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Would it work to get a dog from out west and bring it to the Appalachian mountains? Thanks mike

or from the west coast to the high planes of montana or north dakota?

I think going from snow to dry ground you will have problems, but if you went from west coast dry ground dog to mountains and snow they will catch on quicker then the other way around, all depends on the dog.

Has to do with being acclimated. Dry ground medium elevation dogs would do great going to a higher humidity area. A dry ground western dog going east to a higher humidity area will work the first time down, because he is use to less scent cone. A high humidity dog from the East going to dry ground area in the west will need time to acclimate. East to west or vice-versa ( direction wise )has nothing to do with it. After a dog is acclimated to an area, his smeller will adjust over about a three week period ( acclimation ) and he will be the same dog nose wise as he was where-ever he left .

Another big thing to consider is hunting style. Oftentimes, people in different regions hunt and act differently around the dogs. The way some start tracks in the snow in the midwest (take em out, pull em to the track and put their nose in it) is the way we break dogs around here. You want to make sure to get a dog that will respond to the way you hunt and handle dogs.

A cat dog is a cat dog. They may have to adjust to the climate, humidity, dryness and to the terrain but if they are good dogs it does not take long. I have taking dogs from western Oregon and caught bobcats the same day on bare ground in June and July in the sage brush, juniper desert of Oregon and California. From here to Utah, Colorado, Nevada and southern Arizona and caught lions and bobcats the next day. I have never taken my dogs back east but I bet they will catch cats there also. The heat and humidity will hurt there ability but give them a good condition day or let them adjust and a cat dog will catch cats. I need to say that my opinion of a cat dog may be different then a lot of peoples opinion. There is a big difference in a dog that will catch cats and a true bobcat dog. Dewey

I'm with ya all the way Mr. Dewey. I always figured a cat smelt the same in about all the different regions. A true cat dog is energized by the smell of a cat and if he's not, he's not a cat dog. I know a dog might have to adjust to different parts of the country but given a little time he'll figure it out. Some parts of the country might be easier and some harder. But...going back to the question "are cat dogs good only in the region there trained in?" My answer would have to be no. If the region he's trained in, is the only region he's good in, he's not a true cat dog.

If you are a big hamburger fan, just really like a good hamburger. Do you only eat them in the region you were raised in? A true cat dog's the same way, when he gets a good smell of that cat, he's going to run him no matter what region he's in. My thoughts. Robbie

dwalton wrote:A cat dog is a cat dog. They may have to adjust to the climate, humidity, dryness and to the terrain but if they are good dogs it does not take long.

I agree.. I have seen dogs hunt here in Oregon, then go to CO/UT the cliffs, dry ground, mud, frozen snow there (catching cats) then those same dogs be sent to South America, where it is hot and humid and be very successful down there.. A good dog is a good dog..

I also agree with jcathunter.. handling is going to be a HUGE issue with some of these dogs.. Most of the cat dogs I've seen take to one handling style and that is about it.. You try and change it up and you aren't going to be catching many cats..

I believe a good dog is a good dog, no matter where they are. But If you are a midwest cat hunter you are going to be hunting cats in snow or maybe when the ground is froze. Might as well find a dog that does good in those conditions. And with our scarcity of cats and tough track finding, it would take some major time to train up a strike dog on them. Plus it's just too darn cold to strike when we can hunt them.

I'd like to see a dog trained as strictly a cat dog that kicks butt hunted here sometime just to see if it's the same. I know I can take half-azzed dogs that run cats (which eventually get away) and have a beter chance to go tree them a couple hours away. Same dogs, same conditions, same critter, but generally different outcomes.

I find the discussion on humidity interesting. It seems that some think humidity instantly makes tracks easier to run. Well sometimes it does and sometimes too much makes it darn tough. I'll take dry, dry fall conditions over it being hot and really humid. Dogs peter out quick and just can't seem to move tracks worth a darn.

Nolte; I agree with you humidity and heat will kill the ability for a dog to trail. To much rain can kill a track. Any change in conditions can kill a track. Give me cool dry weather any day. I treed a bob last Saturday, the dogs hit it at 11:00 am we treed it at 3:00 pm, one of the best jobs of trailing in hot dry conditions I have seen. At the tree only one out of 5 dogs were treeing, all the dogs were laying down and one would raise his head and give me a couple of barks every few minutes. It is as hot and dry as it gets here In the 90's 40 to 60 % humidity. Four times out since September 1 and four cats treed. They are doing good. And yes they were all started off the rig. Dewey

I bought a dog from the oregon coast that supposedly is a real good cat dog and runs coons also. I haven't had him on any cats yet here in pennsylvania, but he runs coons just fine.

I bought the dog from Bryan Souza from the oregon coast. If any of you Oregon hunters know anything about his dogs on bobcats could you please inform me. Thanks

I would have to agree a good cat dog should be able to catch cats anywhere once they are acclaimated but just because they were a great bobcat dog in one part of the country doesnt meen they will be great everywhere even if they do adjust to the conditions of the area they are relocated to. Believe it or not some areas of the country cats are just harder to tree I have seen great cat dogs from one area relocate and are just ok cat dogs. Hunting and time will tell the true story. Andy