Tools...Toys...or Recreational Pets?

[YELLOWBLACKMASK]

To each their own for this quiz.  Just getting a feel for the current ETHD population views, since it tends to change periodically. 

This question is about your hunting dogs only.  Not your lap puppies or wifes yard dogs.

Who utilizes and has the point of view of your hunting dogs being :

Tools
Toys
Recreational Pets.

None of these categories include abuse or lack or generalized care for the animals!

Let's here what you prefer and a short explanation of why you prefer that category. 

Enjoy.

[Jared H.]

I see my dogs as tools.  Like you said it doesn't mean they aren't taken care of.  It's the same as I view a rifle or a pistol.  It is a tool but also taken care of.

[SwampHunter]

Tools ...... They have a job to do

[Purebreedcolt]

In our yard a little of all three depends on the dogs but yltimatly hog hunting is a hobby fun for me. Have tools pets and toys that all hunt and catche hogs

[Easttex91]

I'm not %100 sure what recreational pets means but I'm thinking that's me I think of em like a fishing pole or a hunting gun.

[Corey]

Recreational Tool?!!  They were bred and raised for a task, but...it doesn't feed my family, it has only ever cost money...its hobby, sport what ever you want to call it, its just a  recreation. More like a hunting partner than tool or pet though..

[YELLOWBLACKMASK]

Kinda hate to break each category down into my own interpretation ...due to everyone has a slightly different version or outlook.  

But this is a short attempt.

Tool:  Utilized only for the purpose of its desired function.  It don't work it don’t eat...Here.

Toy:  A play around dog that you take hunting. It may be a great hog dog or only mediocre ..but it still gets fed...cause you like playin in the sport of hog doggin.

Pet:  Just that...you take it hunting..it finds some hogs...the rest of the time it lays up with you in your truck...your bed and your lap. Your kids and your wife play cuddle bunny with it and take family portraits together.

A good question to ask yourself to narrow the category down is this....If your particular dog were to be killed in the woods .....Would you be able to finish the hunt? Or would you be done for the day.   That will perty much answer alot.

Again only my perspective and its why the post was created ...to get everyones view.  

[KevinN]

Me....recreational pets.

If I buy a tool, I can get a lot out of it, or...it could break early on and be unable to be repaired. It's possible that it doesn't really serve the purpose I bought it for so I might sell it.

Toys are short to intermediate entertainment. Again....I usually will get some entertainment out of them....then again they could break beyond repair....in which case they end up in the trash. Eventually the newness may ware off and I may tire of the toy...if its still functional I could sell it or give it away.

In the cases above...the tools and toys COULD end up in the trash just because they no longer suit me. This doesn't work for me regarding animals. I can ALWAYS find a purpose...or a place for an animal. Keepin the varmints off someone's farm or maybe just laying on the porch....someone else's porch   but you get my point.

Recreational pets.....hmmm....lets see...in terms of sheer definition....

Main Entry: rec·re·a·tion
Pronunciation: \ˌre-krē-ˈā-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English recreacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin recreation-, recreatio restoration to health, from recreare to create anew, restore, refresh, from re- + creare to create
Date: 15th century
: refreshment of strength and spirits after work ; also : a means of refreshment or diversion : hobby

Ok...so...a hobby that refreshes your strength and spirit...I like that

Main Entry: 1pet
Pronunciation: \ˈpet\
Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps back-formation from Middle English pety small — more at petty
Date: 1508
1 a : a pampered and usually spoiled child b : a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : darling 2 : a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.

NO, this doesn't work.....

I think DOG works better....a highly variable domestic mammal closely related to the gray wolf.

Recreational Dog - a dog that is used to refresh or strengthen your spirit.

I can live with that.

[KevinN]

And...as far as finishing the hunt....woooweee....with MOST of my dogs....I'm probably done.

[YELLOWBLACKMASK]

Hahahahaha. Bravo  


Now that's diversity for ya.   Very nice breakdown KevinN that's why I love these posts.   Usually get a 360 degree angle.  

