Catchdog Etiquette

[TShelly]

I read more and more stories of people turning their catch dogs loose from 50+ yards, 100+ yards etc, 200 yards, etc.. And more often then not, when a CD is killed on this site by a hog, it's usually been turned loose from a good distance away. Not always, there are exceptions to everything but in general.

1.) My question is how many people actually know what there dogs are bayed in before they turn loose??? It seems more and mre ppl just cut their CD loose as soon as they hear a bay. 

 We 95% of the time know where the hog is bayed before cutting them loose. ( for example in a wash out or deep creek the lariot rope comes out, and the cd is saved from getting his world rocked in close quarters or a bad spot)

2.) how many people want "holding power" (bigger cd's), vs just any size dog that catches (for example 45# pit bull)??

Over the last 5 years we've caught hundreds of hogs per year and I can probably count on both hands how many times we used 2 cd's. I've always thought and been taught you just need a distraction to catch the hog. Not a horse of a dog holding him down for you. That's why with Cutters and Ninja's "hat trick" you don't even need a CD

[jdt]

hahaha i done forgot , what is the hat trick ?

[Purebreedcolt]

No don't know where the hog is before cutting loose to me that is the cds job.  Not expendable but usable.  Yes I like a bigger cd 65 plus enough leg to keep their feet on the ground on 99 percent of hogs.

[trey brown]

i like to walk in the bay with the catch dog i dont turn my cd loose far away i want to know what there are getting in to. As far as catch dog size i take 2 catch dogs with me both are around 45 pound pits but if i can rope the hog i will do it first

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

I won't even lie, that is all John.

[t.wilbanks]

To me, it all depends on a few different things....

I prefer to be within about 50 yards or so and like running 2 cds...
I like them to be around 40 -50 pounds to maneuver good in the thick spots...

Daytime, i like to walk in and see the bay...
Night time, depends on what kind of terrain we are in...

Also depends on if the hog bays up good or if it breaks and bays over and over...
If it keeps breaking when we get close we may cut one loose alittle farther out to try and
shut it down... but try not to make a habit of it...

The other night my pup got on a hog and ran it about a mile one way, bayed for a while, broke and ran
a mile the opposite direction, and finally bayed again... took us 2 hours to catch up to her after she struck, and i knew she was bayed in the creek.... cut the cds loose from about 100 yards ( 50# pit and ~110# bulldog/dogo ) and hauled azz behind them... There was a tree that had fallen away from the dried creek bank with a hole that went about 15 yards back.. luckily it was a sow about 100 pounds... if it had been a good boar we would have been in deep doo doo.... we had dogs behind her, on top of her, under her... could have been a wreck...  

[TShelly]

Twillbanks: those are all situations we've turned Cd's loose early. Broken bays, knowing it's just a sow or small boar hog..

Been in that same situation with a cave except it was a 340# Barr and we had to dig a hole in the bank above to get a rope on him.

I'm not knocking the 2 cd's or a big dog.. Just getting everyone's take an perspective on it. I've yet to see a CD get killed in the woods by a hog and trying to better grasp how so many ppl get theirs killed

[Findahog]

I like to see the dogs work the hog. Enjoy the dogs working then. Turn catch dog loose when as close as possible. It don't always work out that way though.

[Noah]

Excellent subject matter brother... 

As always, it would vary by how and where a person hunts... whether your bay dogs help catch or don't... etc...  BUT AS FOR ME  .....

I prefer not to send my CD in from distance, UNLESS I know my cur dog is already caught, in which case I'll usually send in the anchor as soon as they can hear it...  If they are baying... I will get as close as possible, so as I can get in and help my dogs once they commit... as you stated, most bad damage happens when they been caught on a bad one too long... which I aim to prevent by how I hunt...

I like to see where they are bayed at before I cut a CD into them...  we got some bad spots that you just don't want to send a catch dog into(let alone go in after them) to cut one in blind.... blown over trees make for some bad, water/mud filled caves that are no fun to go into after a bad one....  wild cattle is another reason I always like to see what I am turning into... you never know... 

