Most grit ??

[LukeS]

I realize there r good & bad in every line, but Im gonna throw another one out there to get some opinions.

What lines of dogs out there r known for having the most grit to hang with a mean bear no matter what. Something thats known to stick with it in a pack or by its self. Maybe not the fastest track dogs, or the coldest nose, just pure grit. And preferably not the kind that want to kill each other in the box.

[chivers18]

I have red bones and they have plenty of grit for me. I just got three plotts and they also seem to have lots of grit and alot of heart to stay and really put the fire to a mean boar. Thats the two i like but alot of it is prefrence and what ya like to hunt

[ferjr]

my plotts and blueticks seem to have plenty grit, they are all hair pullers.

[Bo wood]

uchtman,cameron and minsink all have good grit they r lines of blueticks

[Nolte]

Luke,

This is my amateur opinion so take it for what it's worth. Find a bear hunter who hunts similiar condidtions to you, hunts a lot and catches a bunch of bear. Then get something from his "line". I wouldn't worry much about what color it is, it's build, how mentally tough it is or if it can do long division with it's paws in the sand. Just find one that seems to always be on the right end of a succesfull chase.

I don't want a dog that has the "most" grit, I won't one that has the "right" amount of grit. They'll catch you the same amount of bear (actually one will catch you more), but it will cost you a lot less. I also want a dog that is balanced in other areas, grit don't do a guy much good if you can't start the track or catch up to it.

[LukeS]

Luke,

This is my amateur opinion so take it for what it's worth. Find a bear hunter who hunts similiar condidtions to you, hunts a lot and catches a bunch of bear. Then get something from his "line". I wouldn't worry much about what color it is, it's build, how mentally tough it is or if it can do long division with it's paws in the sand. Just find one that seems to always be on the right end of a succesfull chase.

I don't want a dog that has the "most" grit, I won't one that has the "right" amount of grit. They'll catch you the same amount of bear (actually one will catch you more), but it will cost you a lot less. I also want a dog that is balanced in other areas, grit don't do a guy much good if you can't start the track or catch up to it.

Thanks so much for the info. I understand totally what u r saying. The problem is I live in an area very plentiful with bears & NO hound hunters. I have coon hunted competition bred bluetics for a while, & I have had some in the past that took to running bear in our cornfeilds(there full of them). But as soon as they get on one thats a little ruff & they get banged up a bit, they never run them again. Thats why I am putting the emphisis on grit, dont have a pack to run with so need something that can take a little pain at a young age & not be ruined. I understand this is probly a pretty rare trait. Dogs obviously need to be able to run a track decent as well to get it caght, but no need for extreme cold nosed start dogs at this time because of the good bear population & little hunting pressure. See several bears a week just driving the roads, no problem finding a hot track.

Thanks again for the info.

[snowy river black and tan]

Sounds like heaven to me. Sure you aint dead? Three time albert bred black and tans have always done good for us. Not much for pulling hair but quit isnt in their vocabulary even at a young age. Good luck and have fun

[cat and bear]

I agree with nolte, find a line of dogs, that is working in your area, not dogs that will run a bear, but bear dogs, that get banged up, and do it again. There is a big difference, there was a guy here hunting with me from Canada. That has a line of plotts, that rode a bear, cant think of his name, pretty well known, not sure if its grit or lack of brains, but they work, in your area. I can call a buddy maybe he remembers his name, good luck.

[nmplott]

grit has to be balanced by intelligence, a dog must know when to put the pressure and how much, an overly gritty dog is often a suicidal dog.

[BBGH]

Have you ever noticed that if your pack of dogs have to much grit you don't get bears in trees? I have noticed that a pack of hair pullers will rip a bear off a tree while it is climbing up, kind of like a raccoon. A lot of bears will challenge a pack of dogs before they climb. They will usually run at the dogs and when the dogs don't back down they usually turn and run up a tree. But if you have 5 dogs that are all REAL hair pullers, they will usually grab that bear when it turns their back to them, thus making it difficult for that bear to climb. Don't get me wrong I believe a bear dog has to run in and pull some hair to get a mean bear to climb, but I was just wondering if anyone else agrees with me that there is a thing as to much grit.

[Outlaw 3]

Gantte and Crockett bred plotts, Albert bred black and tans, Lipper bred walkers

[bob baldwin jr]

I would have to agree with NMPLOTT . I would rather have INTELLIGENT hounds than TOO MUCH STUPID GRIT . Not much use for FEEDING SUICIDAL HOUNDS

[LukeS]

Thanks for all the replies. After reading all the posts I think I should change the question a bit. Maybe not looking for the most grit, but looking for a line of dogs that absolutely will not leave a bear, dont really care if they pull hair, or they stand 30 feet away & bay just stay with it no matter what till I get there. Looking for something that will do this at a young age by itself or with a pack. As I said my coondogs have run bear before, but usually as soon as things stop on the ground, they turn tail & look for a coon. Thanks again.

[Nolte]

Luke,

This is my take again, so take it for what it cost you. I haven't had much luck for having a dog that sits back 20 feet be my "key" dog as a bear dog. I have had a dog like that be responsible for bear kill though when everything else got tuned. It wasn't exactly text book, but it worked out that time.

I also think that if you get one dog that is a good sticker on a mean bear, some of those others will follow suit. Some won't and then you can just leave them at home to run coon, unless you want to just put them on little runners. Quitting is contagious as is sticking if another one is doing it. I also think that all dogs will quit at some point and for some reason. It's just a matter if you're OK with it being the first bluff charge, the 2nd hour in the heat, after they've got a bunch of holes in them, or all the way to when their heart stops. I've seen some awfully big bear killed over soft dogs and some mean little bastards work over the best I've seen.

I don't know when your seasons run, but I would keep my eyes open for a good, solid, tough dog that will stay caught. Start with that and see how your others do. I wouldn't go about buying up puppies or young dogs with the right "blood" just yet. That can be a long road and without a dog to lean on, you don't have a map to point you in the right direction. I'd beware though, there is a LOT of junk that's peddled as a bear dog. Don't fork over the cash till you see the dog in action OR you completely trust the reputation of the guy selling. I personally don't know of any dogs that fit the description for you.

[Outlaw 3]

Cascade plotts if you can find them have a knack for never quitting a race. The Albert black and tans have a lot of stick also.