Catch dog of choice, and training methods

[Moonshiner]

Whats a breed ya'll prefer to have run as your catch dog, and how do ya'll go about trainging the dogs? is it innate or do they have to be taught, and if so whats the best method, and the one most likely to keep me off of PETA's watch list, lol.
Thanks

[longshot]

Moonshiner,
What is a "sotted pit" as typed in your signiture?

Pits, IN GENERAL are THE BEST catch dog, most plentiful, easiest to train hardest holding and least expensive.

That being said I have the least amount of patience with one. They need to fly right to stay in my kennel.

There are other breeds that make good catchdogs as well. Most of your bully breeds will work. THe next common is the American Bulldog. They can be expensive and some lines are better than others.

There are also Argentine Dogos which are normally the biggest of the 3 and also the hardest to find. A good dogo is hard to beat but even harder to find(not all of them are good catch dogs).

I have noticed the BIGGER The dog normally the longer it takes them to turn on to catching. I dont start training or working my dogos much until they are 8mo-1yr. Where as a Pit I start them at 6mo and they are in the woods hunting at 10mo.

The slower maturing breeds seem to work good in the long run but can also be ruined if pushed too hard as a pup.

You have to deciede what you can afford, what you can find and what is right for you.

I am currently using a ABXDogo mix I call them Amerigos:


If I was only hunting once or twice a month then I wouldnt worry with feeding and training catch dogs I would just take my by dogs and a rifle and start hunting.

Good Luck
Longshot

[matt_aggie04]

good little write up there bro

[matt_aggie04]

I think he had Spotted Pitt in his sig

[Moonshiner]

good write up longshot.
Ive seen someone round my parts advertise a Dogo, but said it was made by crossing a mastiff, which a great dane, i didnt think it sounded right.
I call my baby a "Spotted Pit" cause she is a pitbull x dalmation which results in a pitbull looking pup with spots all over. And from what ive read about the dalmation breed, the Croatians used them originally for hunting wild boar, so I have high hopes for her.

[broncobilly]

[matt_aggie04]

My favorite catch dog that I have owned was a full Dogo, she was killed in action. But I have a pit now and I like her alot. I have seen James' amerigos and I really like what they do and their size, build and attitude.

Matt

[Moonshiner]

Well Id rather use my pistol, but I think I will give the pup her chance, and see how she fairs, she will however be decked in cut gear, just incase. My hounds are very interested by pigs, should i introduce them to a live, domestic pig, or just work them with a scent, most likely Grawes.

[longshot]

Is there enough pigs in your area to have "hogdogs"? If so you should be able to trap, buy or catch with your dogs a small feral hog from training your spotted pit and other hounds.

If not you can start them on a domestic but without plenty of wild hogs "all is for not".

I have seen some domestics that absolutly HATED a dog and made good trainer hogs. Then others that sat there in a lump......LOL

Good Luck
Longshot

[longshot]

Here is my current catchdog she is a Amerigo (3\4AB 1\4dogo)
She is a touch over 80lbs she is bully but leggy






Keep in mind Catch dogs DO NOT Have to be big, in fact somtimes smaller and quicker is better. BUT they do have to catch and hold rock solid. That is what makes a catchdog.

I personaly dont like halfbreeds(half bully half whatever) for a catchdog but in your position I certainly would give it a try and see if she makes a catchdog or a rough bay dog.

I also DO NOT vest a young catch dog until I know it is going to take a beating and still hold on. I dont want to be on a monster boar and the dog take a cut around the vest and find out it is going to quite and head for the truck while I am trying to grab the boar and then I am taking the horn!

Let us know how she turns out. One of Matt Aggies buddies has a 1\2AB 1\2Catahoula that is as solid as a catchdog can be and has had plenty of oppurtunites to quite or bay over the last 5years and hundreds of hogs but he is always caught and holding tight. I feel he is more the exception to the rule rather than the norm for a half breed catchdog.

ON Half breeds you never know what you are going to get. When I first started I picked up a pitXcur becuase it was the right price. She turned on quick and bays great. She is 5 years old now and one of my lead dogs. She doesnt act like a Pit what so ever!

You never know your SPotted pit may out preform your hounds in a year or so........LOL

Good Luck and let us know how your dogs progress.
Longshot

[broncobilly]

There are a couple of things to remember when useing a gun on bayed hogs.

1. The hog is aleady mad, some of them will ignore the dogs and come after you if he sees, smells, or hears you.

2. You will have dogs around the hog, depending on how close they bay and how aggressive the hog is, your window of opportunity for a shot can be very small.

3. A mad hog can absorb a tremendous amout of lead and still keep coming unless the shots are very well placed.

4. A large caliber will not turn a poor hit into a good one, but it sometimes will help compensate for a marginal hit.

The bottom line is -- use enough gun, but not so big that you cannot shoot it very well -- , If you are useing a pistol, I reccommend the largest pistol you can shoot quickly and accurately. In my opinion, a .357 mag is not big enough. If useing a rifle, I consider a 30-30 to be a functional minimum. Yes, you can kill a hog with a much smaller cartridge, but they are not real easily available in a short barreled, fast handling lever action. Also, as your caliber gets smaller, your margin for error also decreases.

Good luck.

Bill

[nmplott]

Don't forget a badshot can go through the hog or miss the hog and into a hound

[longshot]

Billy and Plott,
Very good points on the BAY-N-SHOOT method. I think that teaches you to be a better hunter.

I always approach a bay from down wind when trying to shoot a bayed hog. That gives you the wind in your favor to help quiet your approach and allows your scent to be blown behind you on a smart old boar.

Most of my BayNshoot shots take place at 5yards to less due to the density of the vegatation. BUT I have had bays on the wrong side of a river bank and had them be 80-100yards but that is very rare.

I carry the Marlin 1895SS guide gun in 45-70 sighted in for 100yards. Although several times the hog has powder burn on its face and it is laying on my boot when he stops.....LOL
Longshot

[Moonshiner]

Alright all very good points for this inexperienced hunter.
Well most of the hogs in Oregon arent near me par-se. Id have to drive about 100-150miles to get onto some good hogs, so if given the opportunity I will bring my dogs up on domestic, and see how they perform. I will be in Madras, Oregon, which has a sizeable hog population so the hounds will probably be hitting the ground green, but whether they incounter a hound on our trip will depend on the food sources during january in a colder climate.
If the hogs do show then i doubt the SP will get a shot since she will only be 6mo old, and im not sure if she'll be big enough to hold her own. Im currently training my hounds on cat, and workin on breaken em off deer, which is my main focus.
When i go after hogs I will probably be packin a 12ga M870 loaded with 3" slugs, and my standard .45acp 1911, which is pack everywhere, and am exceptionally proficient with, if do say so, lol.
I hope my lil girl develops well as a hunting dog, if not then she will go off to someone as a pet, cause as her name suggests she is a real sweetie.

[longshot]

The 12ga with slugs is a GREAT choice for bayNshoot.

150miles Heck that is nothing! I drive that at least once a week one way, just to make a hunt. Save your gas money and get after them!
Longshot