Hello from the Great State of Georgia,
I have been involved with working dogs my whole life, now almost 40 years. This has been mostly in a hunting perspective. Although other areas interest me, this post is solely about hunting dogs. Man has been helped by dogs since long before recorded history. A canine has senses that are far superior to man, and when put together with the intelligence of a hunter, can provide results far more productive than either on their own. This partnership is on the most primitive level yet can be developed into some cutting edge tactics that are undeniably effective. I would like to list a few of the dog hunting areas I have been involved with and show just how versitle the dog world is.
1. Deer Hunting
Although I personally do not like running deer dogs they do indeed work. I have seen some really efficient hunters and some buffoons with dogs. The goal is to drive the deer from a chosen ares and have them cross in front of standers who usually have shotguns with buckshot. The dogs will chase any deer they come across and really do stir up the woods. The main problem with this is that dogs lack the ability to read POSTED signs and frequently trespass. This in turn violates the ethics of property respect. I have frequently heard dog hunters refered to as lazy, but hey, it is effective. I do not like the quality of meat from a deer that has spent it's last moments running for it's life. Just my opinion.Most popular breeds for this are the Beagles and other various hounds.
2. Coon Hunting
I love to go coon hunting with a good group of hunters. This has always been about the dogs more than the coons. Some hunters harvest the coons, and I do believe that if you reward the dogs with the opportunity to finish off their adversary, they tend to keep their fire. A good night in the swamp with some good hunters yelling and well bred dogs baying is quite rewarding.Most guys use Walkers, Blue Ticks, and Red Bones.
3. Rabbit Hunting
While still hunting rabbits can work, nothing can compare with loosing a pack of Beagles in some good habitat. The bunnies are no match for a well bred rabbit dog. The hunter has to do his part but I will promise you, the dog will do his. As long as the dog does not go off on a deer trail, they will flush the rabbit and give the hunter the chance for a harvest. A man simply can not go where the dogs can, especially when you consider the "9 inch Beagles" that some guys use to actually run down the little "bunny trails" This is the most basic of hunting with dogs and I love it.
4.Bird Hunting (upland)
I have hunted Quails behind some of the best dogs on this planet. I live near Waynesboro GA which is the " Bird dog capitol of the world". There are some dogs around here which have sold for more than my house costs. The Dogmen involved in this ares keep records rivaling the best of geneology societies. A well bred pointer or spaniel will work with an efficiency that is spellbinding. It does not take long hunting around this caliber of dogs to understand that they are indeed an invaluable tool and masters of their art. Again this type of hunting is almost totaly about the dogs. Sure they harvest some game, but the real show is the dogs. The hunters learn to trust the dogs and once the partnership is forged, the dogs will work as long as they are asked and quit only when told to. There are many types of pointers and spaniels, but the most versitile seems to be the German Pointers, and Brittany Spaniels.
5. Bird Hunting (waterfowl)
This is one type of hunting I have mostly missed out on. I have been a few times, but do not have it bad like so many others do. Still, the dogs in this area are indeed a specialized tool. A good retriever will willingly jump into freezing water, swim out to the bird, take it in his mouth and bring it back to the blind. There are few people who would be willing to do that !!! A dogs ability to "mark" downed birds is amazing. I actually know a Lab named Gunner who will swim out and gather two or three birds at once. These dogs see that opportunity as a reward. They are undoubtedly dedicated to their handlers. Most are loyal and productive members of their families when not working. Labs, Chessies, and Portugese Water Dogs all excell at this. As an interesting side note, the Poodle was invented to do this type of work and the silly looking "poodle cut" was designed to reduce drag in the water, while leaving fur over the joints to help keep them warm.
6. Ratting and Varmints.
This has been going on for thousands of years going back to Roman times. A small fierce terrier will attack small furry animals with little or no training. They work in packs to kill vermin that is harmfull to man. They have been used effectively on everything from mice and rats up to badgers and weasles. A terrier who is on fire simply WILL NOT STOP until their adversary is dead or they are. They have also been used to flush foxes out of a hole so that the hounds could chase them some more. As a working dog, they are as hardcore as any other dogs on the planet. Even the yappy little Yorkie was once a working dog, but not anymore. Irish, Pattredale, Airdale, and Bedlington terriers all still work well.
