BigGameHoundsmen.com

My vote is Desire and brains.
Out of curiosity but do you all think the Desire of a dog to chase down a bear, increases with its age and how much game the dog gets dumped on?

speed would be mine. not so much the dog being fast but being able to move a track fast enough to get the game jumped when your fox or bobcat hunting.

Brains.
With out brains all of the speed, grit, nose, heart, and desire would be useless. If a dumb dog can run really fast who cares? What is he running for?
If you had a gritty and I mean gritty dog, what good is that with out any game to sink teeth in to?
Nose a dog can have a great nose but really what good is it going to do as its scenting his way after his 25 deer and your bear hunting?
Heart boy look at that dog he sure wants to get that damn deer in a bad way. To bad I'm bear hunting.
Desire now that would be my second pick if we could pick two. But we can't.

If you had a dog with brains and I mean real brains and lots of desire that's a Hound. Its wouldn't matter if you put him up against the best fast, gritty, great nose, with lots of heart dumb dog in the world. As dog number two was sure giving that deer hell for the 25 time, you would be on your way to the tree.

Desire, Desire, Desire, Desire separates the great hounds from the good ones. Whether its bear hunting, lion hunting or whatever. I mainly hunt dry ground lions and my best dog is a meduim nosed, hard headed, dumber than a box of rocks bluetick. It took 4 years of wearing out shocking collarers to get the SOB trash broke. But he has such a desire, drive to catch his game he has caught me a pile of lions and bears. He hunts for himself, he could give a sh%$ if im with him or not. Desire it what makes a dog stick to an cold lion track all day or a walking bear. Desire is what makes a dog stay treed all day. IMO

My own thought is that heart and desire are the same thing, and i agree with those who feel the they are the most important traits in a good dog. All the others do the dog no good if it does not have the will to finish a long race on sore cut feet in hot weather when the other dogs begin to head back. A dog with desire will alway make the race and be there to fight if needs be, maybe not as fast as the others but they are the ones you can always count on.

I agree with most I want a dog with the most possible heart/drive/desire whatever you want to call it.A dog that has the total absoulte "need" to catch the bear most likely will more often than a smart dog.

I beleave heart and desire are the same and very important as long as they also have a big dose of brains without both a dog is usless

Color!

If it is not a Plott, you can't get any of the other traits! LOL

i'd say desire
not just in bear dogs but in ALL huntin dogs
if could have it all but if he dont wanna get it done, its just a waste...

and catch
i've seen quite a few hounds run a track
and never have i come across a plott, maybe theres a reason for that?? hahah

arizonabeagle wrote:i'd say desire
not just in bear dogs but in ALL huntin dogs
if could have it all but if he dont wanna get it done, its just a waste...

and catch
i've seen quite a few hounds run a track
and never have i come across a plott, maybe theres a reason for that?? hahah

You have never seen a plott run a track cause they were out in front doing the catching Thats the reason

larry wrote:

arizonabeagle wrote:i'd say desire
not just in bear dogs but in ALL huntin dogs
if could have it all but if he dont wanna get it done, its just a waste...

and catch
i've seen quite a few hounds run a track
and never have i come across a plott, maybe theres a reason for that?? hahah

You have never seen a plott run a track cause they were out in front doing the catching Thats the reason

lemme rephrase that for you larry
i never anyone bother to waste a good kennel on one
but of course i'm just kiddin, if a dog gets it done he's alright with me, even if he aint a real hound
hahaha

I always thought this was a great thread.