Every once in a while, I get an email from a Hog Blog reader that I really want to share with the rest of you.  Sometimes it’s an argument I hadn’t considered before, or a tip that can improve your hunting experience, or sometimes it’s just a hunting story or picture.  Then there are the questions.  Usually I can find an answer if I don’t already know it, but I think sometimes the answers themselves open up an opportunity for a conversation I wouldn’t have started myself. 

I got one such email yesterday from Jon, in Southern California.  Here’s what he had to say:

Got a question I thought I might pose to you, maybe for the rest of your readership to consider as well.  I know you don’t usually use dogs to hunt hogs, but I’m considering training one– right, just one.  I’m looking for a dog that might help me find hogs, but not bay or hold the hog.  Essentially I’m looking for a “pig pointer” (pointing from very far away, of course).  

To your knowledge, is this something someone else has tried?  I have several concerns, not the least of which is having to explain to the rest of my family how our pet got gored by a pig.  So I’m approaching this cautiously and with open ears.  Who knows.  This may prove to be fodder for some humorous posts. 

BTW pursuing the one dog option because we already have two crazy human pups in the family, and alpha female is not keen on more than one dog. 

Jon’s right, of course.  I’m no houndsman, and while I’ve been involved in dog hunts it’s certainly not my forte.  I know a few breeds, and I understand the basics of bay dogs and catch dogs, but beyond that my expertise dries up.  So when it comes to choosing a hog dog, I’d defer to my readers who do have that experience.  I hope some of you might speak up now.

But what Jon’s asking may not be so much for a pit bull or catahoula.  Most dogs with a little hunting instinct can learn to pick up a pig track and maybe even lead you in the right direction.  Cyrus, my labrador, is crazy about pigs and will follow a trail if I give him half a chance.  I’ve had him literally go “on point” while quail hunting, only to find that he’s stumbled over fresh pig sign.  With a little encouragement, I’m pretty sure I could get him to trail and locate a hog.  Of course, I don’t want him doing that.  He’s athletic and strong, but a wild hog is a nasty customer.  Fighting a hog requires instinct that I’m not sure a labrador has… and I don’t like the idea of finding out. 

How did Cyrus become a hog hunter?  It was partially an accident, but shouldn’t be a surprise.  As a pup, we took him on a hog hunting trip.  With a hog down, I encouraged him to check it out.  The more excited he got, the more I encouraged him.  Later, we tossed him some scraps during the field dressing (some veterinarians would recommend against this). 

The next time I took him down to Native Hunt, he took an immediate interest in the Eurasian hogs roaming near the lodge.  I called him off, but there was no mistaking the way he sniffed around and watched the pigs.  A less obedient dog would have been in trouble, which is something to consider.  If you’re planning to train a non-fighting dog to find pigs, you’re gonna want to have a dog you can reliably control with voice commands. 

At any rate, Cyrus has become a pig-hunting bird dog.  Any time he crosses a fresh pig track, he looks at me for approval.  I’ve let him follow a track or two, but so far we haven’t caught up to a live hog (besides the ones at Native Hunt).  I have no doubt that we could do it, though. 

Is it a good idea?  I don’t know.  It can certainly be dangerous for your dog, but with an obedient animal and some common sense, I don’t think it’s any more dangerous than walking an untrained dog in pig or bear country. 

So what do the rest of you think?  Hog-doggers out there… any tips, thoughts, or ideas?

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