Coonhound vs. Big Game Hound

[Nolte]

The evaluation is really pretty easy. If the dogs aren't at the end the vast majority of the time, well then they aren't bear dogs. Unless you catch them off, they should be coming on the track or be where the action is happening. If a dog is coming up behind by a few minutes when it is usually towards the front or has a tendency to not "hook up" right on a feed in that turns out to be a bad bear, then it's not a bear dog. It might be a dog that will run bear and probably make a bunch of trees, but it's not a bear dog. Bear dogs are wired different and WANT more than anything to catch.

You don't need bear dogs to catch bear, but your odds will sure go up if you are trying to kill a bad one.

[Smiley]

The evaluation is really pretty easy. If the dogs aren't at the end the vast majority of the time, well then they aren't bear dogs. Unless you catch them off, they should be coming on the track or be where the action is happening. If a dog is coming up behind by a few minutes when it is usually towards the front or has a tendency to not "hook up" right on a feed in that turns out to be a bad bear, then it's not a bear dog. It might be a dog that will run bear and probably make a bunch of trees, but it's not a bear dog. Bear dogs are wired different and WANT more than anything to catch.

You don't need bear dogs to catch bear, but your odds will sure go up if you are trying to kill a bad one.

Only problem I have with this and it is not what you said but is often misunderstood is that most people figure just becouse a dog is at the tree or is in the vicinity of the bay it is a bear dog

[Brady Davis]

One quick observation from me concerning the difference....I do know that coonhounds that run coon only can get away with being built with certain flaws...I'm talking about conformation. I think a big game hound, whether it runs lion, bear, bobcat, etc must be built well enough to handle the terrain it hunts. A coon hound can run out and do a few miles one night and not have a flaw show itself where a big game hound can be crippled if it can't hang...Our biggame races are much more demanding.

I'm not getting into the discussion of bigger vs small, etc, I just know they have to be able to maintain themselves for the terrain you hunt them in...

[cobalt]

Brady- Iagree with you. I am a big fan of conformation, but that does not equal durability. I've had dogs you would look at and feel sorry for in the looks department and at the end of a week of hard hunting walk away scratching your head wondering how the hell that dog holds up and day after day is the go to dog. Heart, desire and brains always trumps looks. As for coon hunting being easier...Well, I have hunted hounds on most all tree game(and off game) and my opinion is that coon hunting in some areas(like the Oregon coast and even here in Idaho in certain sh.. holes) is some of the hardest(for the dogs) hunting I've done. Dogs come out looking like they've been through a war. Their faces have no hair left their limping on all four legs, bleeding and cut all over and need to be laid up for a week or two. Ive seen good big game dogs(bear dogs, too) that run around the outside of an acre blackberry patch that can't seem to find the door in. I like starting all my pups in as thick a patch as I can find at night. If they are comfortable there, they'll go anywhere.
As for the right "tools" for the job. I agree, but I've seen cowards in all breeds and strains as well as heros. In the whole scheme of things it does not pay to be CB(color blind), It just will end up embarrasing youself. There is always a better dog and they can be any color.
Do you catch every bear you run(loaded Question)?.............

[swampposh]

Smiley hit on the key to a bear dog that most fail to concider. Mental toughness! The ability to take a licking and keep on ticking! Bear whipped dogs are dogs lacking in mental toughness. Let a bear run the dog down and maul him real good, IF he will go right back and ask for more, he is a bear dog. If he learns when to bite, and when to get out of dodge, he is a good bear dog, If he doesn't learn that he can't over power and kill the bear, he is a dead bear dog. If he tucks his tail at the next hot bear track and slips back to the truck, put him on cats or coon.

Those are some of the truest words I have heard about bear dogs. By this defintion, I have good bear (and hog) dogs. The top bear dogs with mental toughness and smarts are also usually ones that can also start an old cold track.

[Brady Davis]

Cobalt...You're spot on...I have been in some rough coon hunting holes too....I just think the MAJORITY of coon hunts, however nasty they are, are much shorter than a bear or lion race. You make some good points...

And yes, we finish every bear race we start! ......then I wake up!

[cobalt]

Brady-- Ithink your right about coon hunting. The second part was definately not pointed in your direction. I respect your integrity.

[Brady Davis]

Brady-- Ithink your right about coon hunting. The second part was definately not pointed in your direction. I respect your integrity.

Thanks, and I respect yours. After talking to you for awhile a couple months ago about your dogs on the phone...I believe you have solid ideas and solid dogs!

[cobalt]

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