Mikes done told you he don't terminate membership.  You done asked once, and said you wouldn't be back and here's this thread after those threats so I highly doubt you leave this time. 

Free advertisement is great ain't it    that was a joke by the way, so don't get all upset over it.

You got a dog in this fight BA? Butt out.

rdjustham and salty dog,


Don't y'all think the bickering has pretty well run it's course....   It's pretty clear that neither of you care for each other, yet you both continue to bait each other.

A some dude keeps on "coming at me" stirring up BS and attacking my character/integritty, are you going to deny me defense? Let HIM answer some stupid questions for a change--let's hear why he thinks he's some kind of an expert. Or are you siding with him like administrator Mikey does? I'd be just as proud if you terminated my membership. The smart ones on this forum know how to reach me, if they want. It was a mistake joining your forum, sir. But now that I'm here, I'm going to defend myself.

x3

really? WOW!!

Yes really.

Here, RD, I'll help you out a little---here's an example:

My time has loosened up a little, and I’d like to share some of our hogdog philosophies with the honest hearted who are interested. I will tell you about just one of my Saltydogs, for sake of time. He is my newest stud dog, a gorgeous red leopard about 3-1/3 years old, representing about 14 generations of Saltydogs. His name is Saltydog’s Raunchy, and representing about 14 generations of culling hard, and genetic design. First, some back ground which touches a little on the philosophy behind how I view working dogs—my opinions only, but what works for me.

What Saltydogs do,, or how they work or what makes them tick----- for those who are truly interested, I have raised catahoulas for 22+ years. I have sold dogs all over the country, and internationally, with many repeat customers over the years, selling a few for cowdogs, a few for search/rescue, a few for just companions, but most for hogdogs. Why do these customers come back? —simple----    Because they like my dogs—they do what’s expected of them.

How do my dogs work? I was asked this “general” question on a different thread, and a question like that is impossible for me to answer, for this reason, which any real dogman can understand. A '”quick/easy” answer is a shallow thoughtless answer, in my book, and that’s not what I want to give here. As some of you have seen, I will not be prodded into a quick answer to something so deeply rooted in my kennel philosophies, just to satisfy the impatient. There are several major problems that are a key factor about the “how a dog works” question/answer deal.  Here’s a few brief factors that come into play of how “dogs work”, that most good dogmen easily recognize and identify with.

1) Dogs are genetically individuals—and every individual is different. Hypothetically, you can breed two of your best dogs, get a litter of ten puppies. Two of those pups will likely rise above the rest of the litter in ability and achievement. Six of the litter will make good dogs. Yet two will likely be under achievers/culls—not representing their breeding very well. It is nearly impossible to see this play out unless you keep the whole litter for 6 months and work with these pups and really observe their development. Perhaps you have a brother or sister, and as you grow up, it becomes evident many subtle differences.

The way I run my breeding program, is to recognize the traits I want to see expressed in my dogs---my idea of how my catahoulas go about the business of representing what the breed is all about, and through generations of breeding for those traits, my dogs become the rule, not the exception for those desired traits. I have genetically streamlined my dogs.

2) Pilot error. That’s right, the dog’s handler is a HUGE factor in a dogs development for better or worse. I have seen some handlers do all the wrong things and literally kill the working desire in a GOOD dog. People like this should not even be allowed to own a working dog. A good dogman knows how to bring out the BEST in a pup/dog. I know guys who have a yard full of dogs some one else threw away ”stupid dog won’t work, won’t look at a hog---blah-blah-blah”, yet in the hands of a real dogman, these “culls” bloom into great achievers.

3 Personality clash. I have seen good dogmen not get anywhere with an occasional dog. I have personally taken back a dog or two from trusted customers (whom I KNOW their handling abilities and have seen their dogs work fantastic), and placed the same dog with another customer, and the dog excels. Sometimes it’s simply a personality clash. Again, dogs are individual personalities, as are people.

So, the “canned generic wide open for argument” question of “How do your dogs work”, has quite a bit to it, and no simple answers. Boils down to “which dog do you want to ask about?”—remember, they are all individuals.

My current string of dogs vary, just like anyone else’s would. Some dogs will hunt close and some range way out. Some bay back a ways, yet some are gritty enough to go in and catch.  Wouldn’t we all  love to have a yard full of strike dogs, but not every dog is going to finish out as a jam-up strike dog. Just the way it is.

