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It seems like alot of talk on here about a Lion dog can only be great if only ran on Lions. A ton of talk on the Bobcat forum and same goes with the bear.
My question is how many of you disagree with this? How many of you think you can have a top dog that runs and trees Bobcat, Lion, Bear?
Seems to me that these People that are saying this are only running one type of game, and it may be an unfare question because I know many states Like Colorado,Califonia,Wyoming,Washington,Oregon and so on can't run all the game they have and others don't have other game.
Seems like to me to have a top dog, you must run it more than a couple of months a year. Utah and Idaho houndsmen get to run their dogs more than anyone that I know of. Lets hear of other states that get to run as much or more.
Van Johnson and I were talking about this the other night.

I think I am stepping off into murky water..... I agree with you up to a point. Most good hounds want to please and they want to hunt most anything. That said I have seen how hounds have a preference to what they like to hunt. While a hounds' atyle and desire may make them outstanding for hunting one species, they can still be a good hound for other species. My .02 Mel

Great point Mel. Over My life time I have had a couple of dogs I would call top dogs and they always preferred a little more one or the other but was still top dogs on the other.

Devin, with out a doubt there can be great dogs that are allaround hounds may be few and far between but I have had and have bobcat dogs that are great lion dogs also I have had great lion dogs that were not the best at catching bobcats if a dog is a top notch bobcat dog that dog if given the chance will excell on just about any game.they are out there and the guys that disagree are the ones that havent had the pleasure of owning one. later, Andy

I have as good of bobcat dogs as i could ask for, and i run them on lions bear and bobs, my best are great at all 3 for me. Here is where what I have fail to measure up. I know my dogs won't go down to new mexico and arizona and grubb out a cold cold lion track. I don't know why they struggle when they get on the dirt, maybe how i hunt or maybe they just don't have the nose. I hope in a few years of running these nance dogs I will have dogs that can truely do it all. But who knows. Great question and it will be interesting to see how this plays out. James

I like hunting a dog that is a top notch on anyhting bear,lion bobcat or take it to a field trial. I have to have them run all the above or they dont stay Like Devin said in utah you have such an assortment of game. its hard to keep one that will run only one species and not others or excell better in one and kinda the other. But heck if i want it to trail a chicken and i cluck it on track it better try to get some scent, Ha Ha I do agree some are better than others and have there likes on certain game but is sure is nice to find and train the ones that will trail all and succeed.

I think its possible to have a dog that can cold trail a two old lion track in the dirt all day and catch it, then pull all the hair out of a bad walking bear and put him up a tree, with the lighting speed and brains to handle all the tricks of a bobber. Sure its possible but Wow I'll take 10 of those if anybodys got em!!

I sure these dogs exsist but i never owned one. Ive had good dry ground dogs that will run and catch bear but the sure didnt excell at it. The dirt lion hunters i know who only hunt lions with there dogs believe it makes them more focused(for lack of a better word) on a track and I think this is true. It takes a dog that is extremely track /trailing focus in the snow it doesnt seem to matter as much in my experience. i run all bear, lion and bobcats with my dogs and I prefer the dry ground lion hunting and the traits that make a good dry ground lion dog are what i strive for in my dogs. My dogs are half ass bear dogs at best(in 14 years of hunting bear they have never got a scratch put on them by a bear LOL). After bear season my dogs screw up more good lion tracks because they try to hit the track and move it fast. They hit it over run it come back do it again and so on. I have hell getting them to slow down and work out a dry ground track like they need to be successful. So I believe there is some truth to what there saying.

I guess I'll be the controversal one here.. Last week of "outta-season!"

I would almost go so far to lay down a friendly Bet (of course there would have to be some kinda money involved to make it fun!)

But Here is the Bet..

You take the Best MultiPurpose Bear/Lion/Bobcat dogs you can find, and I'll find a Cat guy that will let you take the lead, as long as you are hunting for a cat the cat guy will let you lead and follow you. It might take a couple days.. but

First guy to catch Two Cats, or one cat behind the other wins the bet and has the title of top notch Cat dogs..

I don't know this dad's Dog boy.. but I'd put a blind $100 bucks on him to win without even meeting him or his dogs, Or if you want to head to oregon, I know a couple guys that I think would be safe to put some $ on that would put cats up first also..

Buddy

Buddy, I am getting the details worked out on a bobcat hunt i am putting together this winter on my ranches in Northern California. I know some heavy hitters are showing up, so should be a fantastic time. Confirmed so far, Jeff Allen, Kory Kinross, Mr. Mike Leonard, Tim Pittman (one of those Oregon Guys) and Dewey (another one of those Oregon Guys) and Dads Dog boy. I will have more details as soon as i get everything worked out. I'll keep all of you posted..

Thanks
Tony Steelman

I will take that bet if he is willing to come to Colorado, Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming

Hell Buddy I would pay the $100 just to hunt with dad's Dog boy. But I will extend the bet to Tony's Heavy hitters Mr. Mike Leonard and Tim Pittman and their Dry Ground South west dirt dogs I will meet them half way in Colorado in the dirt.

Tony,

Sure Keep me posted, Couple guys on that list that I'd like to meet.. I'm not by any means a heavy Hitter but I'd sure try like hell not to embarass myself too much.. I've met both the oregon guys.. Good cat guys. I Might get a couple more to show up. I think the Cats would be looking for a new zip code after that weekend..

Devin,
I have a friend that's moving to WY.. maybe I can talk him into it (not sure). As Long as it stays Light hearted and fun.. I don't really care to get into a Pissing match over it. I just don't know how you catch a bobcat without Passing up a couple Bear tracks.

Oh it would all be in fun. All I have is these dirty ole coon dogs not worth near as must as those SOUTH WEST DRY GROUND DIRT DOGS, That would be an easy $100 for Mike or Tim, Right?
I think it would be a fun get together to see dogs from different parts of the country trying a new style of hunting which I think would be the case with Dads Dogboy but with Mike and Tim I think it will be something they will not even respond to, because it would be the same style of hunting ( off horses or mules or on foot on the dirt) and they would have nothing to win but a whole lot to loose against these poor excuse of coon dogs of mine.

Sorry I ment liontracker, Tim

I think all dogs can run a variety of critters but they seem to always have a preference. It's just a matter of how deep that prefernce runs and if it will conflict with the other type of critter you are trying to run. For instance here, I think it is real tough to have a bear start dog that also is coon hunted hard. They seem to end up on a lot of coon races in bear season and bear races in coon season. Likewise, it's tough to have a cat/yote dog for the same reasons of track switching.

I think any time you combo run the dogs you need to expect to have some runs that are the wrong critter at the time. It's just part of the deal and it depends on the situation if it's a problem or not.

With that said, I've never seen a dog that is a complete A1 top stud at two critters. Very, very good, Yes. But not one that is the best I know of or have seen on both. I think you can almost always find a fault/hole or something you would change in any dog. Something could always be a little better/different. Remember they are just dogs.