What are the Pros and Cons of Hunting w/ English Pointers?

[hoghunterdfw]

My buddy just got a half english pointer pup and he gets talking about how special it is cuz it is half pointer. And I was just saying to  him that pointers can't be all that better than a cur dog cuz otherwise more people would be using them instead.  Just hoping to hear from folks who have hunted them before, what is your opinion of them as a breed in general for hog hunting? What kind of tasks do they perform or traits do to they have that are typically better or worse then your standard cur dog? My buddy says the pointer will give his pups the advantage of more hunt instinct, makes em get out farther, more grit, and better nose. Im calling BS on all of it.

[raider54]

Chops, Im hunting one for a friend of mine right now and I tell you he is long range, doesnt get tired, hunts on a dead run, he is Gritty, and everyone knows what kind of nose they have. My buddy priced this Frank Dog to me at a year old for $500 I didnt buy him because he looks like a registered Eng. Pointer but I would say at 18 mths old he is worth 3 times that. I have spoken with several people that cross bird dogs with thier hounds and curs and they will swear by them. You and Grant love each other man you should just kiss and make up! He was pretty rough on you over your DOGO that turned into a bay dog though, so maybe he has it comming!.....lol

[make-em-squeel]

WELL SAID RAIDER!!!

[kevin]

Pros----- your in the woods hunting.

Cons-----your hunting for hogs with a pointer.




They have a lot of natural drive and stamina. A lot of hussle.

I don't think there nose is all that great.  Mostly a winding type dog in my experience on hogs.  They don't seem to take a beating well.  A lot I've seen were kind of aggressive towards other dogs.


 My opinion only

[hoghunterdfw]

"Cons-----your hunting for hogs with a pointer."

HAHAHA Kevin thats funny stuff.

I'm just saying if a pointer is so good how come they arent more popular for hog hunting? It sounds like one of those breeds where its possible to find a particular dog from that breed that would work as a good hog dog but that it is not likely and most folks are better off going with a dog that was specifically bred for this type of work like a cur dog is.

[Circle C]

I would venture to say you find em with curs or hounds, and you catch them with pits or bulldogs.  Of course there are always exceptions

[sfboarbuster]

I know one guy who had a German Shorthair Pointer/ Jack Russel and that was a bad azz little dog. Have seen a couple more that were pretty good, mostly all really rough dogs though.

[hoghunterdfw]

Really rough?? like trys to catch all the time and BREAKS THE BAYS kinda really rough?? cuz that would not be very good

[sfboarbuster]

Pretty much, just what ive seen though.

[joe]

alot of guys here in florida cross curs with gsp. i guess because of there winding ability and stamina.

[make-em-squeel]

Chops since you are asking specifically about my pup so you can trash talk him you need to point out he is half pointer and half bmc. There nose range and stamina or desire to hunt is not in question it is great. And its more commom than your sheltered azz thinks, ie outlaw curs etc.

Kevin I have heard the dog agression is an issue, I need to get on that early!

Rough dogs are not all bay busters the finnesse is dependent on the individual dog just like with rough curs. Plus I have aceess to a great place to back up the roughest of dogs.

[WestTexasCurs]

Pros----- your in the woods hunting.

Cons-----your hunting for hogs with a pointer.

LOL,Thats what I was thinkin!

[make-em-squeel]

What is the difference in crossing up a hound vs a pointer with a cur? You get all the benefits of nose and stamina without the mouth!  ?  People are hunting with terriors.

[WestTexasCurs]

You can hunt with a poodle for all I care.He wrote down exactly the first thing that popped into my head.Just thought it was sorta funny.Yes,people hunt with all sorts of dogs that arent typical hunting dogs.They are the ones feeding them,so more power to em.I think its hard enough to find the good uns for pigs out of hunting stock.Much less try to find the good uns for pigs,out of bird dogs.But maybe I am sorting through the wrong hunting stock?Who knows?Good luck with your Bird dog.

[cward]

My dad is a quail hunter and use's pointers and GSP.A long time of go I tried some of them on hogs they just did not have the mind set that I like in my curs.... But they would eat a hog up but that don;t mean they were hog dogs..I seen all breeds of dogs that will eat a hog up but not a true hog dog... If you was to cross them and it was to take a cur dogs mind set and the good parts of a pointer was to come out in him then that would be great....But I would not gamble on feeding a hole litter of pups hopeing one came out that way...When I can cross good gentics curs and have a high percentage turn out..Seen some good dogs that were mutts but sure don't mean they will produce good dogs.. JMO

[BobbyB]

If there is dog aggression issues, it should most likely be from the lines the EP is out of. I have been around a lot of them, being bird hunted of course, and never ran across it. Mine have and will whoop another if they get crossed.

My little Willi gyp has the fastest chop I have ever heard. it would sound good on a hog, but shes into birds. She will bay the wife's jackass on occasion tho.

[raider54]

Just spoke with JAG today and they just made the same cross as the Frank dog I am hunting for him just last night. Dad is Reg. english pointer mom is hound/cur. They did this because the last litter turned out so good. When you get a cross that works, why not? Cur dogs will tree coons but I would never coon hunt with one of them. If you like it and it feels good do it!

[BigAinaBuilt]

My puppy is  9 months old and hitting his own pigs by himself already but he is still learning to respect a big hog and it is better to get the rest of the dogs there to help. He will grab but I am trying to break him away from it because I like my dogs to be a loose baying pack then to be crowded up against each other. It really does confuse my older dogs when the 2 younger ones wanna get in there and lock on but we are working on it! Heres a pic of him at 6 months old.

[buddylee]

I knew a fellow that had a pure EP. Alot of folks commented he was an oustanding dog at finding hogs. Only problem was that he wasn't very gritty. ALOT of folks here in Georgia cross pit and pointer and they make excellent dogs. You never find them for sale as adult dogs and rarely as pups either cause folks don't let go of them. I have a buddy with  GSP ns he says it is a good gritty dog that hunts out to around 600 yards.

[hillbilly]

the one i have seen is the best hunting dog i have ever seen. there is never a briar patch or thicket he don't hit.
i am looking for a pointer female now if anybody has got one.