Educate Me

Ras53

Ras53

New member
I like dogs. I'm familiar with Labs, Brittanys and German Shorthair bird dogs. I used to go coon hunting with a friend who had Walkers. I've got a German Shepard/Collie cross that is 16 years old. He found me a coon once but had no idea what to do with it. He's always been gun shy, but he's been a great hiking, camping and fishing buddy. But, he probably won't be with me much longer.

I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to replace him, and if so what with? I know I have to decide if I want a bird dog or some other type. My wife thinks Brittanys are way too hyper.

I saw a tv hunting show recently where the African hunter had a Jack Russel Terrier. I got a kick out of that little dog! I usually haven't really liked most little dogs because they're yapping ALL the time, but I've found a few recently that don't. Is that training?

Anyway, if I want a coon/coyote decoy or trailing dog, what breeds should I look at? What if rabbits are in the mix? Can you find a dog that makes a good house dog and a decent hunter too? I know trying to find one perfect all-round breed is a tall order and trying to get me to pin down precisely what I want the dog for is difficult too! I like hunting of all sorts, along with summertime backpacking and fishing.

I live in town, so I'm not sure that a hound kept outside is fair to the neighbors or the dog?

Can you guys tell me a little about some of the breeds you use and why? Of course having friends with hunting dogs is almost as good as having your own. Any of you guys in Utah or close by?
 
I can't educate you, but I've always wondered why more people in the U.S. don't use Rhodesian Ridgebacks as hunting dogs. They are fast, athletic, smart, big and rugged, absolutely fearless, like water, and are (or used to be) used for hunting big game in Africa. I would think that they would make an ideal hunting dog here in the US, particularly in open grassland, prairie, and great plains environments.

Go figure...
 
You should look at American Leopard curs (Not Catahoulas though) or several other cur breeds. Great house dogs, very loyal, smart, great for decoy dogs and can hunt coons and squirrels.
 
I really like my terriers!! My casey in a 1/2 jack russle and 1/2 fox terrier!!
He will hunt any thing i want!!
If i am pheasent hunting he is tracking birds!! we nocked one down and didnt find it and i showed casey the feathers where it fell and he had it caught in no time about 300 yrds.
I have dove hunted and he goes out and retrieves the doves when i shoot them.
Coon hunting he runs a track and trees and fights his heart out!!
he will fight with the houndson a coyote and have no back up in him.
he is a great partner. he is every where i go.My terriers dont bark just to bark. if they do there is a reason why!!
I spend alot of time with my terriers and they mind better then most kids do!!
spending time with a dog is alot of its training!!

Here is is retrieving a dove that i shot!!

PPXOM-caseyretrieve-4.JPG


putting a whooping on a coon that was in my garge eating dog feed!!

JJOTO-casey-coon-3.JPG


He heard the hounds running and knows we have a coyote race going so he is looking for the yote!!

casey-111.JPG


Very smart little dogs!!

Vargy
 
I have a pair of Catahoullas,they are smart,loyal,live in the house,hunt coyotes and badgers,and blood trail wounded game.I'm very pleased with them.
Machias, Leopard Curs are just a cross between a Catahoulla,and a hound.I would like to know your reasoning for cutting down a breed? Duane
 
Ihave catahoula & border collie, and like them both. I use the cat's on hunting & cattle, and they come in the house. They are kind of a laid back dog until doing their job. I bet if you tried one you would be glad you did.
 
I'm very pleased with my Catahoullas,but they don't suit every one.There are breeds that don't work for me ,but are good in other programs.As I've said before"feed what you like,and like what you feed."If your going to cut down any breed,you should have a good reason.
Konk,I agree,it's wild to have dogs that lay around and are pretty mellow,until they go to work,then they are all fire.Call them off and its right back to mellow.
 
Quote:
You should look at American Leopard curs (Not Catahoulas though) or several other cur breeds.



I'm no expert on Curs or any other dogs for that matter, but I will say that my neighbor has a Catahoula that is an awfully nice dog. I'd be interested in hearing why you would say that. Not looking for a fight, just curious.

Vargy makes a good point reguarding the Terriors. They might be well suited for your needs. I also know a gal with a Rat Terrior that is a great all around little dog.
I have raised Lab's and Shorthairs for many years, I like all dogs, but I will say that the older I get the more I like smaller dogs. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
cat2.jpg

Shorthair's are nice versatile dogs as well. Here's my Sophie pup. She's spoiled. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Good luck with your new dog and your old one.
 
