BigGameHoundsmen.com

Wowww. So I been sitting here reading alot of these topics about what breeds you need and what kind of dogs you need to catch Bobcats... I find it funny. Im young to the hounds didnt grow up hunting with hounds always had Bird dogs, Pointers and Setters. 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... Well the guy I hunt with has all Walkers or running dog cross. So most you guys know what I had to listen to Well being a trainer and having bird dogs my whole life I new how to work with a dog and go the right way about it. Well I hear alot about dogs not being good enough, I believe hound people over think everything instead of acting upon it or fixing it or aiding it. Well I worked the Redbone pup as I would any other dog, Bird dogs dont play follow the leader so I didnt feel a hound should have to learn that way figured I can teach more then a pup trainer could. Well I worked this dog everday and noticed faults at a young age well we fixed them faults while he was young. Got him doing everything very well at a young age worked him till I felt he was ready to be worked on the real thing. So after all the training and time in the woods we took him out Buddy's dog Riggs a cat so we dumped my Redbone out on his first very own Cat we left all the dogs in the truck Well as soon as the Redbone came out the box he was gone he had the cat jumped almost right away short story is he caught the cat with a little help from us. 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. Well hunted her every chance I had and caught about 18 cats there with a dog under a year old. Before i left I picked up two more Blueticks one was a fantastic coon dog the other I was iffy about. Well worked them as singles and as soon as I felt they could handle it I took all three Blue girls out and had a great time ended my season with 25 cats. 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... The big thing I hear is you need speed Yes I will agree no doubt speed does help. The blue lady I got from Nora is out of this world fast only about 35-40 pounds she runs right with and right pass all the running dogs she has been around 95 percent of the time she is leading... Well one of the Blue dogs that came from WV I was worried about not being fast enough and slowing down the rest of the dogs this is prior to hunting and training her. How much speed does a dog need? I looked at it as You take a track athlete and run against him on a open track he is gonna put a whoopen on you well the track star would be the walker. And the average guy me would be the bluetick. Well now you get us off the flat ground and put us in The woods of the PNW guess what we are gonna be neck and neck what Im saying is I doubted that a super fast dog could run at its full potential so I wanted dogs with good speed didnt have to run like a cheetah. Everyone I have put my dogs with they run neck and neck in the nasty timber, yes you match what breed and what kind works in your area. Well I have three Blueticks one Redbone and had a Walker I had to sell due to being gun shy but before that the walker was an Ace dog... What Im saying is how can I be so lucky to get 5 really good dogs and not have to cut one or two or even three short... All big faults are in the trainer yes there are dogs that just plane dont hunt. But it doesnt take a rocket man to build a great bobcat dog... I think hounds men rather hunt and toss in pups with dogs rather then working them the right way... Look at Bird dogs and there trainer they are worked with everday and in a good manor and every single dog makes a awesome hunting dog yes some become great and make trial dogs... Of coarse breeding helps... But I just built a pack off four hounds and none were from solid Cat dogs.... What Im trying to say is look at the facts a dog is only as good as you let it be. Speed is great but in the PNW I dont believe they get to use there full potential so whats the need?... I know alot of guys are gonna be scratching there head... And alot of guys are gonna doubt it and thats great cause they are gonna be pushing for better bloodlines to make a better dogs... Whick inturn helps get rid of trainer error. And Nora if you read this Thanks for that Bluetick She is my baby... lol

Do you train pups for other people? And if you do, how much would it cost?

I dont and havent I just work my own but im not against maybe working something out...

I think hounds men rather hunt and toss in pups with dogs rather then working them the right way...



Merlo_105,

WOW WHAT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!!!!!!! I CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES OF YOUR ABOVE QUOTE. I have been preaching about dogs should be able to tree critters on their own, since I found this site. Only to be made to feel like I was some kind of asshole!! The reason most can't is due to a selfish people problam. THANK YOU FOR COMMING ALONG!!!


Mark,




I think I just heard an ass chewin, and felt a slap on the head as a youngster. When I gave my answer to Dad. When he asked if ran a pup today. When I said sure I took them with the broke dogs. SEE SOMEONE ELSE IS OLD SCHOOL. YOU REEP WHAT YA SOW!!!


Take care, Willie

Hey Merlo,

I am working on starting a single Red Bone on Lions and was wondering if you could go a little further in depth as to what you looked for and corrected with your hounds as you were training them. When you say that you didn`t play follow the leader, what did you do instead? What did some of your basic training sessions focus on, and how did you present the training to the dog?

Any elaboration you would be willing to share would be appreciated.

Thanks

Merlo congratulations, I know some do not believe those tree dogs can be used successful on bobcat, but when you find the right one they can & some as you have found do not need an older hound to teach them. However unless you are truly blessed do not expect all of them to do that well. And just think I was close to trying one of those blueticks from Nora. O WELL SNOOZE & LOSE! Al

Merlo,

I agree that the trainer is everything about the dog. He will relfect everything about the trainer. I run mostly blue dogs, even own one from Nora. I catch plenty of game and happy with it. I could care less if so and so has faster dogs or better tree dogs. My one and only goal always is to have a pack that can catch as a single or as a pack. I hunt each dog solo time to time. Takes nothing special in my opinion but time and game.

I truely like to hear young hunters out training and working young hounds and hear success. But remember just like a good bobcat dog just when you think they can't miss you get a big suprise . If you have been blessed with 5 out of 5 GREAT cat hounds that is outstandind but if you keep with the sportover an extended time things will changeI promise. Andy

Twist,
I know there is gonna be some bumpy roads and I know I'll end up with a dog thats not gonna work out... But im saying most will just given the right touch... Every kid can hit a Baseball but there are the kids who have great coach's that turn in to being great. And there is that natural talent that all hound hunters look for and there just aint enough out there... You can make a hound or wait your whole life and not find one..

Al Baldwin,
Yeah big lose The dog I got is a freak she is beyond amazing and way smarter then me... She made her first race right around 5 months and it was no cake walk...
Duck duck goose,
Ill pm you and explain what abouts I did and how I looked for off traits...

Yes,let us all know your training some of us seems to be doing something wrong ,we've only been running hounds most of our lives. I'll tell you what you bring a five or six month old (PUP) and he runs as close as hundred yards to my older dogs I'll let you shot them and the same goes foryour pup.

A little ironic that you lecture on dog speed while admiting your dog is fast, isn't it? At one time I thought i was a good dog trainer. Turns out i just got lucky with my first couple pups.........

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I don't think anyone that is hunting running dog crosses believes that is the only type of dog that can catch a cat. I think the running dog cross brings a style of catching a cat that seems to be more available in running dogs. The real serious cat hunters have found that they can hunt the running dog crosses without having to rest the dogs every couple of days and allows them to call 25 cats a good month.

A good trainer can make any dog with some natural abillity into a pretty good dog.Where the problem comes in is when people keep breeding these dogs.I do not think dogs that that have lots of faults or major faults that need to be overcome should be reproduced.I have hunted dogs that have had faults that lots of people would cull for that ended up being really good dogs.However these dogs should never reproduce in my opinion or be sold to someone else who will breed these dogs.

merlo, I say great job! Training is far more important than the dog. Keep up the good work.

oregon jerk- many people run dogs their whole lifes and are as dumb with dogs from the first day to the last. Very sporting of you to put your dogs heads on the chopping block ahead of yours. You're a discusting individual!

Quote Cobalt : many people run dogs their whole lifes and are as dumb with dogs from the first day to the last.


What on earth would make you believe that?????



Take care, Willie