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Best Dogs...
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 2:02 am
by merlo_105
What was or is the best cat dog you ever seen. Just a story about the dog and what made it so great.
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 2:40 am
by Mountaineer
I tell ya it looks like dale cole is the man!!! Look him up coles national cat hounds!! Man I'm so jealous!! I grab my wife's phone and get on her Facebook everyday just to see what he had done!!!! I'm new and green to cat hunting maybe oneday I can get one treed!!
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 3:51 pm
by twist
When hunting a large pack how can one tell I'm wondering?
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 4:26 pm
by merlo_105
Twist, I get asked that question a lot and so do others I hunt with. So I got 5 seasoned dogs who are gonna catch a high percentage by there selves some better at this and that but all are well rounded enough there gonna put them up. I have 5 young dogs that have to compete against 5 seasoned dogs so when you have a young dog out locating or rigging or blah blah. It really stands out. And same with the seasoned dogs you got one that's just seems to always be the star he had to compete against 11 dogs.
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 5:06 pm
by mark
i just pick one dog from every race and label it the best of the bunch. That way they all get to be the best.
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 5:21 pm
by undertheradar
Boy this got Off Topic quick.
I ask myself who in this race can i not go hunting without and who can i part with? Or who screwed this up. Or who dont i ever hear calling some shots? If you don't get overly attached to them they keep and cull themselves.
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 12:01 am
by twist
mark wrote:i just pick one dog from every race and label it the best of the bunch. That way they all get to be the best.
Lol I like that idea!!!!!
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 1:16 am
by BrandonCombe
Way to keep up with the times mark! Would hate to leave one out ,but before to long you're gonna have to get em all matching participation trophies or they may just up and quit on ya....
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 2:48 am
by mark
When they quit..... They go
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 2:52 am
by pegleg
I hunt differently but I don't find it very hard to see who is doing well most of the time but I can normally see them a good deal or get to where I can. I also mix my dogs and this clears things up if anyone is running wise. It can also really screw things up if they want . I've had a couple good cat dogs and they never needed help or waited for it. They tend to be very intelligent and driven with above average nose and speed. And know cats and how to control them and read what they're likely to do well.
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2017 2:53 am
by al baldwin
I have tried to decide the best cat dog I ever hunted with, cannot make a clear choice. several come to mind. However each had their strong points, however recall every time I was close to believing a dog was great, seems the right cat made them look less than great. If producing great cat dogs was easy as crossing a running dog to a tree dog, catching cats would no longer be a challenge. Don/t believe every thing you read or hear. Al
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2017 2:42 pm
by Dan Edwards
I cant talk bout cat dogs but the best dogs Ive seen were great cuz they were so tough you couldn't make them quit.
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2017 6:56 pm
by Nolte
I'm no cat dog aficionado, but in my experience a better than average cat dog is smart while a good bear dog is persistent and tough. Not just with the bear but tough to keep grinding on a fall track when the other dogs are ready to go try something else.
Also in our snow country besides smarts, good conditions catch more cats than anything while bad conditions need more smarts and maybe a hunter who's tough and wiling to put in some leg work when all seems futile.
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Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2017 8:16 pm
by Dan Edwards
Nolte wrote:in my experience a better than average cat dog is smart
Also in our snow country besides smarts, good conditions catch more cats than anything while bad conditions need more smarts
How "smart" would that dog be if he was turned loose 200Xs a year on cats instead of a couple dozen or so? And could he even handle the physicality of being hunted that much?
Re: Best Dogs...
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2017 8:44 pm
by Nolte
Dan, I'm thinking even melon heads like my mutts could get a little smarter. But some sure probably wouldn't .

But I think that some dogs just figure it out quicker.
I don't know if the dogs could handle the physicality of it but I damn sure know I couldn't. Many cat hunting days I've come dragging in just begging to get in the truck. I do know in a crust situation that darn few dogs can handle it without getting gimped up. And running in real cold really takes it toll on a pooch. They need a little recoup time with some good food to recharge. But who the hell has enough time anymore to even find out, know those days are in my rear view.
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