Message #119254

[Ned Makim]

A hard finder is two things...the hard part means they will stop a boar and are prepared to die on it rather than let it go once you arrive. Some swing for the duration but others will stop the boar, then bail it (bay) and then grab on instruction or on sight or sound of you approaching. The hard bit is about the damage they will take rather than give in once it all gets going.

The finder part means they will wind and ground scent pigs. Often from the back of the vehicle (rigging?) they will jump on floating scent and follow it up. That can be 2kms on a cold night when the scent sticks lower down. Two ks is about 1.25 miles. Most finds are closer but are often 1km. If on foot, the dog might circle you are about 200 metres out and then strike out on a scent or just hit the pig if it's that close.  They are not allowed to just range about hoping to bump into a scent.
If they strike out, it's a pig, just a matter of whether or not they can stop him. Some of the dogs won't grab little ones and some will specifically pick out the boar from the others available.


Again, that's not just our dogs, that's just the standard for handy working dogs here.

Cheers.