[wine6978]

See I am kinda mixed up on how I view my dogs. I use em for my job, so they are a tool. At the same time I like em, and appreciate the fact that the do what I ask of the even though it is dangerous (that is a big time putting people feelings into dogs right there!!!) It sucks when one dies, but I know it happens. I also do not hesitate to do what needs to be done with dogs that don't fit my bill. I don't sell em or pass em on. So they are a necessity for work and fun, and I like em but know that one day they will die. Whether it be old age or a hog. SOOOO they are like my favorite tool, I love to use it cause is makes my job easier and is fun to use, but at the same time when it breaks I'm sad!!!

[hillbilly]

recreation tool for me.
i use them to hunt and put pork in the freezer. but that is only so much
the rest of the time i use them for the sport of hog hunting. i am happy most of the time just baying the hog don't even have to catch the hog all the time. when we have pups to train i am hunting to train pups not catch hogs. if we catch the hog that is a bonus

[airduster29]

I would say I see mine as tool/ stock I demand the best out of them or their gone and the stock part I only breed the proven and expect for them to generate income to support themselves  to me they are not pets as they are here to work and provide

[Bowtech99]

I'm with kevinN, a recreational dog...His breakdown seems to fit best for me.

As far as gettin a dog killed in the woods, yeah im done, its time to go home.

[Shotgun wg]

They are hunting dogs. This makes them a tool. At the same time I spend a good deal of time with them and learn their nature and personality( if a dog has one). In this manner they are a pet. I don't hunt for a living or to keep from starving so yes it is for recreation.

Would I be able to finish the hunt if one got killed out right? Yes. If it wasn't dead and I thought I could patch it up or get it to the vet to have him do it I would stop. If the dog was just before his last breath and suffering I would end it. Then finish the hunt. Would it bother me? Yes. Would it make me not want to hunt? No.

In the end my dogs don't really fit to me what categories are available so I'm going to go with hunting dogs. The reason being is they are more than tools but less than a pet.

[cdc505]

Toy. I like mine to work good enough to have fun with (catch hogs) but I'm not going to throw a blind fit if they make a mistake.

[halfbreed]

    well all in all they are a tool I guess .  but like tools , I have a lot of them around here that I don't now nor ever intend to use again .    but as with good intentions go , I am sure that one day i'll have to knock the dust off of them and use them from time to time to finish a job properly .

[Lacy man]

Me....recreational pets.

If I buy a tool, I can get a lot out of it, or...it could break early on and be unable to be repaired. It's possible that it doesn't really serve the purpose I bought it for so I might sell it.

Toys are short to intermediate entertainment. Again....I usually will get some entertainment out of them....then again they could break beyond repair....in which case they end up in the trash. Eventually the newness may ware off and I may tire of the toy...if its still functional I could sell it or give it away.

In the cases above...the tools and toys COULD end up in the trash just because they no longer suit me. This doesn't work for me regarding animals. I can ALWAYS find a purpose...or a place for an animal. Keepin the varmints off someone's farm or maybe just laying on the porch....someone else's porch  but you get my point.

Recreational pets.....hmmm....lets see...in terms of sheer definition....

Main Entry: rec·re·a·tion
Pronunciation: \ˌre-krē-ˈā-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English recreacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin recreation-, recreatio restoration to health, from recreare to create anew, restore, refresh, from re- + creare to create
Date: 15th century
: refreshment of strength and spirits after work ; also : a means of refreshment or diversion : hobby

Ok...so...a hobby that refreshes your strength and spirit...I like that

Main Entry: 1pet
Pronunciation: \ˈpet\
Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps back-formation from Middle English pety small — more at petty
Date: 1508
1 a : a pampered and usually spoiled child b : a person who is treated with unusual kindness or consideration : darling 2 : a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than utility.

NO, this doesn't work.....

I think DOG works better....a highly variable domestic mammal closely related to the gray wolf.

Recreational Dog - a dog that is used to refresh or strengthen your spirit.

I can live with that.

Haha I like it

[Easttex91]

The way I was thinking of tool was if your a rancher with a hog problem the dogs are a tool to rid that problem. The way y'all are saying it every hunting dog is a tool to pursue his quarry.

[halfbreed]

  that about sums it up easttex .  different tools for different jobs . and if one tools job is to lay at my feet and keep me company it's doing it's job