Author Topic: Needing a dog. (Read 2502 times)

bkraft · « **on:** June 19, 2012, 12:13:17 PM »

Had to put my old dog down , thought more of her than I do 95% of the human race. That being said, it came to me that I need a Homeland Security System. Thinking of a hound or hound cross, guy in town has Lab-Blue tick pups. My question to you guys is what is a good forum to ask about the Blue Tick as far as size, temper, trainability, etc. The vermin are already gettin uppity, bandito rabbits scopin out the garden, outlaw cats "eyeballin" Mama's flower beds. Thanks in advance. If this is the wrong place please excue and move as needed.

DDZ · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2012, 12:49:23 PM »

Sorry to hear about your friend, but there are many others just waiting for a master. My neighbor has had a couple of blue ticks, and they seamed like fairly mild mannered dogs to me. He kept them tied most of the time though. I have found over the years of owning dogs, that a mixed breed makes the best pets, and best watch dogs. I know others will disagree, but every purebred I've been around much, just doesn't seam to have the nature or smarts that many mixed breeds do. Especially dogs bred for hunting. The majority are just high strung, and I've seen some that are about as dumb as a box of rocks. That is a fact. I owned one and my Dad owned one. So if you are looking for a companion slash watchdog, I'd advise against getting a huntin dog. If you want to run coons then the blue tick is great for that.
I now own a Sheppard/border collie mix, and he's one of the most intelligent dogs I've owned. He's also a very good watch dog, loves to chase anything, looks and acts vicious when a stranger is around, but I have no worries of him ever biting anyone. He's a big baby, and loves people. Especially if they throw him a ball or stick. He's also the fastest dog I've ever owned. I haven't seen a dog that can keep up with him.

kynardsj · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2012, 01:18:16 PM »

So very sorry about you losing your dog. I fully agree about the 95% thing and what DDZ said, there are a lot of them out there that would be a great watch dog and friend for you. They're just waiting for a good home.

spikehorn · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2012, 01:40:59 PM »

Get a Cane Corso mastif, Mine is only 5 1/2 months old and I have more remains of chipmunks and squirels in my front yard than the cat has ever thought catching, and she has a big bark in case the other kind of vermin come around my house. Sorry to hear about your pet.

m-g Willy · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2012, 02:46:35 PM »

I've been a hound dog man all my life.
Then I ended up with a rott because stepson couldn't take it with him when he moved.
The dogs name was Krazy and he lived up to his name.
I had a beagle pup at the time and she would attack that rott like she wanted to kill him.
He never hurt her .
He would hold her down with his chest and she would go nuts!
She also would bite him with those pin like puppy teeth on his lip and he would lift her off the ground with her hanging on his lip!But he NEVER hurt her!
He would kill any stray cat ,raccoon , opossum , ground hog that wandered into the yard.
I would wrestle with him and throw a blanket over his head then bite his lip through the blanket and he would go completely nuts.
He would growl and show his teeth like he was about to rip my face off and I would put my nose against his while he was looking like he wanted to kill me!
He NEVER hurt me!
If he got a little to rough while fighting with me I would yell like I was hurt and he would release his bite instantly!
BUT,,,if you wasn't a member of the family he would not let you come in the house unless a family member would bring you in.
He never bit anyone ,,,,but he would hold someone to where they were to scared to move until a family member would call him off.
He was a runt of a rott , only weighing 100 lbs at his top weight.
But he had jaws that was amazing.
I would throw a 20lb. sledge hammer and he would just look at me....until I said gimme that . then he would grab the sledge about a foot from toe head and pick it up and start his game of keep away by running around with his head twisted with the sledge in his mouth.
I could go on and on about that dog but I talked long enough about him already.
But you can't go wrong with a rott.

.

bluedog6 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2012, 03:36:52 PM »

I have a Lab now and raised and coon-hunted with Blueticks for about 15 years. I would guess that a cross of the two would be a good dog. Males= maybe 55-65 lbs. females a bit smaller. I really like both breeds. Both seem to be good even tempered dogs that want to please.

