BigGameHoundsmen.com

I quit reading all the posts,here's the my short opinion version.It takes dogs with all the natural bred in INSTINCT'S ,the handler to be a TRAINER and the trainer to know how to CATCH bobcats and where to be, to be successful to make CATDOGS. Then the rest will fall into place after many hours spent behind the dogs[trailing game/catching game] to know when things are going right and when they are not--examples--barking off track, overbarking , pushing through the bad spots, getting hung up [bluffs,windfalls etc.]this list could keep going on and on . Then last but not least , you can not teach a dog to locate in tall timber, its a gift. Merlo congrats ,I agree with a lot of what you are talking about , I've raised and trained cowdogs most of my life,mostly for ranch work ,some for trials. There are a few things we as trainers can not give these dogs , that we rely on instinct to be in them. Then there are a few of the instincts in tree dogs I despise [ a generic blanket statement--not all of them] and some in the running dogs I don't care for either[blanket statement].To me the fastest dog is dog of least amount of mistakes, has the track ahead and is under the game to jump it and then locates and trees it. Most of the time this is not the dog that appears to be the fastest on the road or in a foot race, but is the one that is a fast as its nose, making few, if any bobbles[ bobbles=time lost]. As for anyone else, there are tree dogs who can get it done, there are running dogs who can get it done. But I will say this, from the cascades to the pacific ocean, from Forks Washington to below Bakersfield California , show me a pack of straight tree dogs or straight running dogs who will out perform the packs of crosses that are owned by the most consistant successful cat hunters in that zone. I have money, will buy a couple pups from that pack given opportunity, regardless of color or breed .

I made a silk purse out of a sows ear one time. It held money.

So let me get this straight, just want to confirm what I'm reading.

You've taken 5 dogs, all under 2 from a hodge podge of back grounds and they all catch cats alone from Maine to Maui. In addition, you didn't hunt the young dogs with any others until they were catching cats alone.

It's refreshing to see another sprout develop from the cool, deep waters of the basin.

Cobalt, don't know what my signature page has to do with this I liketo tree catsnot chase them. I don't need to sell any more pups as the one to two litters I may have each year go plenty fast I promise. Lol And am not to worried about getting your respect lol. Andy

Man old cobolt got me thinking about my signature page and wondering what so bad about a bobcat in a tree. Every time I hear them tree I am like a little kid I get a new rush of energy to get to the tree, maybe I just have not treed enough over the past 30+ years who knows but its sure a rush to me, butin my deep thoughts maybe that statement is false as I kept thinking on what could be better and then BOOM it hit me this has been a false statement I would much rather see Carrie Underwood naked in a tree! True story Andy

Nolte wrote:So let me get this straight, just want to confirm what I'm reading.

You've taken 5 dogs, all under 2 from a hodge podge of back grounds and they all catch cats alone from Maine to Maui. In addition, you didn't hunt the young dogs with any others until they were catching cats alone.

It's refreshing to see another sprout develop from the cool, deep waters of the basin.

First of all. The basin is desert. Haha And don't call Ike a sprout. He resembles that. Haha

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Twist,
I agree when I hear the dogs treeing I get jacked up as if it was my first cat. Reason is I see my hard work and the dogs hard work coming out at the base of that tree. And I tell you what your dogs put Carrie Underwood up a tree you better call me and im gonna want to buy everyone one of your pups hoping there gonna be celeb cathers like there parents.

For the zone comment im not sure who has the top cat dogs I would Probly have to say George Justice out of Forks beings everyone wants his dogs and the guy I hunt with has a few from him and they are amazing. I do see a difference in how them dogs run a track compared to mine but I run my blueticks with him and they play leap frog the whole time thats watching the garmin. My Blue dog from nora has blown his dogs out the water numerous times and his has blown mine out. My youngest Blue dog came from Nora Cook, she is probly one of the smartest hounds I have seen she runs with her head up and is always flying on a track only barking when she has it and locating cats in Large timber she is only 16 months old She runs to catch and thats it. She is a house dog sleeps in my bed every night.

Out of curiosity what cross was this pup from Nora?

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but my dogs handle and they track like pro's and locate like champs and not one of them is Two years old.
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Well as soon as I started getting into Hounds all I heard was you need Tree'ing Walkers or Running dogs or a cross. Well I had to be the different One and I got me a Redbone out of some Alright coon dog lines nothing to special..
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Well after that I got me a Bluetick female from Nora Constance (Cook) and what a fantastic dog she is... I went about the same way with training her as I did the Redbone. I got the same outcome a real fine hound.. I moved to West Virginia and brought the Bluetick with me she was only 8 months old when I got there.
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People around that area dont believe Bobcats can be caught well they can. So I moved back to the PNW with three Blueticks that have caught Cats on the east coast..


Congrats on a job well done. Taking 4 young dogs and turning them into cat hounds, moving from coast to coast(twice) and all in a bit over a 1 year period...wow!!

Unreal_tk Bounce and Rock something like that, the litter was born in November of 2011.

Mondomuttruner
Yeah the moving to west Virginia was on a whim, glad to be back on the west coast thats for sure. Did see some dahm good hounds out there mostly coon and bear dogs.

I see. I have a male from the same cross. Interesting.

I thought you did, TK. How is he turning out? The female I got is only about 35 maybe 40 pounds she is a tiny little bluetick real racy looking no chest on her she is a pip squeak.

Unreal_tk wrote:I see. I have a male from the same cross. Interesting.

OK MIND TELLING HOW THAT MALE IS DOING THANKS Al

Al,

He is doing good, has performed well in my program. This last season he made his own pick ups, made plenty of trees. Would I call this dog fast? The answer is no, I have other dogs that flat will smoke him. Would I call him a good dog? Yes. Can this dog catch alone? Yes. Is this dog a good tree dog? Yes. Does he locate well? I haven't had him alone on tall trees, his solo trees was low. When with other dogs, the others usually locate before him. His demeanor is good, other than being hard headed. Worse fault? Whining constantly.

He is built really well, smaller body, long legs, pretty color. 60 lbs ? Feet are put together good.

Any other questions feel free to ask. Just to be clear I am not saying Merlos dog isn't faster, just stating what my opinion is of the dog I own.

Thats awesome Tk sounds like he is doing well. Been wondering how the rest of the litter turned out seems everyone is real pleased. I wouldnt mind getting another little female out of that same breeding...