Start Dog?

[sheimer]

I hear and read a lot about a "start dog". what exactly makes a dog a start dog? Today I unloaded my little pup and he walked over to the lion track and took off on it. By the time that we got the collars on the others and turned loose, he was about 700 yards out. Does this make him a "start dog"? We alternate which dogs we turn loose first so are they all "start dogs"? Just a question about terminology.

Scott

[Melanie Hampton]

When I talk about my "start" dog.. I am talking about the leader of my A team.. I expect all my dogs to be able to run and start their own track.. and while I will alternate which dogs get turned loose first.. My start dog is always the one that I put down first when it really counts.. The one I count on to help me show these idiot pups what to do I will admit that he does get more start time then the other players

That is what my "start" dog means to me...

[pegleg]

start dog is the dog that makes your confidence go up on your catch it means if it really matters thats the dog you go to no matter what the conditions are. its the dog you know can unravel cold or sketchy tracks can find a lose and to the very best of your knowledge is 99% trash free. its the dog you REALLY miss after they're gone that's why we all want our pups to be that good so as the start dogs pass on were not left standing there staring at the holes in our pack. this is one of the reasons I prefer to hunt on horseback so i can see who really is doing the work.

[twist]

This is my thoughts on a start dog. It is just what is said a START dog to me meaning one that can most of the time start the track under even not so great conditions(colder nose) and aid the other dogs along until thing get the track up and rolling now just because they can start the track to me doesnt meen they are the top dog in the pack they are the ones that carry the track until the other dogs start to really join in and from there the start dog should be able to hold his own but it seems to me that if you are running a pack (2 or more) dogs there is always the one that once the track starts to warm up starts to shine in his or her own way may it be track speed or superior locating or treeing ability or some other factor that makes them stand out. I am not saying a start dog cant have all these qualities as I have seen many times just one dog catch alot of game but if you are just running one dog then no matter what anyone says he is your START dog. Hope that was not to confusing as I know what I was tring to say later, Andy

[pegleg]

andy could you elaborate on your thoughts on a start dog. whats a good start dogs importance in a pack in your opinion? what makes the top dog in a pack? I am asking honest questions here as I realize our hunting conditions vary so much. if a dog cant work a trail here he doesn't hold any value for me as thats 75% of the work running a hot track is worth 20% with the tree,bay or kill worth the remaining 5%. IF a hound has the drive,mind and nose to get the track warmed up he is most likely not going to make many loses or be inclined to leave the game once caught. I can see the use of a start dog as you describe in bear hunting and coyote. and maybe in some areas on bobcat but for the most part I don't see a cat track changing so much once jumped that it can be passed of on a hound that can't hustle find the loses and work out those tricks to continue pushing the cat. I'd really like to hear everyone's thoughts on this. is a start dog the complete package or ?

[twist]

pegleg, I dont know how to explain any better than I just did. To me in our area I hunt dry cold snow conditions and like I said a start dog should be able to start the track and finish it at the tree but I very seldom run just 1 dog on bobcats any more I cheat and have about 2-4 on the track as where one dog makes a lose or mistake the other remaining ones pick it up and carry it. I am not very good at writing what I want to say so let me try it this way if you have 2 football players one a running back(that being the bobcat) and one middle linebacker,usually the most well rounded athletic guy on the field(that the start dog) give the running back the ball and tell him to run and send the middle linebacker after him and yes eventually the middle linebacker shoul be able to catch the running back but you put both outside linebackers with the middle linebacker and they will more than likely catch him alot easier and faster. I hope this gets my point across. later, Andy

[pegleg]

ok seems that the start dog is still expected to perform much more then just warming a cold or tangled track up for the other dogs. I lean on my start dog pretty hard and have seen the consequences of it to. I try and cycle my hounds back and forth so they all get a chance at starting and really working their own track and gaining experience from it. It can be a challenge to leave the a team at home. thanks for the reply