Catch Dog Questions

[jimco]

Have a chance to get a  Pit Bull / Catahoula cross  9 months old.  45 lbs. Great looking dog. Dog has never hunted yet. The guy who wants to give him to me tried him twice on a hobbled hog in a bay pen. He caught and locked on solid both times. The first time on the back legs, the second time on the back of the neck, but held solid both times. Personally I think he would have caught on the head if the hog wasn't
laying there hobbled. If not, do you think over time he could be taught to catch on the head? Also at 45 lbs. do you think he is heavy enough to be a descent catch dog? He's not skinny but I beleive I could put about 10 more pounds on him. Also I am going to bring him in if I get him and get him neutered. He has an excellent handle and not an ounce of agression towards people or other dogs. If i get him I am wanting to use him as a walk in catch dog. What do you folks think? Is he something worth trying ? I would like your opinions before I bring him home and start investing time and money in him. Thanks

[jon]

if i was u i'd get em.. and also at only 9 months old he'll still grow some too jmo

[brad s]

I would get him an try him u have nothin to lose, but idk abo ut bein a lead in catch dog bc if its a big boar he mite stand back and bay. I had a 1/2 pit 1/2 ybm and anything under about 180 or so he would catch but on them big ones he would bay an help catch with my bulldog. JMO

[make-em-squeel]

Some of the halfs will bay ...one of the top 3 most solid cd I have used with no quit on any hog was half cat / pit so if thats the case you get the best of both worlds, all catch and more athletic

[leonidas]

If you hobble the hog and drag it by its back leg and focus on the ear of the hog. The dog will go after the ear sooner or later...

[dub]

45 lbs. How big do you think a Pit is? I have seen 45 lb pits get the job done real good. I would never put a dog on a hobbled pig for many reason. Do not let the dog actually catch until the teeth are set.

[jimco]

45 lbs. How big do you think a Pit is? I have seen 45 lb pits get the job done real good. I would never put a dog on a hobbled pig for many reason. Do not let the dog actually catch until the teeth are set.

  DUB,   I have seen some as big as 65 lbs. That's why I was asking about the weight of this one. What are the many reasons you would never put a dog on a hobbled pig? Also at what age are their teeth set? I know to some a beginners questions may seem
a little trivial but that's the only way we have of learning is by asking questions. Just saying. 

[Blake F]

Between the ages of 3 months and 7 months, puppies lose or absorb their "puppy teeth"

Around 3 months, they will lose their canines to make room for new canines.
Around 4 months, the permanent teeth will begin to start coming in
Between 6 and 7 months the adult molars will come in.
Full set of adult teeth should be there by 7-8 months in......

With that being said, most of you raising bulldogs should make sure your bulldogs get plenty of vitamins and "toys" to chew on from 4 months to 8 months. I wont show my bulldog a pig until he/she is at least 8 months old, and then I control the size and roughness of the pig. Dont release your bulldogs on a large hog or a hog that you cant see until they are at least 10 months old.

[tmatt]

Wait til he is at least a year. If you can wait til he is 18 months that would be even better. By waiting til 18 months you will allow him to mature not only physically but mentally as well. The quickest way to ruin one is to put him on a bad hog too soon. Work him on smaller, not so rough hogs and don't let him get roughed up yet. As for catching on the ear, if he catches somewhere else just pull him off and put him on the ear. Each time you put him on the ear he should get closer to figuring out where you want him to catch. If you let him catch somewhere else and don't get him broke off and put on the ear pretty quick he.will think it is ok to catch anywhere. Basically it is about timing, if he catches on the ear let him work if he catches anywhere else stop it and get him on the ear then let him work once he is on the ear.

[bayed hard hog dogs]

Wait til he is at least a year. If you can wait til he is 18 months that would be even better. By waiting til 18 months you will allow him to mature not only physically but mentally as well. The quickest way to ruin one is to put him on a bad hog too soon. Work him on smaller, not so rough hogs and don't let him get roughed up yet. As for catching on the ear, if he catches somewhere else just pull him off and put him on the ear. Each time you put him on the ear he shoud get closer to figuring out where you want him to catch. If you let him catch somewhere else and don't get him broke off and put on the ear pretty quick he.will think it is ok to catch anywhere. Basically it is about timing, if he catches on the ear let him work if he catches anywhere else stop it and get him on the ear then let him work once he is on the ear.

x2 go with the year old, to help get the dog on the ear have a buddy hold the hogs back legs, you hold the dogs collar and put the dogs mouth right at the ear and make him catch it let him hold him a little bit then work your way back to a full in run and catch,but like said above if he catches something else get him off quickly and put him on that ear, he will no the next time
As far as the size that is big enough .