Dead Hog Dogs

[bkeepr]

I just went over to GON forum and there were 2 new posts in hog hunting about people losing their favorite dogs to large hogs. One dog was even gored by hogs and then hit by a car out on a road. Hunting with dogs has got to be more efficient than sitting in a tree hoping a hog will show up so you can shoot it and it sounds like fun and exciting sport if nobody but the hog gets hurt. I would love to try it, just me because I don't think my small Lacy is suitable plus I love her too much to risk her. It seems that the dogs do just fine until they get on a big boar that they can't hold. Why spend all that time and money on a dog only to lose it?

They can say what they want about Lacys, but it seems to me that it is smarter on the dogs part to bay and keep their distance instead of going in and holding something that is solid muscle, outweighs the dog by 4 to 1 or greater and has daggers for teeth.

[bluedog]

you do have a point....I think some hunters are out for the Adrenalin rush as much as the hunt itself. I think they probably care alot for their dogs but still consider them tools. Some hunters in Texas just use knives for the kill so they go in along with the dogs,

To each his own....I'm not one to risk my dog in that particular way. Things can happen which are out of our control but to me thats asking for the inevitable.

[rebeccaferrell]

There was a similar posts on East Texas Hog Doggers that I read last night. Something a long the lines of how many bay and catch dogs to use. I thought it interesting that the comment was made about it being more dangerous to run a lot of bay dogs. this being a point made on this forum before. but what do I know. i'm not a hog dogger. This isn't an acceptable way for me to lose my Lacy.

[camo]

If you use the right gear you can protect your dogs ! The problems with most is they do not want there buddy to see there dog with a vest or cut collar on there dog. Yes dogs can get killed even if they have a collar and vest but it dosen't happen as much. Some don't use them because they feel it slows there dogs down. The reason I use my dogs to bay is because they love it .It is a great out let for them. I do not hunt my dogs in the woods . I only do baying competions. Baying competions are a little more controlled but dogs can get hurt if you do not have the right gear or if the hogs teeth are not dubbed . Hey do not let your Lacys size fool you these dogs have a side you have never seen unless you have had them on a hog be for. My male Patch is 13 months old and weights 43 lbs and I have seen him catch a hog that was 230lbs it took some work to get him off that pig . Its not what you want them to do but he is young and still in training.Sammy my 8 month old female is just as gritty.The thing is some breeds have it in them they were breed for it and they love it. I would suggest that if you have your dogs in the wood and have the chance to come across a hog . It would be wise to have already introduced your dog to them. I can tell you this if you own a Lacy and it comes up on a hog in the wild it will try to bay it and it will be on.

[rebeccaferrell]

Camo,
you are so right about coming up on hogs with dogs. i'm very very careful about where i let my dogs run. we have wild hogs down at Wakulla Beach. It also happens to be a favorite place of mine to go walk, watch the sunset and let them there to run around. BUT I have to be dang sure there are no new hog sign. Not only would I be in big trouble with the dogs but it is Federal land and I'd be in real big trouble if they drove up.
I've seen people down there whose pit crosses came across hogs and had them caught. This probably wasn't by accident however!!
Camo, are you going to the bay in MS over the Memorial Day weekend?? If so, please let me know.

[Scott]

Dogs get hurt at what ever they do. Flint could be dead from getting stomped at the fun day. They get gored regularly by deer, a coon bit a dog in the carotid once with me, yotes kill hunting dogs. You take risk if you put your dogs in the woods. Some activities are worse than others but they all have risk. I wouldn't get upset for mine to bay a hog but like Camo said I'd want it to be as protected as possible. I wouldn't condemn anybody for enjoying their dogs in this activity and don't think they don't care. They love their dogs as much as anyone. They love to see their dogs work and are very proud of them. Thats just what they do. Jesse is a prime example.

[Clifford]

In Illinois, hogs are a non issue. But, in Mississippi you never know when you might run into hogs, if you let your dogs run in the woods.
I think a cut collar is cheap insurance, if you think there is any chance that your dog might run afoul of a big hog.
The problem with the vest is overheating, especially a few months from now.

I try to keep a close eye on Jazz and Jones when we run in Illinois, because a pack of coyotes could easily lure them into a bad situation in a hurry up there. Together they might be ok, but alone it would be a disaster.

Anyone who hunts needs to understand that dogs can and will get hurt or killed if they are out there long enough. But, I have also lost them in the street, and the kennel. You have to let them be dogs, and just try to do all you can to keep them safe!

[bkeepr]

If the dog owners are doing everything to protect the dog, supplying cut collars and vests, then it is just not the dog's lucky day. And since hogs are now invading the parts of Georgia that we love to hunt, I had better expose Pearl to hogs. She is my first hunting dog so I guess I will just have to accept that she could get hurt.
Like I said, I would love to go on a hog hunt with dogs....just not my dog! Somebody would have to do CPR on me if she got hurt.

Makes me think of that book, "Where the Red Fern Grows" where the 2 coonhounds tangled with a panther.

[bkeepr]

Hey talk about crappy luck I ran over my first heeler. He was chasing the truck and tried to cut me off. Got him right across the chest.

[camo]

Rabecca not sure but I am going to try and make it in May to the bay still up in the air. I really want to go there will be some really good competition there.