Best breed for big game hunting companion.

[grfox92]

I hate to start a new thread as there is one similar,m going on right now, but I dont have a Weight limit and the dog can be as big as it needs to be.

Back story. I live and hunt in serious grizzly country. We have a rule that we dont hunt alone, (yes its that bad). Even when hunting in pairs, we dont separate with the exception of putting a stalk on something. I have stuck to that rule until this year, my long-time hunting partner is guiding, and there were weekends I had no one to hunt with.

So I took the larger of our 2 family dogs with me a few weeks ago. Buck is a 95lb mountain Cur. I walked into a creek bottom being very cautious of course, when all of the sudden Buck went absolutely ballistic barking behind me. I look back and there is a 500lb (yes, I know bear size is often exaggerated, this is not) grizzly boar standing at 20 yards looking at me and looking back to Buck who is literally 5 feet from that bears face giving him the business. An intense stand off lasted for about 10 seconds where that bear was deciding what he wanted to do and he finally turned and ran, and Buck followed behind him, chasing him up the mountain until he was about 100 yards away, then Buck turned around and re joined me at my side.

That dog was fearless. Ive never taken him hunting and to be honest he did exactly what I hoped he would do. He stays close to my side, not on a leash, when we get into dense brush, he goes a little ahead of me and bird dogs around ( which is how he found that bear that I walked right past). When I sit down to glass I tie him next to me to sage brush or a tree and he just lays down.

The only problem I have with him is I cant tie him up and walk away from him or he will bark. Sometimes he gets too far ahead and doesnt listen immediately when I call him. So we have some training to do, maybe an E Collar.

So this got me thinking that going forward I would like to get another dog after Buck or sooner that will suite my needs as a hunting companion. I dont need the dog to spot game, blood trail, point or any of that. I need it to be fearless, easily trained to sit, stay, not bark at game, stay by my side and most importantly not back down from enormous grizzly bears.

Maybe with my experience with Buck I know the answer already, but to be honest up until that weekend, me and Buck havent had the best relationship, I am not sure if its the breed, but him in his sister have been pains in the asses. They have way too much energy, very needy, run away when we are at home every chance they get, destroy crates, destroyed a chain link kennel. All this has gone on regardless of how much attention and time is spent with them, they just can't chill.

Buck is 6 so he still has plenty life left in him and we are going to start training the bad habits out.

Im thinking having a well trained dog will enable me to hunt at times I would otherwise have to stay home. I wont be getting another dog for a few years, but am curious what breeds to focus around when that time comes.

Thanks.

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[Billy Goat]

Not but so helpful, but I have had issues before with 2 dogs from same litter.

They will bond to each other and not you, I don't recommend it to people. Just saying that might be part of the issue.

In terms of breeds, I don't know.

I'd train a dog to stay tho, not leave it tied if I was going a little ways away.

 

[grfox92]

Not but so helpful, but I have had issues before with 2 dogs from same litter.

They will bond to each other and not you, I don't recommend it to people. Just saying that might be part of the issue.

In terms of breeds, I don't know.

I'd train a dog to stay tho, not leave it tied if I was going a little ways away.

So we weren't aware when we adopted them that litter-mates were known to be an issue. Honestly me and my wife had never heard of that. But yes that is the issue.

We have struggled with the idea of re homing Buck, as he is as my wife says "clearly my dog" since he only listens to me.

My wife and kids can't walk him, hes too big and strong and is just going to hurt one of them or bust out of my kids hands.

But after he saved my ass and has been so good the subsequent weekends, I've kind of really warmed up to him. I might just start taking him to work with me whenever I can and get him away from his sister.

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[Billy Goat]

I'd also be aware that dogs tend to increase the chance of bear attacks.

A properly trained one might not, but in around 100 years of data, it showed a fairly significant increase of the chance of attack.

Now, me trying to remember where I read that, different story.
Just another thing to consider.

 

[Hoghead]

Catahoula's, Mtn cur black mouth cur are all good choices. They are all similar type dogs. I hog hunt Catahoula's and take them deer hunting with me. My dogs will laydown while I glass and let me know if anything is around too. These are all working dogs and they need a job and exercise. As far as training your dog get him tired first he will be less distracted and easier to handle.

 

[grfox92]

Catahoula's, Mtn cur black mouth cur are all good choices. They are all similar type dogs. I hog hunt Catahoula's and take them deer hunting with me. My dogs will laydown while I glass and let me know if anything is around too. These are all working dogs and they need a job and exercise. As far as training your dog get him tired first he will be less distracted and easier to handle.

Aside from being littermates the whole working dog thing is also the issue. They just have so much energy. When we adopted them we were under the impression they were just muts. Which is what the shelter told us. Not muts. Very much high energy Curs.

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[Hoghead]

Almost any dog worth acrap for what you want will be high energy. My Catahoulas can be that way. I hate puppies. I love dogs. I crate train them, and around 2 to 3 can leave them lose in the house all day while I'm at work. My dogs hunt every week, and I walk them mabey 1 or 2 times a week depending on my training at that time but that is usually enough to keep them calm.

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[grfox92]

I'd also be aware that dogs tend to increase the chance of bear attacks.

A properly trained one might not, but in around 100 years of data, it showed a fairly significant increase of the chance of attack.

Now, me trying to remember where I read that, different story.
Just another thing to consider.

Ive heard this speculated about on RS in other threads. Usually pertaining to your dog getting out ahead of you and bringing a bear back to you. Im not worried about that with this dog.

Ill also say that most people have several healers or aussies with them when out hiking and hunting around this grizzly infested area I call home. I have never heard of someone getting mauled with a dog in tow. However they usually have several horses with them as well so who knows.

Id be curious to see that study though.