As I have developed my style with the dogs/terrain I have to work with, I have learned to appreciate a big catch dog... 98% of the time I don't even need a catch dog... my dogs are plenty rough when they see me... however, for that 2% when I get lucky enough to bay one up that might could do some serious damage... sure makes me feel alot better runnin' into a catch knowing I got a dog that can control a big hog from shaking dogs loose... not to mention the decrease in injury to my cur dogs since I began using this type of CD... the sheer mass of the dog cuts down of the "flailing/thrashing" aspect of bay dogs gettin' cut after the catch... worth it's weight in GOLD to me 

As for catch dog etiquette... I have a lot to say on the subject... when hunting with others... it is always a touchy subject with me....  a good catch dog is a valuable asset, and many do not appreciate the amount of work that goes into making a good one...  my catch dogs know how to work with my dogs.... they know each other well and help protect each other and me.

I see other hunters ask me to send my catch dog to theirs occasionally.... which I have no problem with if I know your dogs and know they will keep the hog bayed and help my CD when he gets there...   What I don't like is when people ask me to send my catch dog "to stop" a hog for their bay dogs.... my CD's are NOT meant to stop a hog, the bay dogs should take care of that.

If I know you have a bay dog/catch dog team of your own that I know functions the same as mine, of course I have no problem using my catch dog if needed.... common courtesy.   Otherwise... no thanks, I'm not risking getting my CD hurt to make up for your chitty bay dogs.

... have pissed a few people off over the years sticking to this idea.... oh well.

[t.wilbanks]

I'm not knocking the 2 cd's or a big dog.. Just getting everyone's take an perspective on it. I've yet to see a CD get killed in the woods by a hog and trying to better grasp how so many ppl get theirs killed

Weve only been running one cd ( 50# pit ) on alot of hunts since i lost my other to heatstroke... he gets the job done, but i like having the extra insurance of 2 cds..... most of the time we dont need them, but when we do they are there....

[HDMdogs]

well me personally when i know its a strong solid bay ill let the catchdog go from 100+ but however that depends on the dogs that are holding this bay together as well...
when we bring a rougher gritty crew i know that the sec the hogs caught the other dogs are on it like white on rice so no problem.
but when were working younger dogs,nighttime exceptions, etc i like to see it or know what im dealing with first..

[Caseydejohn]

At night its completly different. I sent my catch dog when ever im kinda close but not right on top of them. But in the day light i can normally see the hog and if it looks like a bad spot ill break it somtimes. I do like sending 2 xatch dogs if im hunting with some one else but i hunt alot by my self and cant lead two of them. I like two bull dogs because i normally only have a old dog or maybe 2 and 1 pup. My good dogs roll out most of the time and dont help catch some time and its hard for a 45lbs pit to hold a big hog by its self.

[uglydog]

I read more and more stories of people turning their catch dogs loose from 50+ yards, 100+ yards etc, 200 yards, etc.. And more often then not, when a CD is killed on this site by a hog, it's usually been turned loose from a good distance away. Not always, there are exceptions to everything but in general.

1.) My question is how many people actually know what there dogs are bayed in before they turn loose??? It seems more and mre ppl just cut their CD loose as soon as they hear a bay.

Very Good post TShelly. I am curious to hear the answers after listening to so many make complaints about vest getting cut through, I ask myself that same thing. "turning loose" at a few barks and not even knowing if they got a bay, wondering if some know the difference between a bay and barking dogs.

[matt_aggie04]

I read more and more stories of people turning their catch dogs loose from 50+ yards, 100+ yards etc, 200 yards, etc.. And more often then not, when a CD is killed on this site by a hog, it's usually been turned loose from a good distance away. Not always, there are exceptions to everything but in general.

1.) My question is how many people actually know what there dogs are bayed in before they turn loose??? It seems more and mre ppl just cut their CD loose as soon as they hear a bay.

