EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Wren I was much younger and still lived in WHarton County, I went hunting with some friends and their dogs a few times. ( early 80's )

Ive since killed them with longbows, recurves and rifles, but I'm kinda wanting to get into a little dog hunting So here is my question.

How many dogs are really needed? I see where some guys get it done with 1. Some use a pair. Some take an 18 wheeler load. How many are really need stop and kill hogs consistently? I have a kennel full of pointers that I am not going to get rid of, so space is limited, but I could move in 2 or 3 more.

So what do y'all think?

Me perosonally i usually take two decent strike dogs, and maybe a youngier dog, or a helper dog, then my catch dog, but here recently i found out why people carry more than one catch dog, i had a new dog that has caught several hogs in a pen and such, but didn't catch when i the dogs bayed up in the woods, and because of that i now carry two catch dogs, i would rather have an extra catch dog and not need him, than need him and not have him. that's just my .02 thanks

i run two good strike dogs(one finished and one basically finished both catchy) and ive been taking two younger dogs along, and one cd, i used to run two but my replacements got killed and now i only have one. but all of my dogs are really gritty so my cd always has help

If you wan to CATCH hogs then 2-3 curs and 1-2 bulldogs should be more then sufficient.  If you want to kill hogs 1-2 cur type dogs that bay loose will get it done for you to shoot over.  Just depends on how you want to deal with the hog once it is found.  Also you need the right kind of dogs together for this to work which you may know already.  A pack of dogs is one that compliments each others working style and get the job done, ie you don't want a bunch of gritty dogs to shoot over etc.
MG

I WILL TAKE 1-3 STRIKE DOGS SOME LOOSE SOME RUFF AND 1-2 CATCH DOGS AND MOST OF THE TIME ONLY USE 1 CATCH DOG OTHER 1 IS FOR BACK UP. I DONT LIKE MORE THAN 3 DOGS ON THE GROUND AT A TIME. I THINK THAT IS JUST 2 MUCH 2 RUN 10 DOGS AT A TIME UNLESS U DONT USE CATCH DOGS BUT EVERY BODY HUNTS DIFFERENT SOME DONT USE CD AND ONLY USE A CRAP LOAD OF CURR DOGS OR RUFF DOGS .  I DONT LIKE MY HOGS CHEWED 2 HELL AND I DONT LIKE HAVING 2 FIGHT 8-10 CURR DOGS 2 PICK UP A LEG  rolleyes JMO

All it takes is one or two good strike dog to find and bay a hog. If you want to walk in and shoot it this is all you need. If you want to catch the hog and tie of kill with knife I reccomend a pair of catch dogs to go along with the strike dog.

So maybe I'm thinking along the right lines here. 2-3 loose baying dogs and I can shoot the hog (knifing or shooting, I just want a dead hog). That's not to say I wont work my way up into the full meal deal ( Zach already wants catch dogs), but I also have to ease the wife into going along with all this.

Like I said, I have 6 pointers and Brittanys now. I can swing a pair pretty easy, and work from there.

I would also recommend starting with at least one finished dog that can teach young dogs and YOU how to hunt and take the guess work out it. 
MG

I agree 100%.  It is extremely advantageous to start with at least one dog already finding hogs, preferably finished.

I was thinking that as well. Going with someone and their dogs would suit the same purpose wouldnt it? Until I can get the dog or dogs needed. At least a young dog could get started.

You work with dogs so you know the costs............ spend the money now so you have to later. You can drop 1k on crap dogs now or spend the 1k-1500 now and be better off. Decide what you want and buy it now. Use that dog to train pups off of. ALOT of people have "strike" dogs for sale. Any strike dog under 1k run........no trail,run...........talk to people. Then throw what they say out the window and talk to some more.........better yet, hunt with people. If you see what you like listen to them. Everyone talks the talk.

[/quote]

I was thinking that as well. Going with someone and their dogs would suit the same purpose wouldnt it? Until I can get the dog or dogs needed. At least a young dog could get started.
[/quote]
Taken them out with other people's dogs will help also, but I would rather have my own finished dog.  That way you can kennel the young dog with the finished dog or however you prefer to do it, in order to get them very familiar with one another.  That way the young dog will be more likely to venture out in the woods with the finished one.

Just my .02

I underestand that as well. I do the same with my Britts. This aint happening overnight. Been laid off since May and gotta pace myself with the $$$. I do have a YBMC gyp pup coming in a couple of weeks. I'll just work up from there.

And I have enjoyed this thread , thanks

How big a place will you be running and how often? How far out do you want a dog to hunt or strike?

Steve

Zach says he can get access to 3-4 places about 1000 acres each. I know what range I like in my bird dogs, and I think I'd like about the same for these 500 yards or inside of that.

I prefer 2 bay dogs and 2 catch dogs.  Any less bay dog and it seems the hog is not distracted enough for the CD's to get to him consistently, without breaking, in my experience.  I don't like running a "run a thousand yds after the break" type of catch dog... if he catches that far away, my bay dogs will be in bad shape by the time I can get to them... but all mine help with the catch...

