BigGameHoundsmen.com

Cat dog by far,,,I.m.o

What is trully hard to find is a good combo dog.

I hunt both and where I hunt, bear dog hands down.

I would have to say Bobcat dog, I have seen 1 that was what you would call a Bobcat dog, and still she wouldn't catch them all, not even close. When the going got tough she was usually the only one out, I have a pup out of her and she is showing alot of promise, but those little potlickers are hard to catch.
That being said, a good bear dog will catch most bears, but when you get on old slough foot, grumpy old grizz, well that is where you will see what you have got. And I would say there are more great bear dogs than bob dogs.
The Combo dog is very hard to find as well, I own 2 that catch Lion, Bear and sometimes on the right day might get Mr. Bob to stop.
So really it all boils down to what you hunt, how you hunt and where. I am still looking for that 100% catch bob dog, let me know where I can find one please, or for that matter a dog that will do it all, and be flawless.

-Hound

I suppose if it were 100%catch it wouldn't be called huntin anymore,it would be called catchin,LOL!!!But all kidding aside if a hunter does his part right and the dogs do their part[also if the dogs are only allowed to run bobs not anything else,as my huntin partner says if it ain't a bob it's trash.]Than the percentages should be from 80-85% on the catch rate.This won't happen if a guy is only running a couple of dogs or one style of dog,it takes a few differnt styles and dogs who compliment each other from start to finish[truck to tree].I've seen the difference it makes on keeping a dog on one particular game animal,instead of bouncing them around from one to the next.I've never seen a dog who comboed do as good as as a straight dog whether it Bear,Lion,or bobs and especially the bobs do to the locateing difficulty and lack of extra scent.
JMO Tim

In my opinion, the good lord (nor man) has never once made the perfect hound that will catch a hundred percent on big game, whether it is bobcats, lions or bears. I did read a cute little story in full cry a few years back about an old eastern bear hunter who bragged up his Nigger plott dog by saying, "if the pack went one way and ol' Nigger went the other, a person better follow that Nigger dog if he wanted to kill a bear that day." I thought it was a really fun little story but know full well there was a lot of wind in it. Now it may be true that a fast dog with a hot nose will finish most tracks, but a cold nosed dog, well, I call BS.........

If any of you have hounds that will trail up any lion or bear, fresh or old track regardless of conditions, and 100 percent of the time, then I say come show me.............and I'll pick the track!

ike

I'd say if there aren't many really good dogs around, either bear or cat dogs, then we as houndsmen aren't doin our jobs.

You should breed to get better pups on the ground then their parents. If they are ok dogs cut or spay them and hunt them. If they are exceptional dogs..... look outside your back yard and find a good match to breed to.

It's funny to me that alot of people think they have the greatest dogs, I not sayin you don't BUT i can guarantee you there are better out there. Whatever makes you happy.

The bigger problem, i believe is the hunters. I have seen people get good dogs and ruin them more then i have seen them make a dog. I'm in the category of ruining dogs myself, and i can admit to it. But i like to get out on occassion and get really lucky and see somethin in a tree now and again. "Just livin the dream"

Best of luck or skill, whatever you prefer at the tree.

Take care, poser

poser wrote:It's funny to me that alot of people think they have the greatest dogs, I not sayin you don't BUT i can guarantee you there are better out there. Whatever makes you happy.
Take care, poser

You bring up a good point about the attitude many hounddoggers have when it comes to THEIR dogs--cause there is always gonna be something better! I'm a big fight fan, always have been and always will be. You'll probably never catch me watching the Super Bowl or the NBA Basketball Championships, cause I've always been into the individual sports. But back to the fight game.....

A guy comes along and he's the shit, unbeatable and nearly perfect in every way but down the road someone hammers him--period! I suppose I'd think the same thing about a horse, a hound or anything else on this planet cause there's always gonna be another come along and show them that they are pretty special as well......... but life is about more than having or being the best at anything. It's those attachments to a hound that makes them special to me, knowing that that dog is gonna work his butt off for me because there is this connection between us, both the hound and I have a love, almost a lust for the sport. And because of that connection, that hound is going to rise above what he might ever have been without me--and then again I will most likely rise to a higher level as well because of that hound.

ike