DJ, there are sterotype with good reason IMO as many other breeds that had the "work" bred out of them, just like Mike said in all the other breeds too.
I happend to know several papered dogs that will do what you mentioned about ranging out and finding hogs, and will bay right. However its like anything else, researching the lines and seeing the dogs in that line work for yourself, to make sure the owners definition of the word "hunt" "strike" "bay", and "gritty" all match your own definition of the word. To me one persons defintion and my definition are what has been where the confusion comes into play. 6 years ago, you could not hardly convince me to hunt with a Catahoula, I saw a few I liked but alot more that weren't worth feeding. Now I have some papered dogs, and feel confident through hunting and researching the line of dogs before making up my mind that I can find and pick out a dog off of a few select bloodlines that will work the way I expect one to work. In November we just purchased another pup, out of the same lines as the one we have already, and so far he matches exactly what we have in these others. But I hunted his aunts, uncles, sire, and cousins and keeping track of these dogs where the traits come from and if the dogs are consistantly producing the same traits in the majority of all the pups. I feel I have increased my chances of having less oppertunity to have a sorry dog by putting in the time and working with bloodlines that are consistant and not just getting a dog because it is papered or because it has spots
I think that this is true. You have made a really good point.