 My best dog is a VERY nice strike dog, and he is who I’ll spend a little time about—‘ole Raunchy. He was baying through the fence at 3 months old—not strong, yet enough to know he would be good some day. 4 months he was in the pen working with the other puppies—still not strong, but yet he was showing enough. He was about 8 months old when he was introduced to the woods---a little late for what I like, but never the less---------This pup was paired up with a jam up strike dog bitch my friend has (acquired from my kennel, an amazing story how this bitch was rescued, and turned into an incredible strike dog—another time on this story, though) The pup went out his first 19 times with his mother and had a hog caught 19 times. It was what we call a “honey-hole”—perfect for training woods dogs. Most of his early hogs were about 100 lb shoats—ideal size. A couple of the later catches packed some hard core size—350 LB range. (we do not use catch dogs)  Since then, this dog has gotten stronger and stronger in distance and try. His best run, according to our Garmin, he ran out of the tracker’s range, and half hour later run back in, on a running hog. 18 miles is what the Garmin recorded. He’s the kind of a dog, when you start a hunt, he hangs around for about 15 minutes, and starts to move out to about 300 yards, then on out to about 700-1200 yards. I do know, we have followed hunters through the woods by an hour or two, and pick up hogs their dogs missed. So goes quality. Small hogs, he will just snatch up. Bigger, he waits for support, then goes in. His name is Saltydog’s Raunchy. He is an own son of my old Saltydog’s Legbone and out of Saltydog’s Nevermind, who is a daughter to Saltydog’s Earl out of Saltydog’s Eva.  Earl goes back to the hardest knocking gritty strike dogs ever out of my kennel, and that’s the old Bozo/Haint cross. Raunchy represents the rangier built dogs—built for speed and endurance. He weighs 65lbs.

More later/another time.

yeah i bred some dogs here and there.  Now its your turn.

" bred some dogs here and there" Wow.
RD, you didn't tell us squat about your breeding program. Imply that the few dogs you DID raise were all exactly alike---what I figured---B.S..

Now answer the question--tell us about your breeding program. Or can't you answer a simple question?

Hey Ed, Have a great time hunting this weekend. Gravy on a bucket lid for a pan---for the redneck dog that has everything.

Great question, BA. The way that works for me---------
NEVER wean pups just because they are 5-6 weeks old. Wean them only when they develope enough confidence to leave their mother and go explore. I play with my puppies so they develope confidence in me. It's all about confidence. The pups that do not go to the woods until they are 4-6 months are already handi-capped and behind.

Realise what "windows" are. Example: Windows of opportunity--young puppies are wide open to accept many things--few things bother them and they easily overcome the things that DO spook them. As a puppy grows up, these "windows" close up. Have you heard of the old dog set in his ways? Don't believe me? Take a 6 week old puppy to Pet Smart (or Tractor Supply), then take your year old dog to Pet Smart. You will probably have to drag the older dog through the door, and he will "dread" the whole experience, tail tucked and pissing himself. Yet the 6 week old pup will have his tail up and want to meet everybody. Take advantage of "windows"---they close up as a puppy ages.

I take my puppies well away from the other dogs and I start shooting around my puppies when they are 5-6 weeks old with a .22. I make sure that I am not in eyesight of any dogs that maybe gunshy, as puppies pick up on the reaction of other older dogs. I will fire off a round and immediatly drop down and play with my pups--pshic them up. Pretty soon they think a gun shot is cool--it becomes positive not negative. Do this with older dogs, and you will probably have gunshy dogs. Windows of opportunity.

I take the whole litter for short walks in the woods when they are 5-6 weeks old. I will stop and all the puppies will sit down and watch me. I do not make eye contact with them or say anything--just ignore them. Bump them down if they jump on me. It might take a minute or two, but pretty soon, ONE of those pups will get up and leave, folowing his curiosity and his nose. He just made my "A" team. Soon another will follow suit.  The last to leave become my "suspect".

Do this 2-3 times a week--see if the star pupil keeps getting stronger or weaker. See if your suspect starts to improve. After a few times in the woods, your puppies should be following their olfaction. They should be ranging out of sight--expect them to get out 50 to 100 feet--remember, they are just little puppies. What you are doing is allowing them to develope CONFIDENCE. Dogs/puppies need to "download" all the smells they will encounter when they become adults. Don't worry, EVERY dog has to sort out trash scent, in order to NOT jump hog scent.

At 5-6 weeks old, my pups see the hogs, and will bay through the fence. Maybe a minute or so and go off and be puppies. They see the hogs everytime we go for a walk to the woods. Again, I look for the pup that starts first, and the pup that starts last. At 3-4 months These pups get to go in with the older well started pups and bay a soft hog. When they get grabby, they graduate up a level to a tougher hog.

