Definitions needed

[doitallairedales]

I can't really seem to find any good hunting dog training books. Been on-line looking at alot of the boar dog/coyote dog hunting websites but most do not seem to define terms.

Trying to figure out a few things.

Is 'find dog' an actual term? Is a 'find dog' the dog that does the actual hunting/seeking but may or may not do the killing?

When is a 'catch dog' released? Does the 'catch dog' go along w/the 'find dog' some or all of the time?

If you check out www.boardogs.com, one of the contributors hunts w/a ridgeback and a deerhound. The ridgebacks being the 'find dog' and the deerhound the 'catch/kill' dog (mostly on fox from what I read).

I assuming the Airedale is one of the breeds that actually does both the 'finding' and 'catching' - true?

If someone can answer or point me int he right direction, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

TC

[hicntry]

Tom, a strike, or rig dog is either roaded or ride on a platform in the back of, or the front of the truck. They are run or driven down the road till the scent a good track.

A find dog would be the tracking or tailing dog....which are usually the bay dogs also. The catch dogs are normally bulldogs that are walked in on a leash and released on the bayed quarry....which would be hogs because most other animals will tree which is where the tree dogs come in.

My dales do it all. I will road one till he picks up a track. You can tell by how he moves if it is serious. If it is, I will turn another one in. The dogs keep the hog contained without a lot of fighting....normally....until the hunter arrives on the scene. Things can go south pretty quick then because the game gets real spooky as in bears will jump the tree, hogs try to make a break and this sort of thing. Seasoned dogs also know the drill and that you are the last member and the dogs will catch the hog and all kinds of stupid stuff takes place. I am not sure if it because you have the gun or they know you are about to end all their fun.

[uglydog]

Over here in Texas Find dog, strike dog, start dog all are used pretty lossely but equal out to the same thing. Does not matter if you are "roading" (running the dogs in front of truck) walking them through the woods, riding horseback or on an ATV, or moving around a grain feild, it is to find the game.
"Rigging" is done from either a truck, boat or ATV, the dog scents it's game in the air and then will "indicate" or bail off towards its game.
"Catch Dog" which is another term used way too loosely by most in the hog hunting world, is the dog that holds the game until it is dispatched.
These terms will vary by region and state, in Texas dependending if you are in South or East Texas you can spend all day arguing about what works best, so sometimes I guess it is better to use the terms "generaly" if you want to avoid conflict.

Our own personal pack, the "Bay Dog" is the dog that helps control the hog, by baying and biting when neccesary to keep the hog at "bay" until we can get close enough to see what we have before releasing a catch dog. This term does include the "strike" dog. Some dogs bay but don't strike. we consider these "pack" or "help" dogs that go to help the strike when it starts to bay.
We hunt our dogs "specialty" like. Most of our bay dogs will help catch, and are guity of catching quite a few hogs without and actual "catch dog" and that is fine, but this is also when things get rough and the dogs will sustain more injuries. The "catch dog" is kept back on a leash, fully vested and protected, fresh and ready to do battle. The bay dogs usualy already half worn out by the time we can get to them, are relieved to see a "heavy hitter" coming to their aid and take the blunt blows that the hog is dealing out, this dog holds on to the hogs ear without rebiting, or releasing until the handler removes him from either a dead or hobbled hog. Another way of looking at it, the Catch dog is a peice of meat between you and the hog, that anchors the hog where We can walk up and safely put our hands on an angry hog. Without a good strike dog that is able to find, and control the hog until you can get our slow human selves there, none of it would be possible. Alot of dogs can find and track a hog, but not so many can stop and control one.