Very Good post TShelly. I am curious to hear the answers after listening to so many make complaints about vest getting cut through, I ask myself that same thing. "turning loose" at a few barks and not even knowing if they got a bay, wondering if some know the difference between a bay and barking dogs.

True, very true!  I like to have two CD's with us even if we only use one.  I like to be as close as possible sometimes that distance is 20' and sometimes that distance is 20-30 yards.  Where I have been caught in a bind is when a hog breaks and runs when my CD is between me and hog.  Common sense tells me that if my dog is getting wrecked when the hog breaks and runs a few hundred yards because of the time it takes me to get to him that I ought not intentionally let him go from that kind of distance. 

[tnhillbilly]

I like to get as close as possible, I don't think ive ever sent one from 100 yds. Reason I quit hunting with a feller. He would send them no matter how far they were. Cost him a dang fine catch dog and several stitches.

[SCHitemHard]

i like to see the hog, i would take 2 cds on purpose, one small pit and then a big bulldog, no since in sendin and wearin out your star player in the first quarter

with the limited hunts ive done and learned, ive learned bigger and closer is better

[dub]

Very good subject. I understand that sfboarbuster can do the hat trick. I know there are people with way more experience than me. But I hunted with many people before picking my catch dogs. I am not saying anything is the best because I think there are trade offs. But I got tired of calling dogs off because they crossed the property line. I saw the bigger catch dogs being used as RCD and did not have that problem. My Cd's are still puppies and are far from throw away dogs. I hope to use them as RCD's one should be about 100 lbs and the other 60-70 lbs. If I have a dog that bays anything but pigs it won't be hunting with me. I also expect my catch dogs not to catch anything but pigs. Maybe a skunk or two but that ain't really trashing But if my dogs can't grab that hog, shut it down and hold it until I get there they will be lead in catch dogs. I also think that if your catch dog is caught you better be busting through everything to get there. I know people think I am crazy for getting my unicorns. I sure hope they catch half as good as some people say.

But I have caught some pigs with just one bay dog. Just let the dog distract the hog and I grabbed them. But it only took once that it almost went bad for me to really want a good catch dog. For me I want a hog anchor. But I know Chance has used a Jack Russel for a catch dog. So I don't have the perfect answer just what I want.

[Silverton Boar Dogs]

I like to use the big leggy catch dogs. around 27 or 28" at the shoulder and 80-90lbs. I hunt some pretty open country where I can send my catch dogs from a long way out, but I will be able to get to them pretty quick. I like to use two at a time that are used to working together. Two big dogs can control a pretty bad hog for a good while in this country. That control is what I am looking for, less damage to the catch and bay dogs. I also find it safer when I am hunting alone.

In open country when I am hunting off the truck and can drive about anywhere I will send mine from 200 to 400 yards. When I am in the thick brush or canyon country I like to get a little closer.

I am running my dogs in breast plates because they are cooler and the dogs can move better while they are running to the bay and after they are caught. I also use these dogs by themselves one to or three at a time as finder holders when I am working crop ground or very open pastures. They often go 1/2 mile and hold untill I get there with no ill effects. I have got to have them in really good shape for this type of work so I road them 3 miles every other day.

Size, speed, and a clean holding style in these dogs is what works best for me in this country.

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

I know people think I am crazy for getting my unicorns. I sure hope they catch half as good as some people say.

That's not why we think you're crazy. 

[halfbreed]

i hunted for years with just my catahoulas and a kid rope and knife .dogs get em bayed up and when i git there if they hadn't allready caught they would catch when they seen me coming and i would leg and rope the hog and if possible start pulling the bigger ones back end up a tree branch  .when i started useing catch dogs i treat them just as i would a pistol don't shoot till you see the target . and i walk not run like a wild man to a bay . i've hunted with a couple guys that would take off runnin and hollerin into a bay . no wonder the hogs break