For me, it's become "how can I catch the most good hogs with the least amount of damage to my dogs"...  I'll let you know when I figger it out ;) ;D

Now this is just a sort of " I'm just wondering " question.

Me and some of the birddoggers I know with several dogs will put a brace down and run them an hour or 2 depending on temperature and then put those up and jump out another brace.

DO any of you guys that have a bunch of dogs do anything similar? Keep a couple up so you always have some " rested" dogs?

I'd start with one consistent dog who can find a pig and keep it bayed. One dog and a rifle will get you going and train your next dog for you. You might ping Cantexduck. he has a consistent cur dog for sale that will get you going. You don't need a super star (and sure as hell don't need to pay top dollar) if your only looking for a 500yard dog.

Steve

Not sure what a brace is, but yes.

2 good find and bay dogs is all you need, if i have a third with me it is a puppy. One catch dog is usually enough. I would get 2 good find dogs first, then a catch dog and you should be set... anything more than 3 on the ground hunting is too much to keep up with and they cant get out the way as quick with more dogs to bump into, the more dogs  the more injuries. Just my experience and opinion... good luck ;)

A pair.....

Beat me to it, but ya, a brace is a pair. No clue why , but that is the term in birddog land. ;D

its not a bad idea when its hot and your covering alot of ground... I do it from time to time when im huntin with other people that bring dogs too... I dont kick mine out and theirs out and the guys up the road all at one time ;D Just a couple till they get tired then switch them out...

one bulldog is what you MOST of the time. Got a very good young dog killed in Jan due to this thinking. Only hunt with 2 bulldogs now. Dont chance it.

I agree with what everyone else is saying. You don't need a lot of dogs, but you should have one dog with solid experience to train any younger ones.

Are you the BobbyB that has been looking at Lacys? If you want a Lacy puppy as a hog dog prospect, you MUST buy from someone who really hunts their dogs. I would say 85% of Lacy breeders don't truly prove their dogs and even fewer prove them on hogs. Letting a dog bark at a pig twice a year does not make it a hog dog rolleyes Both the sire and dam need to proven or the odds are good you'll be sorely disappointed. I've heard of countless people giving up on the breed because they bought a "hog dog" from people that really had pets.

Yep same guy. And funny you mention that about barking at a hog twice a year. My deal fell thru due to a misunderstanding on my part, but I told the breeder that very same thing. Chasing cows and barking at hogs at 1 or 2 fun days a year do not make a dog or prove anything. Matter of fact, we quite the discussion about Lacys and most of the people that are buying and "trying " to raise them.

I still want a Lacy, but right now I'm looking in a different direction.

I'm sure that didn't go over well :laugh: But good for you! Seriously, most people never question it, and it's so frustrating when they get screwed over. Lacys can make great hog dogs, but you need to get them from working lines, not fun day lines, period! If you do decide you want a Lacy, both Monteria or I can give you some suggestions, just holler.

And personally, I'd want a catch dog over a gun, but that's because I'm paranoid about stray bullets. But if you're a bird hunter, you are probably a little more used to shooting over your dog.

He was a little defensive. But when I told him Lacys are a 19th Century " designer " dog discovered in the 21st Century, he did agree that I was correct.

Thanks for the offer, I will be in touch.

On talking the Mrs into a catchdog....

I used to be mistrustful of bulldogs. To me, a pit, an AB, and any other "pit - looking" dog was not to be trusted thanks to a lot of media hype. Locate someone who has nice well mannered catch dogs to visit with, and let her see Bulldogs for the sweet, good natured guys they are. It's always reassuring to someone who is leery if they can actually lay hands on the dogs and see that the reputation isn't breed specific. Our bulldogs are even tempered and sweet. She'd be hard pressed to be fearful of them after about 60 seconds of meeting them. There's plenty of good ones out there when you are ready to get one.

Cheers
M

I was in the same boat, I was fine with an AB but I really didn't want a pit.  I decided to take a chance on this guy, and I couldn't be happier with his attitude toward people and other dogs. (he also does a good job catchin  :D )  This is a picture of my chico dog at a trailblazer event this past march.  Lots of kids to deal with and the dogs did fine all day long, even dressed up in his cut gear, when he is normally more excited.  there must have been a couple hundred kids at this deal. 

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v620/zonerugby/chico.jpg)

Well, I'm pretty sure I would prefer ABs. I was showing Karla those AB pups on the trader section and she did say they were cute, so progress is being made. We'll just have to ease her along so she dont realize what's happened til it's too late. ;D

that's exactly what happened to my wife.  at first it was just a couple curs to shoot over, then a catch dog that got stolen, then a different catch dog, then I got given a puppy from good hunting lines, then the wife missed the AB that was stolen so we got an AB/Dogo cross pup, then we had an accident litter, gave those pups away, and one of them recently came back, and has really turned on when shown a shoat, so she might stay.....