Bobcat Question

[Ringo]

I have been trying to run my two dogs on some bobs and just aint having much luck. They seem to get them jumped but as soon as the cats starts pulling there tricks I think my dogs take to long to find the out track. By the time they get the first mess figured out the bobcats moved out a half mile and set his next trap. I havent caught a bob with these dogs yet but they run harder and faster then dogs i have caught bobs with in the past. I do think these two dogs are racing each other. Im going to try running them one at a time but would appreciate any advice. Thanks

[South Texan]

I have been trying to run my two dogs on some bobs and just aint having much luck. They seem to get them jumped but as soon as the cats starts pulling there tricks I think my dogs take to long to find the out track. By the time they get the first mess figured out the bobcats moved out a half mile and set his next trap. I havent caught a bob with these dogs yet but they run harder and faster then dogs i have caught bobs with in the past. I do think these two dogs are racing each other. Im going to try running them one at a time but would appreciate any advice. Thanks

From reading your post, it would be my guess, when you made the comment "They run harder and faster than dogs I have caught bobs with in the past" they are over running the track. Nothing will lose a cat faster than dogs that over run a track. STEADY PRESSURE is what will catch a cat, but these are just my thoughts. Good luck with your dogs. Robbie

[Bigfoot]

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[TRW]

Just an idea but when you have poor conditions with that snow and frozen ground try and lion hunt find where a few work and just do some training for a bit jump that sucker out and just pet them up if that starts working them move to the next step bobs hunt that deeper snow if possible them cats get worked a little harder and make more mistakes when they get that pressure you might have all you need already and just need a lokate dog most of the time we have plenty of speed and not enough tree

[Ringo]

Thanks guys. So far these dogs havent had a problem catching lions. These dogs have been good in some areas and in others they lack. I would agree they are running past the cat and I do try to stay on the trail with them if possible but usely by the time I get to where they are trying to figure it out they are heading on down the trail. They dont ever leave the track. I would agree with keeping pressure but how do your dogs get faster at finding the out track. I will try roading them before I run the next one, would it be worth running just one dog at a time?

[Bigfoot]

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[Bigfoot]

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[South Texan]

We all have our opinions or what we think is the problem with our dogs and I am probably totally wrong, but I have to disagree with Bigfoot when he says " They are too sticky, one little hiccup in the track and it leaves them looking there in the same spot for too long."

I think this is what these two dogs need a little more of. A little more track minded. I think these two dogs probably do alright as long as the cat is running straight away but as soon as the dogs get close to the cat and put a little pressure on the cat and the cat pulls one of his cat tricks (squatting, ducking right or left or right back thru the dogs) this is where these hard running fast dogs mess up. They just keep running straight ahead, off track, looking for the cat. By the time they realize this isn't right and they come back down the trail and find where the cat ducked off, they are then trying to play catch-up with the cat. A few of these and it's all over, the cat won.

Ringo asked "How do your dogs get faster finding the cat's track out of the area from the loose". The less they over-run the track, the faster they'll find it. If a dog over runs a track 200 yards vs a dog that over-runs a track 30 yards, before they come back looking for the track, which one do you thing is going to find the track first?

Ringo, yes these two dogs are probably pulling one another. Just like two kids playing, the one behind thinks the one in front has it, so he's trying to catch-up to him. A good cat dog has to be very independent, he can't be misled by another dog. A good dog will realize "this other dog is wrong" and the good dog should go back to where he had the cat.

Just my thoughts. Good luck with your dogs. Robbie

[Bigfoot]

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[twist]

How old are these dogs?

[Ringo]

Twist I think these two just turn 3 about a week ago. They are the same 2 dogs I was asking questions about treeing in the training section. I sure do miss having an older dog around to show the younger wht they should be doing. If I thought these dogs were culls I would have moved on by now. These 2 see a fair amount of game, they were started on lion but they have been on bear and coon also. They have seen around thirty lions last year and eleven lions this season. They still act like massive tools sometimes but they dont seem to have a problem catching lion. Last year I think I only tried running 2 bobcats with them cause I was still trying to train and lions are pretty thick in this direction. This year I have probably put out on 6 or 7 and the bobcats seem to win every race. I like the challenge of the bobs but could use your guys advice to up my odds.

[al baldwin]

Good advice South Texan. How much luck have you had with hard charging dogs learning to slow down. Or have you found it has to be an inherited trait? Thanks Al Baldwin

[twist]

Alot of great lion dogs just dont make bobcat dogs this is not taking anything away from your dogs as they sound like nice hounds on lion and bear but whole nother story on bobcats (some) have what it takes to consistantly catch bobcats and (alot) dont. If you are knowing when they are over running the track it wouldnt hurt to give them a buzz on the e collor if using one to get them back on the track as a dog that over runs on bobcat rarely catches. Andy

[Ringo]

Most the lions I have ran I do not consider hard to catch. As far as my dogs go they do good at times but I expect more out of them. I enjoy the lions but always like the challenge of the bobcat chase. Twist have you ever met anyone down there running blackmouth curs around your area.

[Bigfoot]

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