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2012, 03:43:19 PM »

Folks always say their looking for a dog, It'd be like choosing a wife based on her looks and her family, in reality the best part about a dog is their personality, how can you pass over a important feature as that?
if it meshes with your personality everthings great with the world, If the dog at odds to your personality, Your in for all sorts of stuff.

Our family has 5 dogs, each one is a diffrent type, none were bought, the only papers they have are the shot records.
No amount of AKC papers or money spent can buy a dogs loyalty you have to work for it, them dogs are part the family and accompany us every place we can take them.
The brown critter is attracted to gunfire thats where the excitement begins, there mostly indiffrent to shooting, they stay away from the muzzle end (loudest)

As a Teen 2 of the 4 dogs our family had, only the airedale terrier and a coon dog mix (rat terrier/walker coon hound) that would both get excited to go hunting if they saw us with a rifle or shotgun, the mix could wind coon scent from the back of a truck while driving down gravel road She'd jump out if we were going slower than 30mph.
Back in the 1970's My father's old male weimaraner would go out of his way to kill raccoon after a biteing incident in a cane field during silage harvest.
the Airdale was adapt at killing porcupine after a incident with them as a pup, after that we'd have a dead one on the door stoop from time to time, that ole female airdale never had a quill in her.

All 5 our current Mutz are pictured below

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2012, 04:19:27 PM »

My mutt after rolling in a dead seal carcass.

Yes dogs can smile.

bkraft · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2012, 01:15:25 AM »

All, thanks for the kind words and thoughts on the the loss to the family. Rex in OTZ, YES SIR they can! My old gal could grin big enough to light up the shop! And to be honest, when the time comes, the dog WILL choose me. I like the over all temperment of most labs, was more concerned about what the hound brings to the party, the few I've been around have seemed pretty mellow. CIC(Da Wife) is lobbying hard for a resuce and making a darn good case. One we just lost, we sprung from the "joint" about 24 hrs ahead of the needle, it's the darndest thing, it was almost like she knew.

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2012, 07:31:55 AM »

it depends on the dog, hunting dogs are prone to hunt with or without you, their not chained up they will be hunting when your at work (think skunks, coon, porcupine, dead animal carcasses) with hunting dogs You have to lead, they require their 'hunting fix' (hunting junkies) If they dont get that fix they will bolt first chance they get to get it.
Thats what I remember about hunting dogs, they will useally disappear for 3 days, come back all messed up and stinky, they will rest up for a couple days for the next round of hunting and disappear again for another 3-4 days.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2012, 07:36:21 AM »

Had a friend that had two Blue Tick hounds. Made good deer dogs here in the deep south. Gentle dogs. Might would chase the rabbits and keep cats at bay.

mcbammer · « **Reply #11 on:** June 20, 2012, 08:13:53 AM »

The Lab or Blue tic would be way down on my list personnal choices. Labs chew up every thing they get their mouth on . The first whiff that blue tic gets of a deer , you will spend a week rideing the county looking for him. a small Jack Russell terrier might work for you. if you dont mind a lot of barking.

ratdog · « **Reply #12 on:** June 20, 2012, 10:06:54 AM »

sorry you lost your friend you need to get another dog they are true blue i have rat terriers love these mutts i had a basset hound liked his bark but he ran away he could smell a candy bar a mile away same as female dogs i think that's why he came up missing.good luck.

DDZ · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2012, 10:48:25 AM »

MC I respect your choice of dogs, and different people like different kinds of dogs. Just for the OP's info. I have known two people that owned jack russells and they gave me an impression of them being just plain nuts, and I remember thinking that, I would never own one even if it was given to me, let alone what they cost. The one owner of a jack russell I know, had to take his dog for a one way walk, because it bit one of his kids. These things are maybe the most high strung dogs I've ever seen. Not to say my opinion is right. Its just formed, by what I've seen.

charles p · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2012, 11:06:19 AM »

Get a Blue Heeler or a Red Heeler. Will be the best buddy you ever had. You will not be able to get in your truck and leave it home. Mine is happy to sit in the truck for hours. She will also track a wounded deer, just won't bay when she finds it.

highwayman · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2012, 12:06:28 PM »

my sister has austrian shepherds. great with kids and will only bark strangers to death.

mcbammer · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2012, 12:35:22 PM »

Quote from: DDZ on June 20, 2012, 10:48:25 AM

MC I respect your choice of dogs, and different people like different kinds of dogs. Just for the OP's info. I have known two people that owned jack russells and they gave me an impression of them being just plain nuts, and I remember thinking that, I would never own one even if it was given to me, let alone what they cost. The one owner of a jack russell I know, had to take his dog for a one way walk, because it bit one of his kids. These things are maybe the most high strung dogs I've ever seen. Not to say my opinion is right. Its just formed, by what I've seen.

