I'm right with you Noah. I have Betty (pitXDane), about 90 lb, hog crazy but is not as hard as I'd like, and her brain shorts out when she hears a bay. When I say not as hard as I'd like, on Sat. she had a good boar caught for a while and when I got there she lost her grip and caught her breath before locking back up. She gets the job done for now, but lacks in several areas. I also have a lot of broken bays when she bulldozes through the brush to catch.
I just lost my ideal cd a few weeks ago. I don't know his breeding but he was about 65 to 70 lb, caught extremely hard, and had a great mind. I could lead him right up to a bay and not have him be flipping out, but when I kicked him loose it was game on. When he went to a bay he would chose a good path and approach. He might turn around and go back if the way he started didn't suit him and find a better approach. He was in a hurry but he was THINKING about it. He was built like a really thick cur body with a massive neck and set of jaws. He was very athletic and had some leg and speed. He only was cut twice in the time I had him, and they were minor flesh wounds on his leg. He died from internal injuries on a boar that he struck when he slipped his snap on the 4 wheeler. He was still locked, body limp, being drug around when I got to him. That is heart right there.
This thread could get heated, people have strong opinions about this, but I am interested in what is working for those who consistently catch good hogs in any conditions. Noah, I think you described very well my thoughts on the subject. But I've only been at this for 3 yrs. I learn something new every time I turn dogs loose.
