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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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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