I understand , they are not laid back easy going breed of dog.

Rex in OTZ · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2012, 02:56:21 PM »

I kinda like the temprament of a shepard type dog
Shepards will be around when you look for them unlike a loose hunting dog.

In my youth I grew up rural, the closest town was 11 miles away, closest neighbor was a mile away, ranch dogs ran loose, the furthest I'd seen any one our dogs was a quarter to half mile away from the yard/driveway.
the AKC airedale terrier my folks spent $400 for went off hunting with my brothers rat terrier/walker mix one December, they were gone 3 days, one night it got as cold as -7F, they eventually came home each each carrying a front paw, seems they had gotten into a set of coyote trap's, the trapper didnt check every day (6 miles to the east), when he did check, he released them, they each lost a front paw because of that.

My folks had gotten us kids sheep as a 4-H project my 4th year in, we ran the sheep in a old hog meddow, one day I came home to scene of what looked like a gore movie, two white dogs ran away as I went to check what had the sheep riled, 2 ewes dead, 4 with chewed off ears, torn up necks, The county sheriff deputy found that six miles to the south a newly wed couple living in a trailer had 2 white german shepards, they were all bloody and wateing to be let back in their kennel, they had figured how to climb out of a 6' dog kennel (Jackie Chan style)
I'd seen a Brittany Spaniel climb right out of a 8 foot kennel like a monkey.

52bagman · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2012, 12:58:06 AM »

I agree with charles p, Heelers are X-C-LENT dogs. I've had two. The first ended up with lukemia and had to be put down, and man do I miss that dog. We could look at each other and new what each was thinking. X-C-LENT squirrel dog and guard dog, cats didn't make it off the property after trespassing.
These dogs are bred to take commands and mine would sit and stay till h$ll froze over. Great with kids as long as they are raised around them.

Now the bad. My first was kinda laid back and was easy to teach, heck I was going to teach him to count but didn't want him to end up smarter than me (probly could have learned algebra and geometry if I had).
The one I have now is pretty wired up and was difficult to train. When doing what he was supposed to and giving him praise he would go crazy running around and such then forget what he was praised for. Took some planning on my part too work it out.
All in all tho after having several different breeds, all being hunting oriented, I will not have anything but a Heeler from now on.

groundhawg · « **Reply #19 on:** July 19, 2012, 03:22:45 PM »

If you look into Airedales from working lines, I think you will stop looking at other dogs. I am somewhat biased, but thats only because I've owned Airedales and know them for the wonderful-versatile family companion they are.

bkraft · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2012, 05:39:51 PM »

Thanks for all the input. We were adopted by a three year old Beagle by the name of Flo. She took us in on a pretty much "as is" condition. I believe that her past may be checkered to say the least as I "bailed her out" of the Ellis County hoosegow, for which she seems quite grateful.
Thanks again guys

Bingo · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2012, 01:42:14 AM »

I lost my old beagle 2 years ago and although I have a young beagle now I still miss my old Bingo.
As far as the mix you are talking,Lab/Blue tick. Labs are great pets. If it is a house pet you want, just don't yake the alpha dog from the litter. Look for the runt. They will bea little calmer and more submissive.(Easier to train and control)
90% of the blue ticks I have met had really laid back attitudes but give them their nose and they will run.
It is also my experiance that mixing a breed can get rid of some anoying traits and problems. I have a Jack Russel mixed with Yorkie. This little fir ball is a lot of fun but not as high strung as a full Jack Russel.
If it is a big dog you want, It sounds like you may have a good mix. The only draw back I see is that hounds stink but Labs love water so bath time shouldn't be a problem.
Post some Pics!!!! I want to see this one.