Hog hunting has been part of human history for centuries, whether hunting for food, sport or just to test one’s bravery. Throughout history, our ever-present canine companion has been a big part of this tradition and continues to be a part of it even now.
Wild hogs are among the most destructive invasive species in the United States, so you could consider it your patriotic duty, as well as a favour to land and wildlife managers, to harvest a pig.
With a population of over 4 million, Hogs cost the US more than $1.5 billion in annual agricultural damage. That pushed hunters around the country to compete and showcase their talent in capturing them.
Although you can snipe them from a distance, using dogs makes the experience more exciting.
There are generally two categories of dogs that assist the hog hunt differently: Bay Dogs and Catch dogs.
Bay Dogs track, find, chase, and bay the hog from a distance after usually cornering it and alerts the hunter to the position of the hog with its barking. This behaviour is known as “baying” or keeping the hog “at bay.”
Catch dogs will engage the hog and hold it down till the hunter gets there. The catch dog will grip the hog with their jaws, typically seizing the base of the boar’s ear.
Once they have the boar, they will hold it down by the head until the hunter arrives.
Hunters will sometimes use both bay and catch dogs in hunting. After the hog has been successfully bayed, the catch dog is released.
Some of the best breeds for hog hunting include;
Blue Lacy
This dog is an American-bred dog, sometimes referred to as the Lacy hog dog, and is an excellent bay dog for hog hunting. A true Texas breed was officially adopted as the Texas state dog in 2005.
They were originally bred as ranch dogs, with their specialty herding cattle and chasing hogs. The Lacy is an intelligent dog with incredible tracking abilities; quiet and light-footed, they can sneak on a hog stealthily and corner it easily.
Lacys are well known for their superior agility, speed, and stamina, and that’s why they serve best as tracking dogs rather than catch dogs. They have an innate ability to hunt hogs, so they are easily trained.
They are very fast and easily keep up with running hogs for miles. They are very active and full of energy, so they might not be ideal for small children and first-time dog owners.
Black Mouth Cur
Black Mouth Curs have a history rooted in hunting and other various working tasks. The Blackmouth Cur is a medium to large breed popular in the southern states of America, where it’s used to hunt various game, from squirrels and coons to deer and hogs.
They are easily identifiable by their black, square-shaped muzzle and brown coat. They are strong, agile, and muscular and are typically bay dogs but can be trained to catch. Furthermore, they have great noses and can track hot and cold tracks of hogs over long distances.
They are very intelligent dogs and eager to please, making them relatively easy to train, especially if you’re using the right methods.
Catahoula Leopard Dog
These large dogs have the build and stamina to hunt wild boar and other big game animals, like deer and bears. Very often, they are also used for treeing coons. Catahoula Leopard Dog is considered a herding dog, so they adopt a unique and exciting way of baying.
They run the hog down, bay, and corner the hog to prevent its escape, and then the pack of Catahoula leopard dogs will create a wall around the hog to trap it like how they typically herd sheep. This allows the hunter to enter the circle with a catch dog to hold down the hog for the hunter to dispatch it.
Dogo Argentina
The Dogo Argentino is a pack-hunting dog, bred for the pursuit of big-game such as hogs, pumas, and even bears, and possesses a serious athlete’s strength, intelligence, and quick responsiveness.
The Dogo Argentino is an incredible beast, large, tough, powerful, and athletic. His elegant head is supported by a thick neck that connects to a balanced body, sustained by straight, substantial forelegs and very muscular, medium-angulated hindquarters.
The Dogo gives the impression of explosive power and energy. Developed to find, chase and catch dangerous games, the Dogo has a good nose, great lung capacity, and a powerful yet agile, muscular build.
His expression is alert and intelligent, with a marked hardness. A hog hunting dog’s very important characteristics are needed, and he’s easily identifiable by a beautiful short white coat.
Thanks to their powerful build, they can take down almost any hog individually. However, pairing them with any tracking dog is better to compensate for their relatively weak nose.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
This is a strong, dignified, muscular breed and member of the Hound Group. The majestic Rhodesian Ridgeback is a swift and powerful athlete that can be able companions in hunting hogs.
Also known as the African lion dog, they were bred originally to hunt and chase off lions in South Africa.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback not only tracks their prey, but can also hold quarry at bay. Along with the Ridgeback’s hunting skills, they are speedy enough to keep pace with some of the fastest dog breeds and can chase and track prey over long distances.
Regardless of their natural and innate capabilities, these dogs should still be given the required training and guidance to arrive at the perfect hog hunting dog.
Conclusion
This article discussed everything you needed to know about the best hog hunting dogs.
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