This is what works for me. I really believe in working with "windows". As with everything, there are those who prefer a different way. But this works for me.

excellent post Salty...

I will add a few more...training pups is very easy...not really training just exposing and conditioning is all it is...

A litter of pups is a lot of work feeding and cleaning behind them when we have a job to go to and then make the time for the pups...but if we are serious of selecting the very best for breeding, then keeping as many as possible is the only way...I keep a watchful eye on all the pups until 8 weeks of age...I will cut down t 6 pups at 8-10 weeks of age and these pups are conditioned to wind some and gun fire at a very young age...I look for good range and pups with a good nerve...I run drags every afternoon before feeding them...I continue to do this until they start trailing on their own...I walk the dag line with the pups after hiding the drag...once they master it I set up winding conditions for them...this is very easy to do but this must be done after the drag procedure is mastered...otherwise they will learn to wind and circle and will not run the track...so learning to track is first...at around 12 to 16 weeks I cull down to 4 or 5 pups...but after I know who has a nose to wind and trail and who bays a pig and who is ranging out...at around 6 months I cull down to 3 or 4 pups...At about 10 months I am down to 3 pups unless I know 2 or way ahead then I might cut down to 2 pups...one of the last things I test for is how long will they stick to a track with the big dogs...

It wasn't a straight answer because I believe it is very important to give a detailed explanation as to how I have done and why... I will continue to follow this as best I can because it works for me...

Reuben, Thanx for taking it to the next stages--excellant post.

x3

Ed, you think we could come up with enough bucket lids for the gravy?

NOW ITS YOUR TURN

I got 14 gravy-lappers, 7 are puppies. It beats the days when I HAD a few more. Quite a few more, that is. LOL!!

I DOINT HAVE A BREEDING PROGRAM.

What I thought. Do Own a dog?

I BREED CATAHOULAS FOR 10 YEARS OR SO, NOT TO SELL THOUGH, AN THEY WERENT HIGH POWER OR ANYTHING SPECIAL BUT WHEN I DID, I BRED FOR GRIT, AN LEGGIE DOGS THAT COULD DO IT FAST AND ALL DAY. BRED FOR A BLOCKER HEAD, NOT THE THIN NOSED DOGS. IF ANYONE ASKED I TOLD THEM, NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE AROUND TO HEAR.  I WASNT VAGUE. NOW ALMOST EVERYONE IN THIS SITE KNOWS THAT DOGS ARE LIVING CREATURES AND NOT ROBOTS SO YOU DONT ALWAYS GET EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF A PAIRING, BREEDING DOGS AINT LIKE BAKING A CAKE, 1 PT THIS AND 3 PARTS THAT AND WAALA. YOUR BEING VAGUE AND EVASIVE. AN I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, AND BE NEIGHBORLY AS YOUR AN OKIE, AN IVE SEEN SOME OF YOUR DOGS YEARS AGO AT BAYINGS, BUT YOU COME AT ME? KID GLOVES ARE OFF.

I'm not evasive. Just because YOU don't understand what I've said does not make me vague or evasive. Put your kid gloves back on, I'm just jabbin' back at you guys a little. "Why don't you just end this and answer my question--Do you own a dog??" Well do ya? it's a simple question. LOL!!

I've got some breeds that I've been working on for a while now... Don't know if I'm doing it right or not though... LOL! I think something may be missing... They should be able to hunt though, right??? LOL!

(Just figured I'd break the ice here man... getting thick!!!)





All in good fun... 

Salty, I'd like to see some current pics of your dogs if you don't mind posting them up?

Hey Ryan, now THAT's taking "outcross" to the limits!! LOL!!

I DOINT HAVE A BREEDING PROGRAM.

What I thought. Do Own a dog?

Hey Ed, Let's hear about YOUR breeding program?? You too, RD, lets see what YOUR credentials are?


I don't have time for this debating, Just read the thread if you want, like it or hate it--I don't really care. You don't like the way I do things, sorry. Like Mike likes to say "don't come back" 

not at all.  your talking in circles a d dancing around legit questions that most people would answer when they spent as much time as you describe in breeding and developing and maintaining their line.  All anyone wants is  straight answers outta ya.  hate to say it but your comin off as a dog peddler.

RD, sorry you can't "get it". I've explained enough. Dog peddler? I suppose you missed the couple times I mentioned I could care less about selling dogs, I breed for what I want. Why don't you read what I've said, not what you want to hear.

Scott, read the thread.

