The Best Hog Hunting Dog Breeds A Complete Guide

Hog hunting is a challenging, exciting sport that demands energy, speed, and brain in the hunter and his dog. A good breed can determine the end product or make all the difference in the hunt. But which breeds are capable of facing these tasks? In this guide, we will take a closer look at the breeds most commonly used in hog hunting, the peculiarities of their training process, and the reasons making these dogs the best partners in the wild.

Why You Need the Right Dog for Hog Hunting

Hog hunting is different from a typical hunting activity, as most people might ordinarily think. Wild hogs are also large, nasty beasts that can push several hundred pounds of dead weight and destroy land, crops, and native wildlife. In a real sense, wild hogs rank high on the list of impact and cause damage, which is approximately $2.5 million in the United States, and thus are considered candidate species for control.

Hog hunting saw dogs as indispensable tools that had always been by man’s side as his companion. The necessity of the appropriate dog is evident when it comes to wild boar hunting, as getting around the perils of the endeavor is doable with the dog’s assistance, which transforms this deadly game into a highly valuable one.

As seasoned hunters say, The saying in corporate America should not be, ‘It’s not about the gun; it’s about the dog by your side.’

Top 10 Hog Hunting Dog Breeds

Here are the top ten breeds that stand out in the field, ranked based on their hog-hunting abilities, strength, and instinctive hunting behaviors:

Catahoula Leopard Dog

Overview

The Catahoula Leopard Dog is often considered the top hog-hunting breed, especially for its incredible tracking abilities and fearless nature. Known as the “Louisiana Hog Dog,” this breed is agile and tough, making it the perfect companion for chasing hogs through rough terrains.

Key Traits

• Stamina and Endurance
• Loyal and Protective
• Exceptional Tracking Skills

Hunting Role

The Catahoula Leopard Dog excels as a bay dog, tracking and cornering wild hogs, allowing hunters to engage safely.

Black Mouth Cur

Overview

A staple in Southern hog hunting, the Black Mouth Cur is an agile, fearless breed confronting hogs head-on. This breed is known for its strength, making it a versatile hunting dog.

Key Traits

• Bravery
• Speed and Agility
• Trainable

Hunting Role

The Black Mouth Cur is proficient as both a bay and catch dog, capable of tracking hogs and taking them down.

American Pit Bull Terrier

Overview

American Pit Bull Terrier (8) This breed may surprise you, but it is an excellent hog-hunting dog for obvious reasons: they have all the power and bravery in them. The canine is another best catch dog in the field due to its strong jaw and muscular build.

Key Traits

• Strength
• Courage
• Loyalty

Hunting Role

The American Pit Bull Terrier is utilized as a catch dog for wild boar, where the wild boar will be caught and pressed to the ground if the catch dog has cornered it.

Plott Hound

Overview

A breed originally developed for hunting wild boar, the Plott Hound is renowned for its remarkable tracking ability and loud baying, which alerts hunters to the hog’s location.

Key Traits

• Exceptional Scenting Abilities
• Persistence
• Vocal

Hunting Role

As a dedicated bay dog, the Plott Hound excels in tracking and cornering wild hogs, letting hunters know when they’ve found their target.

Dogo Argentino

Overview

The Dogo Argentino, bred specifically for big game hunting, is among the most powerful hog-hunting dogs. Its muscular build and fearlessness allow it to subdue wild hogs effectively.

Key Traits

• Powerful Build
• Fearlessness
• Protective Instincts

Hunting Role

The Dogo Argentino is a prime catch dog, known for its strength in holding down wild hogs during a hunt.

Lacy Dog

Overview

The Lacy Dog, also called the Blue Lacy, is a dog developed by the people of Texas for hog hunting. This breed is agile, resilient, and quite intelligent making it a great addition to any hunting outfit.

Key Traits

• Quick Learner
• High Endurance
• Strong Tracking Instincts

Hunting Role

The Lacy Dog is used as a tracking dog, known for locating hogs over large distances and assisting in baying them for catch dogs.

Redbone Coonhound

Overview

The Redbone Coonhound, originally bred for hunting raccoons, is also an effective hog hunter. Its endurance, tracking abilities, and ability to work in harsh terrains make it valuable in hog hunting.

Key Traits

• Strong Nose
• Agile and Fast
• Loyal

Hunting Role

The Redbone Coonhound serves as a bay dog, using its tracking skills to locate hogs and signal the hunter.

American Bulldog

Overview

The American Bulldog is a reliable catch dog known for its strength and protective nature. This breed’s muscular frame and bravery make it a formidable partner in hog hunting.

Key Traits

• Strength and Power
• Bravery
• Protective Instincts

Hunting Role

The American Bulldog is primarily a catch dog, tackling wild hogs and holding them until the hunter can secure the hog.

Treeing Walker Coonhound

Overview

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a fast and vocal breed, often used for tracking and treeing smaller game. However, it has proven to be a capable hog-hunting dog, especially in dense, wooded areas.

Key Traits

• Speed
• Tracking Ability
• Vocal Bay

Hunting Role

As a bay dog, the Treeing Walker Coonhound excels at locating hogs and alerting hunters with its loud bark.

English Pointer

Overview

Though primarily known for bird hunting, the English Pointer can be trained to track and locate wild hogs, thanks to its impressive nose and energy.

Key Traits

• Strong Nose
• Endurance
• Quick Learner

Hunting Role

The English Pointer is often utilized as a tracking dog, leveraging its nose to help hunters find hogs in challenging environments.

Statistics of Wild Hogs in the U.S.

Wild hog populations in the U.S. have been increasing rapidly, with estimates suggesting that over 6 million wild hogs are spread across 35 states. Texas has the largest population, with more than 2.6 million hogs, and these animals cause more than $400 million in damage annually in Texas alone.

These statistics highlight the importance of effective hog control, and hunting with dogs remains one of the most effective methods. Using the right breeds ensures safety and efficiency in reducing the wild hog population.

Golden Words About Hog Hunting

“Hog hunting is not only a sport; it challenges both the hunter and the hunting dog regarding intelligence and brute force. Successful hunting is, first of all, not only about killing the animal; it is about caring for it using tactical approaches, respect, and teamwork. With the right dog beside you, the hunt is no longer a chase; it’s artistry and baseball.”

“Just as older hunters are fond of saying: “There is nothing more valuable than a good hog dog.” But.”

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Hog Hunting Dog

The breed of the dog greatly influences hunting ability; however, when selecting a dog for hog hunting, there are several considerations to take into account:

Physical Strength and Endurance

Hog hunting can be an intense and prolonged activity. Dogs need the physical stamina to track and pursue hogs over rough terrain for hours. Look for breeds with athletic builds, strong muscles, and high endurance levels.

Temperament

Aggression combined with control is the equation for hog hunting. But a dog must be brave enough to stand up to wild hogs but obedient or calm when called on to heel. It’s important for the dog and hunter’s safety that temperament is considered.

Trainability

Different breeds are easier to train than others. Go with breeds known to respond to commands and stay focused in the high adrenalin world of the hunt. The Black Mouth Cur and Plott Hound are very trainable breeds.

Health and Durability

Wild hogs pose physical threats to Hog hunting dogs. Select a breed with a rock solid build, not really susceptible to injuries and give them the best protective gear to protect them from the tusks of hogs.

Conclusion

This is why picking the right hog-hunting dog breed is necessary, depending on whether you’re a beginner or an advanced hog hunter. No matter which breed of dog you enjoy hunting with (Catahoula Leopard Dog or Dogo Argentino), you will find that having a loyal and capable dog near you will make hunting so much more enjoyable. Know that the breed is not the secret but in proper training and care.