What kind of experience do the dogs have? How many hogs of what size have they seen?
You could probably do the drag rope with the 2X4 on the end and be ok.
Biggest concern of mine would be getting a pup that has little experience with hogs wrecked the first time out.
kevin the biggest hog the males have been on was a boar about 230 with 2in cutters... jus so happen to be the first time i took out the 11 and 12 mo pups lol no harm was done