits as well so the brush hitting the bell would let us know where he was if he caught away from the curs by himself.

Now see i would have to disagree.  To me thats too low and too wide, i was using the size weight as a comparison kinda thing.. Maybe i shoulda put it like this 9 inches at shoulder 90 pounds solid muscle and 3 feet wide and anchors 400lb pigs by hisself.  Big dog or small dog?

i got both big and little pits depends on the country im hunting what dog i use .bont really need one the curs do a fine job  ;D

rdjustham im not following u??? 20 inchs at the shoulder almost puts that dog at 2 feet tall at the shoulder!!! the dog u describe would`nt work, u trien to breed a weiner dog with a mastiff?

wait wait big chris ive seen that before!!!

i would really love to see one and it be a solid catch dog, and i mean TOP NOTCH!!! this may be goen straight over me head i dnt know???? ???

well acutally its a ugly ass dog to tell ya the truth, but ive seen a weenie pit that looks pretty much like a pissed off bag dog

my boy Poncho all 50 lbs.  proly not the best but gets it done for me ;)

(http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee483/poncho51/DSC00936.jpg)

 We've owned and worked both large and small catch dogs and they both work well at catching large hogs. Our 40lb pit Ammo would hang on to a large hog just as good as our 80lb cd, VooDoo. The difference is that Ammo would hang on, but VooDoo seems to have control of a large hog or he handles the hog instead of the hog handling him.  IMO

thats a good looken dog poncho

i got a catch dog that is no more then 45 pounds soakin wet its not about the size because i have seen him countless times out catch bigger dogs !! he is a badass and dont catch anything small at all he only goes for the big stuff nothing under 200 pounds and that aint no lie !!1

 ??? So what does he do when you have a smaller hog bayed?  ???

So you always see the hog before you cut your catch dog loose?  What if it was a 150lb boar wrecking your dogs, it wouldnt catch? ???

 rolleyes

dont care if he weighs 45 or 145 if he want catch whats bayed then he is a cull in my opinion.

hahaha....awesome!

tell your father inlaw to buy you a dog