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I hunt mnt curs on a lot of different game across the west and south.They have a very good trailing drive and are very rough on the game sought.They tree great and most are not as high strung as most terriers.I decoy yotes and trail lion,bear,coons, bobcats and even squirrel hunt with the same dogs.The strain thatI hunt comes from a ADC hunter in Elko Nv.They are very smart and can be taught anything you choose,we have two that retrive ducks.They have short tails and short hair and are 35 to 60 pounds.I have owned Hounds and Terriers over the years and these curs are all I have hunted for many years now.
 
Thanks for all the feedback. Anybody out there with info on Airedales? What are the differences between Catahoulas and any other cur?
 
There are a lot of good options posted here. Take your pick. I would think that if Brittany's are too high strung I would stay away from from all Terriers including Airedales. I dog yotes and trail cats with Mountain Curs and like them. I have run hounds and I tend to not get along with them as well. I also have a couple Patterdales that I use for stack work and coon ect in holes.

As far as your question about Catahoulas vs. other Curs in my opinion Catahoulas tend to lean more toward their hound ancestry they are generally bigger and mouthyer as well as more cold nosed and sometimes a little hardheaded. All curs are protective of there home and owner
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Sorry didn't mean to offend anyone with the (Not Catahoulas) comment. Actually Leoaprd Curs are not hound and Catahoula crosses, at least not ALCBA, Leoapard Curs. Probably the biggest reason Leopard Curs are discounted by most houndsmen are because they confuse Leopard Curs with Catahoulas. In "GENERAL" Catahoulas are very loyal excellent dogs....for working livestock and hot short tracks and they "GENERALLY" do not have strong treeing instincts. They are gritty and gamey, but "GENERALLY" tend to be alligators at the tree. Most Catahoulas from the Southwest are what houndsmen think of when they hear you talk about American Leopard Curs and as such dismiss them as anything other then hot nosed, non-treeing aggressive game dogs. Leopard Curs are "GENERALLY" medium to cold nosed, excellent tree dogs, very gritty, but alot more social then most hounds. And are rarely hard headed. I used to love my Blueticks, but after hunting the American Leopard Curs they do everything my Blueticks used to do but handle a heck of alot better. Now if you have some Catahoulas that are not as described above my apologies, I did not mean to offend, and your right a person should not knock one breed over another. I was only giving the guy my opinion, take it or leave it, it's just one man's opinion, and really doesn't mean much.
 
Machias, Well stated explaination.My Catahoullas are hot nosed,and I don't use them on treeing game.I will send them to a tree,If I have a "jumper",(game that jumps,or wants to fight on the ground.) but I let my treeing dogs do their job.You have summed up my Catahoullas well,gritty and gamey.On game on the ground they hold as good as a tree dog,but they need to be right in its face to stay interested.I'll look into the leopard curs some more,I was told by a breeder that they are a cross,but may be incorrect.I'll let you know what more info I find.
No hard feelings here,I like a good discussion.Duane
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Still I shouldn't have painted such a broad stroke. There has been some controversy recently with the infusion of Wicks Camo Jug into the ALCBA. It is widely believe Jug has some walker in him. There are some die hard ALCBA folks who would roll over in their grave if hound blood was infused into their beloved breed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif My three go back to Richard McDuffie's Leopard Curs and two of them come out of Randy Oller's breeding in Norterhn CA. He has some outstanding bear and lion dogs.
 
Machias............Thanks for the info.
I learned something.
Like I said "I wasn't looking for a fight".
I wish I was 25 years younger. I would have some hounds for sure.
 
Hey Machias,I looked into the leopard curs and what I found out is that no one knows for sure the true lineage,Its all speculation as to their beginings.The leopard cur association started in the 60's,My research has shown that they are hard hunters ,just a different type of hunter than a Catahoulla.Isn't the dog stuff fun?HaHa. Duane
 
I, like Vargy, love my terrier (Jagdterrier to be exact). But it really depends on what kind of hunting you want to do. For a decoy dogs, some terriers can be hard headed and kill crazy. They will chase anything, including coyotes, to the kill. I currently have a treeing feist to go along with my terrier. I also had Mountain curs and coonhounds. The feist is very much like a terrier with more treeing instinct and a heck of a lot easier to handle. They are like a cross of a terrier and a cur. Check out coyotegods.com (I think thats the site) for info on Airedales.

If I had it all to do over again I'd find me a good, smaller Mountain Cur or larger feist. I'd find one from breeding that hunts close. The older I get the less I like to look for dogs. A dog that hunts 100 - 200 yards out and checks in often is good for me. My Jagdterrier and coonhounds won't generally fill that bill without some work with a shock collar. Their are lots of cur/feist strains that fill that role nicely.

All that being said, my Jagd will be with me as long as shes around.

CB
 
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