Dual purpose dogs

Yes it can be done. In my opinion dogs with livestock working instinct make the best hog dogs. Cur dogs originated as dual purpose dogs. So yes, not only can it be done and have a dog good at both, but in my opinion if they are good at one they will almost automatically be good at the other. It takes exactly the same kind of dog to locate and bay hogs as it does with cattle. They are both livestock. Hogs are a little more wild than cattle these days but I've seen quite a few cattle that were as wild as any hog and some hogs that were very calm and bayed as good as dog broke cows. A good handle is key. It works best for me to teach the dog to only work cattle on command. That way you will never run into any problems. Dogs work off of cues. Give them a consitant cue for each job and they will know what you want them to do. Think about it.....if You walk out of the house with a leash the dog automatically knows you are taking him somehwere. They are cuing off of the leash If I walk out of the house at 6 am in my FD work uniform the dogs dont even flench. If I walk out of the house at 6 am with lacross rubber boots on they go nuts knowing we are about to go hunting. Those are cues. I cue the dogs to work cattle by putting a bell on thier collar. Or I just sic them on the cattle. My dogs get cued into the hog hunt when I grab my rifle. I don't think they would hunt worth a chit if I did not have it with me.

It depends on the type of dog ofcourse, but If you have a dog that does both jobs the right way then It most likely a Cur dog and that means he works cattle the right way. So I disagree that if the dog messes up and bays cattle on a hog hunt that the land owner will get very pissed and kick you off the place. The worst that will happen is the cows get bayed up. If the land owners sees that you are more likely to get a job penning his cattle than to get kicked off from hunting his place.

Waylon