Salty I think what most people are trying to figure out is if you are your typical dog breeder. Fitting homes. There are alot of people that would like to find a true cat breeder that has culled HARD and had a standard in his dogs. The good dog breeders I know you will never buy a dog off these guys and if one does sale one it ain't cheap. These guys have a GROUP or dogs that all hunt and work with the same style take any dog out of the kennel and the dog will get the same job dome as the ones left in the kennel. MOST people who sale dogs never get a group of dogs like this do to fitting the dog to a home for money. If you were that guy that people were looking for I think everyone here one have jumped on it.  I take it alot of people are not seeing it in your post about your dogs. There are alot of good things said about the yellow Ben dogs and alot of bad things said about the yellow Ben dogs. The reason they are very inconsistent do to the almighty dollar  . If I pay lots of money for a pup and raise it up and it don't work its hard to cull it.
Not trying to knock you in anyway just saying its the way it looks.

Yes Cward, I hear ya. Don't fall into that trap--it's a no-win situation. From my viewpoint, I see alot of folks who want a "magic bullet", a "super dog" And want a whole kennel full of them. Don't we all.

So question: where is this so called alledged "standard" for hogdogs everyone is trying to pin me down on? Where is it written? What is it? Anybody?

This so called "standard concept", I SEE some folks are hung up on. I've yet to see anyone explain what THE standard is--that EVERYONE can agree on. Ask 100 folks what THE standard is, and you will get 100 versions of what THEY think.

Again, I started this thread for those who are truly interested in how my program works as well as my approach to MY standards. I breed for what I want, not for the public. If someone wants to purchase my over flow, and they think close enough to me and my ideas, they will like my dogs and do very well with them. The few that want to take exception and keep challenging me that I'm wrong about my approach, they will not get along with my dogs. I can NOT see the logic of somebody trying to prove me wrong on my own thread about what my views are about MY project. Makes no sense to me, yet I will stay polite.

 I breed my dogs according to what I want MY dogs to do. My dogs are proven, to most that try them. Some who tried them and didn't like them moved on because their ideas and mine were different. Most are very satisfied. This thread is about What makes me, "Saltydog Catahoulas" tick--some of the philosophies I follow. Some folks get it just fine.  Others just don't see it. A few want to get "people aggressive".

It's about like the very basic general question" how do your dogs work?" Which dog? They work phenominal, if you like what I like. So a pointless answer to a pointless question. "Standard" falls into the same category. There is no easy one answer fits all to either questions. Not one of these guys pushing this line of thinking has bothered to email me or give me a pm or call--so much for real interest..

Kevin, if you are really interested, get ahold of me---privately---I do not conduct business on a public forum.

I will be off the forum for awhile, please, people, don't take it wrong. I'm just busy. Happy huntin' and tie 'em tight!

Salty I think what most people are trying to figure out is if you are your typical dog breeder. Fitting homes. There are alot of people that would like to find a true cat breeder that has culled HARD and had a standard in his dogs. The good dog breeders I know you will never buy a dog off these guys and if one does sale one it ain't cheap. These guys have a GROUP or dogs that all hunt and work with the same style take any dog out of the kennel and the dog will get the same job dome as the ones left in the kennel. MOST people who sale dogs never get a group of dogs like this do to fitting the dog to a home for money. If you were that guy that people were looking for I think everyone here one have jumped on it.  I take it alot of people are not seeing it in your post about your dogs. There are alot of good things said about the yellow Ben dogs and alot of bad things said about the yellow Ben dogs. The reason they are very inconsistent do to the almighty dollar  . If I pay lots of money for a pup and raise it up and it don't work its hard to cull it.
Not trying to knock you in anyway just saying its the way it looks.

]RD, you have your right to your opinion. Sorry you think what I have to say is BS. I too have my opinions about you, yet I'm not dissing you. I discriminate who I would sell dogs. So let it be.

really based on what?  the fact ive called you out?

Do mind explaining what you mean, RD?

Salty.. I more interested in reading action than mystery. I just put it on the shelf to gather dust. Good luck to you with your program.

That's what this thread is about--"de-mystifying". Sorry you didn't get it. Thanx for the well wishes. Happy hunting.

Let's keep positive.

Corey, Seems you missed my points. It's like a book. You have to open it to see what its about. If you prefer to judge it by just looking at the surface, well you never will know. I can't please everyone, and don't intend to.

RD, you have your right to your opinion. Sorry you think what I have to say is BS. I too have my opinions about you, yet I'm not dissing you. I discriminate who I would sell dogs. So let it be.