Bobcat/bear population study in NY

[doitallairedales]

Guy got in contact with me about pulling together some dogs so the DEC can track the above for some research. He is currently working a Plott Hound and an Airedale mix. He asked me about using ridgebacks (I used to work a ridgeback in SAR) because the DEC wants silent-on-the-trail dogs. They also want dogs that "won't be too aggressive during the bay" (even I don't think that's too probable and I don't know anything). Are 'dales silent on the trail in your experience? In theory, I think the ridgeback might be a good breed. Just not sure you can find hunting ones anywhere. Would 'dales count as an aggressive breed -- too strong on the bay?

I told this guy I'd try to do some research for him (which means I am just using the Internet so if anyone has an opinion, feel free to post it.

[hicntry]

Doitall, as you know there is just a big difference in dogs even of the same breed. I can't imagine a plott/dale cross not being somewhat aggressive on the bay. Just considering the breed of airedales, my personal dogs would kill anything not big enough to back them up and they would try to kill what could. Once the animal can't fight back, they have no interest in it. The redlines I have seen, only grab it if it is already dead. I am sure there has to be exceptions. Dales are silent on track. I have never seen one that isn't but I keep hearing stories about those that are open....so far they are all just stories. Now, I have seen a couple of hound/dale crosses that are open to semi open.

[doitallairedales]

Thanks for your info, Don. I am not sure how realistic the DEC is being with requiring non-aggressive bay dogs (however you want to define that). My understanding is they expect both the bobcats and bear to tree pretty quickly but I don't think there has been much use of dogs for hunting either in NY State so I'm not sure there is an "expert" making the rules.

PS it is two dogs the guy has right now - one a Plott, the other a 'dale mix. The study is supposed to start in the Spring. I'd love to go along with one of the "hunts"!

[pops2]

every breed that is
1. consistantly silent on track &
2. working bred in the USA in sufficient numbers to be able to "pull together" some dogs
is going to be too rough. also the only way to get a quick race on bear is to have rough dogs that'll do more than pull fur. Ben Lilly (for all the adoration heaped on him by houndsmen) didn't run dogs for the music. he wanted to catch (& kill) bear & lion in numbers, so his pack included curs, birddogs & his personal favorite for stopping & fighting bear, airedales. he racked up numbers because his dogs did more than pull fur.
who ever set the rules has no concept of how dogs work on game & how these animals react to the dogs. further the chances of having dogs that can bay/tree a bear quickly w/o a bloody fight are pretty dang slim. he needs to grab this DEC guy by the short hairs & explain his bunny hugging idea is stupid & it isn't going to work. dogs don't make the hard run on bobs because they want to see his stubby tail from a safe distance, they do it because they want to stretch his @$$.
almost forgot, good bred for it working ridgebacks are rough as 80 grit and can be downright catchy. you'd have to contact matt valdiva in MO to find any and according to him last we chatted it would mean importing from eastern europe (best)or south africa (iffy).

[hicntry]

Pops, I talked to Matt a while back and putm him in touch with Dave Morgan. He was wanting to start a working ridgeback club if I remember right. How is that coming along?

[pops2]

he was working w/ an international group called the African Ridgeback Group the last time i talked to him, which was a loonng time ago. nice fella and once he gets a descent working line of ridgie going i might try one. but fixing that breed isn't high on my list of things to do right now.