Harder bear or bob dog

[coastrangecathunting]

What do you think is harder to make a do it all bear dog or a do it all bobcat dog? Im not talking about a a dog that catches one every once in a while im talking about one that when they open you are loading your gun.

J.C.

[Nolte]

No doubt cat dog. It's not even close.

[Big Mike]

The truely great bear dogs are just as hard to come by as truely great cat dogs.

But average bear dogs can catch a lot of bears where as average cat dogs won't catch many cats. So I would give the nod to cat dog for that reason

[Shorty]

Well said Big Mike! I Agree.

[Nolte]

This is my perspective from only hunting bears and cats here in WI.

Conditions greatly determine the amount of cat catching that is going on. Good bear dogs can/will catch the majority of bear in nearly all conditions. Phenomenal cat dogs will probably struggle in tough conditions. OK cat dogs will not have a chance without a lot of luck in those same conditions.

I've seen excellent bear dogs sold for a good amount of money. I've never seen an excellent cat dog sold.

[Dads dogboy]

To Quote Shorty "Well Said" to both Big Mike and Nolte!

C. John Clay

[Mike Leonard]

I have seen some really good bear dogs turn into so so bear dogs in a few seasons or a few races at that. I have never seen a really truely great bear dogs change other than when they are cold and stiff.

Cat dogs or super dry ground lion hounds are extreemly hard to find. You see a lot of lion hounds that can catch at times even on dry ground but those truely superior dry ground lion dogs are in the same class as top bobcat dogs. Damn scarce as are real bear dogs.

So you tell me how many top shelf bobcats dogs have you owned or sold? Bear dogs?Bare Ground lion dogs?

[Big N' Blue]

When i have a dog that suits me. he is not for sale. If i have one that does not suit me i will give him to you if you beat me to my pistol.

[SECOND NATURE]

[twist]

I would have to say bobcat dog. I have seen some great bobcat dogs but have yet had or seen one that when they open you better load your gun as there are none that are 100% for sure, I have had a million races look like there is no way for Mr bobcat to go anywhere but up a tree and then Bam my ego is busted. Bobcat dogs are few and far between but there are NONE who catch every cat. later Andy

[Dads dogboy]

Amen Twist!

Dad has Hounds as good as anybody, & he is quick to say he ain't caught till you have your hands on him. , We have had a Cat bayed in the BAD BAD briars and still have it slip out and go up a tree. Another was bayed, slipped out, hit a creek and was gone gone gone!

There is only one man we know who says his Hounds had caught every Cat jumped. To quote another NC Cat Hunter who knew this man real well, "The Truth ain't in him".

Mr. Mike as I said earlier in talking about "Complete" Cat Hounds, over 57 years Dad has had 6. He has had lots of Top Hounds but these 6 were in the top ranks in all the ways you would rank a Cat Hound and as stated 3 were great treedogs as well.

I know there are top Cat dogs sold for lots of money, but here in the South it is getting harder and harder to find the kind of prospect that will make this kind of Hound. The Fox/Coyote Pens have led to the demise of the Running Dog like the Nite Hunt has hurt the Treedog folks. The few really top Hounds we know of are the products of long term breeding programs. From what I am reading on here the same holds true for the Snow/Treedog type Bobcat Hunters.

Good Running to All!
C. John Clay
Dads Dogboy

PS Until the FL. Fish and Game closed their season Dad and his neighbor had a top Pack of Bear Hounds. Two of which were white & lemon Clay Hounds.

[pegleg]

in my opinion cats are harder to catch no matter where they are or what the conditions are . so top cat hounds get my vote

[Tim Pittman]

Naturally I agree with Mike and Shorty both.But I'd have to add that We are all better off trying to build a complete pack,than focusing on individuals who can do it alone[because some guys might die of old age or some of us time might run out early before we find an individual or another individual to do it all].If a guy mixs and matches dogs right to compliment one another where one is a little weaker the other is stronger I believe it'll come together alot faster.But only breed the most complete individuals a person has if they honestly meet our own personal standards.
Tim Pittman

[doug]

Good advice Tim. Cat dog gets my vote,but a great dog of either kind is nice to have.

[spruce mountain]

My vote is bobcat dog.Pretty much every thing has been said that needs to be said.