7. Coursing
Begining in Africa thousands of years ago, sight hounds were used to chase down and catch antelopes, hares and all types of deer. Just think about it, a dog that will actually run down and CATCH a fleet footed animal. A man has no chance on his own, but with several well trained dogs he can harvest game that would otherwise simply laugh as they sped away. Salukis, Pharoh Hounds and the master Greyhounds all are speed demons. I recently saw a video of a dog named Speed, who ran down a coyote and killed it while the guys were driving behind in a Range Rover at around 40 mph. Very effective and exciting.
8.Squirrel Hunting
This is one of my favorite displays of a dogs natural hunting ability. A good tree squirrel dog will tree them all day long and with an accuracy that is astounding. They take this job seriously and give the hunter an advantage they can use on every hunt. Some actually sight hunt while others scent hunt. They are no doubt diligent hunters who are easy to train and most will hunt until their late years. Rat Teriers, Fiest, and all types of curs excell at this type of hunting.
9. Predator Hunting
Now this is intense !! Consider the predator becoming the prey. Bears and mountain lions here in North America. Lions, and Leopards in Africa. This takes a very special type of dog. Not as breed specific as other hunting, but determined more by ability. There are a few breeds that have been bred to hunt predators. The Karelian Bear Dog is known for their detest for bears and with their lightning fast reflexes good nose and unmeasurable bravery they do their job well. Few dogs have the type of nerves to go up against such a beast. In Africa, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has been used for generations to track and bay up LIONS !!! His is a job that NO MAN could ever do !! Even lions and other big cats can be bayed by several big, mean, nasty snarling dogs.
10. Pig Hunting
Finally ! My favorite display of canine ability. I have been around pig hunting with dogs my entire life. The methods differ from one region to another, and even from one hunter to another but the basics are the same. Once pigs are located in an area, the trail/bay dogs are loosed. After finding the pigs and baying them up, the hunters close in on the pigs. This is usually a barking, baying, squeeling, thrashing fight scene that IS NOT for the faint of heart or those scared of loud noises ! Once the scene is assesed, the catch dogs are loosed and THEN the fight is ON !! A good bunch of catch dogs that all know their job can handle any pig on Earth. However, a big old nasty boar hog can in turn kill any dog on the planet. So there it is in front of you. The most basic fight for survival. Pigs against a hunter and his dogs. Some hunters simply shoot the pigs, but the guys I hunt with choose to catch them and bring them out alive. This is INTENSE ! It goes without saying that the pigs do not want to be caught. Yet, when a hard biting dog has a pig by the hock, and another has an ear, and then the "closer" comes in and gets a full HARD bite on the nose, it is the Hunter who decides the pig's fate. Duct Tape use #743. Taping up a pig for removal. This is another type of hunting where the breed matters less that the individual dog's heart. However for a dog to catch and handle a pig, they must have the physical strength and mental stability to ignore discomfort and complete the task. Pit Bulls, and American Bulldogs are generally used for catching while all types are used for trailing and baying.
This is an example of the wide diversity of canine ability to help man hunt. There are others left unmentioned, but I am sure that everyone who has ever hunted has at least a casual knowledge of the assistance that can be given by a dog. I am a Dogman from way back. I love working dogs and will have one until me last breath. I feel blessed to have been brought up around dogs and I will always do what I can to promote dogs in a positive way. As more people try to outlaw hunting, I challenge them to explain to me exactly how mankind has advanced to where we are today without having hunted. And most likely those who hunted had some help from a trusted friend and accomplice in the form af a hunting dog. God Bless You All.
Dave
p.s. oops, forgot to add the question. How many of you
have had the opportunity to share a hunt with a hunting
dog and how did it go ?
