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How do you define a "lead" dog? Is it a broke dog? Is it the only dog you have that will hunt without the influence of another "lead" dog? Is it the one who spends the least amount of time checking out the scene and marking the territory before it gets down to business? Is it the one with the longest range? Longest time between check-ins? Oldest and most reliable? All of the above???

This should be interesting! To me a lead dog should have all or most of the qualities you mentioned. I'm sure everyone will have their own definition of a lead dog. The fastest dog is not always the lead dog. Every pack of dogs will be different, the dog that takes charge the majority of the time in the pack I would consider to be the lead dog of the pack. This is where a gps is a good tool to find this out.

I would say the dog that strikes the track then while pounding it throughout the day the one that keeps finding it in the front of the other dogs and keeps pushing it forward and when the dogs get in a tuff spot the dog that finds the track and gets it started again for more progress then after trailing all day and the dog thats been hitting out in front of the other dogs the most jumps the lion were it is laid up then puts it up a tree or bays it in the rocks with 100% effort and keeps barkin its rear off till you get there. I would consider this dog the lead dog. Now a old dog might find the track and start it for the other dogs and some of the other dogs in the pack might move it faster than the old dog but remember if it wasnt for the old dog you might of rode over the track without even getting a bark so that old dog might be your strike dog but not the lead dog. Now when one of the younger dogs that starts stiking the track in front of that old dog and is the one that pushes the track in the front of the other dogs on regular bases i would say this young dog is starting to become a lead dog. This is just my opinion of a lead dog. I would say in my opinion if you go hunting with someone and watch there dogs work one lion track for a couple hours even if it is to old of a track to ever catch the lion you should be able to tell which one of there dogs is there lead dog, stike dog, or even wich ones are what i call me too types which help none what so ever when trying to move a track. and if you can watch all of this for a couple hours you can figure out which dogs are helping and which ones are wasting there owners time.everyone else might have a different opinion of a lead dog. but that is just my opinion.I cant wait to hear some more.

Simply, the dog you trust most when making decisions for the pack. The dog you rely on above others when reading (listening) to the race. Thankyou. John.

tomtom wrote:How do you define a "lead" dog? Is it a broke dog? Is it the only dog you have that will hunt without the influence of another "lead" dog? Is it the one who spends the least amount of time checking out the scene and marking the territory before it gets down to business? Is it the one with the longest range? Longest time between check-ins? Oldest and most reliable? All of the above???

my "lead" dog, when his nose isn't in a lion track is pissing on every bush, tire, pair of boots in the immediate area. when i cut him loose on a track,he doesn't check in, i check in with him.... if i can make the tree. he is my oldest and i trust him to trail a cold lion track over/past deer, elk or moose. he doesn't range any farther than my others but he will go the distance by himself where the others may peel off or backtrail. in a few more years i might be able to says he's a broke lion hound unless he dies of old age first...lol

Warner great answer! thats about i was going to say, when your looking for the pack or the game which dog do you first keep track of on the gps or telemetry that pretty much lets you know the lead dog in a guys pack!lol

its the dog that if added to a race the percentage of desired game caught goes up and when not added goes down .look it up its in the houndsmans dictionary right after cull lol!

the one in the front

I would say that it's the one that sleep with you in your bed.

Anybody else ???

Thats funny, the dog in the lead is the lead dog. Unless of coarse the lead dog is hiding under the truck. . thanks, John.

One that consistantly CATCHES not just runs them. Andy

I've always subscribed to Del Cameron's philosophy when it comes to "lead dogs". By around 16-18 months an often-hunted dog should be catching its own game alone quite regularly. If any given dog cannot do this they should be culled. I guess if you believe in this theory then you will eventually have a pack of "lead dogs". That way you can hunt different dogs every day of the week with virtually the same results. Ive put this theory into practice in my own breeding program with results that are incredible. I own half as many dogs as I used to and catch three times as much game. Forget the "pack dogs" and either breed or buy for "lead dogs" and things will fall into place sooner than you imagined. Don't be afraid to hunt each of your dogs alone or you will never really know how well they can do.

Your lead dog is probably the first one programed in the astro. Ha ha.

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bay'emup wrote:I've always subscribed to Del Cameron's philosophy when it comes to "lead dogs". By around 16-18 months an often-hunted dog should be catching its own game alone quite regularly. If any given dog cannot do this they should be culled. I guess if you believe in this theory then you will eventually have a pack of "lead dogs". That way you can hunt different dogs every day of the week with virtually the same results. Ive put this theory into practice in my own breeding program with results that are incredible. I own half as many dogs as I used to and catch three times as much game. Forget theg"pack dogs" and either breed or buy for "lead dogs" and things will fall into place sooner than you imagined. Don't be afraid to hunt each of your dogs alone or you will never really know how well they can do.

Very well put! I cant say that Im not guilty of this because I am but the best way to put it. Ive been starting to thin down to and trying to keep fewer better dogs