Training dual purpose dogs

[Noah]

Very good info Paul, that's exactly what I was wondering.  Whether you let them get solid at one before flipping back and forth.  You're statement of handle coming from the cow work is a very good point.  I feel I have a good enough handle on my older hog dogs, so I'm gonna try it with them first.  Thanks for the insight!

[Silverton Boar Dogs]

Noah, a 150 ft cutting pen makes a great "bay" pen for starting dogs on cattle, I think its a good idea to start them in a pen of some sort with some dog broke cattle. This lets the dogs learn that the goal is to hold the bunch of cattle together. If you start them on freash cattle out side the cattle are going to run off and your dogs will bay up or catch singles. I think it is important that the dog first learn that the heard needs to be held intact and that runners need to be brought back to the herd. This is the most important thing for me in a cowdog. Bring the bunch quiters back to the herd is job one after the herd is held up and holding well. I think of it as "Hold the herd, bite the runners"

[Noah]

10-4, the guys I work cattle with have a good, broke set of dogs to put mine in with, but I'd sure use the round pen if I had to start from scratch. 

[Pecos21]

Noah, a 150 ft cutting pen makes a great "bay" pen for starting dogs on cattle, I think its a good idea to start them in a pen of some sort with some dog broke cattle. This lets the dogs learn that the goal is to hold the bunch of cattle together. If you start them on freash cattle out side the cattle are going to run off and your dogs will bay up or catch singles. I think it is important that the dog first learn that the heard needs to be held intact and that runners need to be brought back to the herd. This is the most important thing for me in a cowdog. Bring the bunch quiters back to the herd is job one after the herd is held up and holding well. I think of it as "Hold the herd, bite the runners"

Awesome advice there!!! I never thought about a cutting pen....but that makes an almost perfect scenerio for starting young cow dogs......it will sure help with controlling the situation as well as keeping the confidence of your pups.....!!!! 

[cward]

sivertonboar and  pecos I RESPECT every thing you say!

[Pecos21]

sivertonboar and  pecos I RESPECT every thing you say!

Thanks I appreciate that.  I respect anyone who has ever roped and tied cattle down.....and from the looks of the horse you were riding in the pic Cward....looks like that one could hold one down... The funny thing is when you are catching cattle in a pasture, swamp, mountain ridge, etc. the roping is only part of it.....lol....but if you have never laid a trip, or put the heel loop on one in that situation, you just don't know how big a rush that is, but it is also a lot of work.....lol. You aren't in a rodeo arena with the "perfect setup" roping a 500 lb steer.... There are SO many things that can go wrong and then you add dogs into that mix...lol...which we had to have a lot of times to find the cattle. Then you sure have to be a hand. I like the fact that there are fellow Cow Hunters (Florida Cowboy), Cowboys, and Saddle Tramps on here....as that is becoming a dying art...it has been several years since I have done any serious cowboying and I do miss it....and I love talking about it  Thanks for sharing everyone.....mebbe i can get back into it soon....

[cward]

Pecos I ride in some ranch rodeo's  but do not team rope I will go to a few bennfit ropings just to give my money away.But I have a saying when guys ask me to come rope with them I TELL THEM WHY DO WE NEED TO ROPE THEM THEY ARE ALREADY PENNED!! There is some really good cattlemen cowboys that rope too but I work or catch cattle about 3 to 4 days aweek so when I go roping it is not all that fun in the pen to me I also ride sorting horses and don't now if I even have a tie down in my barn! There is nothing like roping a 2 year old bull that has never seen human weighting 900 to 1000 lbs using your dogs to hold him busting brush to get to him and when he hits the end of the line like a deer that is what is all about!Whatching my dogs bunch cattle is sure an enjoyment of its on.

[Pecos21]

Pecos I ride in some ranch rodeo's  but do not team rope I will go to a few bennfit ropings just to give my money away.But I have a saying when guys ask me to come rope with them I TELL THEM WHY DO WE NEED TO ROPE THEM THEY ARE ALREADY PENNED!! There is some really good cattlemen cowboys that rope too but I work or catch cattle about 3 to 4 days aweek so when I go roping it is not all that fun in the pen to me I also ride sorting horses and don't now if I even have a tie down in my barn! There is nothing like roping a 2 year old bull that has never seen human weighting 900 to 1000 lbs using your dogs to hold him busting brush to get to him and when he hits the end of the line like a deer that is what is all about!Whatching my dogs bunch cattle is sure an enjoyment of its on.

I know that's right....... .........I never done much team roping either....i roped some nights when I worked at 4L Rodeo company just messing around......and i went to one ranch rodeo and looked like I have never seen a cow before.....I was nervous.....it was embarrasing....lol....but I love me some cow catching.....it is a feeling like no other....  .....

[cward]

Well in our ranch rodeo we have the hog hauling witch all four team members will start at one end of the arena on there horses run to the other end and jump in a pen catch there # hog tie his feet through him on one of the horses and all four team member have to be back across the line makes most of the team roper mad when we have this event.

[craig]

now thats a class i would love , havent seen that before