Well this subject will have many different opinions be expressed. I am a fan of a shock collar if it is used correctly.....often times though it is not. And every dog will react to it differently, so it matters not how anybody on here has done it before....that dog will handle it different......
My advice would be this....obviously start on the lowest setting and, if needed, gradually step up. But just putting a shock collar on a dog is not putting a handle on a dog. That takes time outside the hunting environment in everyday situations. Once that handle is established it will carry over to the woods.
Having said that......if a hog breaks while a bay is on....a good dog's natural instinct is to go with it.....that is what we want them to do....right? So reprimanding him for going with a hog, in my opinion, is not a good thing. If you are worn out and have caught hogs already, I would go ahead and catch my dogs up and go. You know everytime you go out, there is the chance you are going to be out late. There have been times I have gone hunting and I had enough time to go home shower and head to work with no sleep.....but I made the decision to turn them back loose after we had already caught hogs. So use caution when using the collar. It sounds like you have a good and solid strike dog, not sure if I would risk it with him. I might try it on the younger dogs for the future.....