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[Billy Goat]

Ive heard this speculated about on RS in other threads. Usually pertaining to your dog getting out ahead of you and bringing a bear back to you. Im not worried about that with this dog.

Ill also say that most people have several healers or aussies with them when out hiking and hunting around this grizzly infested area I call home. I have never heard of someone getting mauled with a dog in tow. However they usually have several horses with them as well so who knows.

Id be curious to see that study though.

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Don't Count On Your Dog To Save You From A Bear Attack

A prominent bear biologist in Utah studied more than 300 bear-human conflicts involving dogs in North America. 80% of the time, dogs didn’t respond to…

cowboystatedaily.com

I think this is what I had read.

It's just mostly statistics, so that doesn't always apply to all cases, its just a general.

 

[HunterGatherer]

What about wild canids ? I hike with my Aussie a lot (not hunting) but I’m always worried about him getting killed by wolves or coyotes as they are territorial…

 

[DHumpy]

Curs are peculiar animals. I've owned and used several working and catching cattle. I've had them that would work for anybody and I've had "one-man dogs." One of mine right now I raised and he's a one-man dog, the other two will work for anyone. In my experience you have to gain their respect and trust more than some other breeds. "Place" training at home may help the barking when you walk off. Just my personal experience, others may vary.

 

[jolemons]

I get along good with cur dogs and have had excellent luck with them in bear country. They aren't for everyone, especially if you prefer more intelligent breeds. My wife despised Catahoulas, so when my last one died we tried out an Airedale. He's out of proven bear dogs from a reputable breeder in MT. I'd be happy to share his information. I still prefer my curs, but he's definately much smarter, more trainable and a better family type dog.

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[grfox92]

What about wild canids ? I hike with my Aussie a lot (not hunting) but I’m always worried about him getting killed by wolves or coyotes as they are territorial…

He stays by my side. Wolves we be in for a bad day if they try and pursue him standing right next to me.

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[gbflyer]

Most bad ass dogs I’ve ever been around are Heelers or what they refer to as ACD’s. If you have the ability to deal with them, I can’t think of a better companion for bear country.

 

[grfox92]

I get along good with cur dogs and have had excellent luck with them in bear country. They aren't for everyone, especially if you prefer more intelligent breeds. My wife despised Catahoulas, so when my last one died we tried out an Airedale. He's out of proven bear dogs from a reputable breeder in MT. I'd be happy to share his information. I still prefer my curs, but he's definately much smarter, more trainable and a better family type dog.

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So is my wife correct when she says hes a dumbass? Shoot me a PM with that breeder.

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[grfox92]

Most bad ass dogs I’ve ever been around are Heelers or what they refer to as ACD’s. If you have the ability to deal with them, I can’t think of a better companion for bear country.

My hunting partner had one. Shot my 2023 archery bull with him standing at my feet.

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[RockAndSage]

So we weren't aware when we adopted them that litter-mates were known to be an issue. Honestly me and my wife had never heard of that. But yes that is the issue.

We have struggled with the idea of re homing Buck, as he is as my wife says "clearly my dog" since he only listens to me.

My wife and kids can't walk him, hes too big and strong and is just going to hurt one of them or bust out of my kids hands.

But after he saved my ass and has been so good the subsequent weekends, I've kind of really warmed up to him. I might just start taking him to work with me whenever I can and get him away from his sister.

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@Jason Snyder , I'd be really curious about your thoughts on all of this, given the pretty amazing stuff you do with your dogs.

 

[mntnguide]

My Heeler/border collie mix goes everywhere i go. He will stay right on my heels during archery and never make a sound, but when told to chase hes all in. Im in grizzly country at all times. I honestly enjoy hunting much more with him than i ever did without. He makes the days far more enjoyable. Another breed to look at is Idaho shag and mixes of that. They are gritty and tough. We had my dog and my buddies Shag last year when we walked into a Sow and cubs in a deep rivine creek bottom trying to water horses in the pitch dark. If it wasnt for the dogs, we would have walked right into her, they saved our ass.

Also know a lot of outfitters who aside from Aussies and heelers, run Airdale's. They are a tough breed that a lot of outfitters have for griz protection

 

[RockAndSage]

Most bad ass dogs I’ve ever been around are Heelers or what they refer to as ACD’s. If you have the ability to deal with them, I can’t think of a better companion for bear country.

This was my first thought as well, out here I usually hear them referred to just as cow dogs, or Australian Heelers. But yeah, some of the smartest and most agile dogs I've ever seen, and as working cattle dogs they understand protecting and alerting on predators as much as herding, and they are extremely in-tune with their owners.

Only 2 problems I've ever seen with them. The first is they very much tend to be one-person dogs - if you're not their owner, they're kind of "F you" if you try to command them, quite often. I'm sure it can be trained to be minimal, but they aren't the best family dogs because of that - not like a lab. It's more of a limitation, than a problem, if you're cognizant of it. The other problem is they're high-energy and need to be worked, and are best with a lot of outside time, or they'll get pretty squirrely at home. Especially with kids around and a wife they may be a little inclined to not be as obedient to.

These are generalities, of course, and good training and being a good owner can minimize or leverage any of this. But yeah, first thought I had about what kind of dog I'd want in bear country, watching my back, is an Australian Heeler.

 

[Bulldawg]

As far as training your dog get him tired first he will be less distracted and easier to handle.

I'd have to disagree with this, yes it makes the training "easier" but when it translates to the real world, it can lead to the dog not listening when he's fresh. I want my dog to listen when he's high strung and potentially easily distracted.

I would say that if you get on a consistent training regiment, you can work through some of the issues you may have with him. I use the Team Dog training program and has been really good for my and my Malinois. Hoping next year he will be going on some hunting trips, although my wife does like the security of having him at home when I am gone, though she doesn't like how high strung he is when I'm not here giving him his exercise and work.