BigGameHoundsmen.com

I baught this 20 month old male Van Johnson Dog from a fellow in Utah . Been hunted previosly on Lots of Bear and a half a dozen cats. He has a love for CATS

I really like this dog, question I have is what are these dogs breeding consist of. He has like a half a tail in which I have seen on all the Van Johnson dog pics I have seen.

Is the tail thing a trademark?

The half tail is no trademark it is a common practice by big game hunters in the southwest. Dogs that spend many hours trailing in rocky brushy country constantly whipping their tails back and forth will eventually cause the end of the tail to get raw and crack and then bleed. Over a period of time this bleeding can actually drain the energy of the dog not to mention it is messy and having blood splattered all over you is not all that pleasant. By docking the tail as a newborn pup you are doing him and yourself a favor if you hunt in this type of country.

Van's regular strain of dogs are a mixture of bluetick/walker and a little Campwood plott. Most of his dogs appear to be light English looking blueticks tracing back to his most famous dogs Old Blue and LB or Little Blue who was sired by the old dog. Much work and culling has gone into this strain and they excell on bear and lion both. And having dogs that do equally as well on both are not all that common.
Van Johnson is a living legend in the dog world and no doubt one of the greatest houndman of our time.

Well i am very impressed with his hard work.

Hi Bullseye,

Would like to see a picture of your dog if you can post one thanks!
Dan D

Van is a great guy and easy to talk to loves to talk dogs! In my mind the greatest hunter of our time hands down! I hunt a lot of dogs from his blood they are great dogs!!