Bull Terrier Hunting and Tracking

yoshirican

Hey I was wondering if there is any hunters here who use their BT for hunting, tracking, or retrieving? Deer season will not be here for a while, but seeing how great her nose is I was really wondering how she would do tracking deer ... If you are a hunter you know how hard it is to track your deer sometimes due to many different reasons, but wondering how well they do? And if they would be great at it? I have seen them great with hog hunting, and I'm sure they are great holding hogs down... I dk if I would put my dog in that type of danger, hogs are really crazy!

Also has anyone attempted in using them for duck retrieving? They probably wouldn't be good at that, they probably try eating every duck that fell lol!

BulliesofNC

I hunt myself and we have plenty of land behind our house that we utilize. I often take our Bullies through the woods and you're right, they are good at tracking. I've had several occasions where one will haul ass after a deer after finding or seeing one.

Everybody rants on how good the antlers are for dogs which is true. On another note, no venison is wasted at all when we harvest one because lord knows our bullies LOVE venison. We'll take all the meat from the rib area and boil it up, put it over rice, and pour on some gravy. Mix that all up to a nice warm stew and the Bullies are in heaven.

I sold a puppy to a gentleman in Texas who was an avid Boar hunter and trained his dogs intensely for hunting properly and safely. Many use APBT's for pitting the boar to a tree because they are fast and fearless. Not all dogs have the abilities to become this type of hunting dog. I received an email from this person last year letting me know every hunter from his area wants his BT. He is the star Boar hunter.

Attached is a picture of him.

yoshirican

Wow that is impressive, that dog took down a razor back!!! That is a big BT! We havent started hunting hogs, but we plan on it! I just rather shoot it, then get my baby hurt... I also dk anything about training a dog to go after hogs, so that will be out of the question!

On the deer subject I'm glad to hear how well they do! This year we going to start small and let her smell the blood and dead deer first then work our way to a great tracking future! So exciting I get to add another thing she can be apart of in our lives! We def plan on feeding her deer and ducks (When we hunt them too). She will probably go gah gah over that!

I bet they are a terrible retriever tho, considering they love to kill vermin's and other small creatures... IF there is anyone out there who knows differently please fill us in. We do not want to chance it, lol!

Now back to deer, do you ever give it to them raw? Do you always cook it first? 

yoshirican

I'm sure Selah wouldnt mind squirrel either lol! Dk if you are familiar with PIXARS Up!

 "SQUIRREL!!!" LOL 

)

philsergeant

Marco says he wants to grow up to be Super-Hunter just like that! ... especially if you get the red cape!
Isabella says he'll be mistaken for liddle wed widing hood in the woods (typical girl attitude).
As far as deer eating is concerned... I heard Steve eats them from the top down... antlers included.

BulliesofNC

I've never given any of my BT's squirrel. It would take many of them to fill them up. )

Most of the time I boil the Venison just because I like giving them warm meals in the winter. I have provided them raw venison before. However, it was froze for about 60-90 days. I'm sure raw venison is just fine for them. The carcasses I put back out in the woods are thoroughly stripped by Coyote within 24 hours. I think I keep them pretty healthy too. Amazing how one deer can feed a family, feed the family pets, and all left overs go back to wild life animals. No waste what so ever.

philsergeant

Yr last comment..... God created the perfect environment didn't He??/... just modern man screwed it up!

BulliesofNC

You're so right.

yoshirican

Nice big body deer, Steve! You sound like us steve, none goes to waste... 

BulliesofNC

:-bd   You can't beat the Carolina's! Wake up in the morning and have a productive day of hunting in the backyard. The fishing in the spring and summer is just another bonus! I think my Bullies love my lifestyle.

yoshirican

LOL shoot, who wouldnt'? 

And if they wouldn't? 

Well, what do they know anyway lol! 

philsergeant

So, about 2 weeks ago Marco chased his first deer,.... (well that's what he told the boys at lunch break)... in truth he saw the deer, a beauty just less than 5ft at withers, and took off after him. But by the time Marco reached the end of the 50ft rope he trails on his morning romp, the deer was probably about 300ft away... But he carried on the pretense of looking for about 10 minutes, horribly excited. This morning he sighted a fox about 15 yards away and he was off!! I must say I'm amazed at how good a job he did for a pup less than 8 months. Fascinating how much is inbred and instinctive.... nose flat to the ground, not lifting from the scent for a second. Tail high! Dashing down the path, coming back 20 yards when he lost the scent, dashing down the fox's trail again when he regained it. I tell you I've gotta buy him a fox for Christmas he loved it so much.

bad

Actually pretty interesting, my friend and coworker at the grooming salon hunts with her plot hounds for boar and raccoon. We've been talking recently of possibly beginning to train Kimba and see if she has what it takes considering she is fast, powerful and quite driven when necessary. I rather think she'd enjoy hunting

BulliesofNC

Yes, and I bet she'd be great at it!

Soapskid

Lol. I just watched Where The Red Fern Grows last week and remember reading it when I was 10. I'm not that old either, unless you can 30, old.

Anyways the local AKC preferred trainers here hold classes and seminars on scent training and was interested but I'm going to have Spud do agility. Feel free to share your training tips as I will mine.

philsergeant

I'm gonna rent this for sure!

Soapskid

Old movie but if you have a Netflix account they have it ready for stream. The kid really does take care of his hound dogs like we take care of our BT's.

Stoeger

I've seen Bullies used as catch dogs for boar hunting. Never seen 'em sniff 'em out though, that's more up a hound's neck of the woods.

Those Kevlar vests are the key to protecting the dog's vitals from the boar's tusks.

Here is a video that shows that a Bully can "hold" his own in the catch game...

Stoeger

P.S. I don't advocate Bullies being used for bull-baiting but I feel this dog saved that wannabe matador's life.

I plan to involve our pup Stoeger in my small-game hunting. We will freeze the squirrels and rabbits for some time before they get served up raw to him.

That's the plan anyway!

BulliesofNC

That's an old but good video. The guy that was in big trouble by the Bull was the owner of the Bull Terrier. Fearless Bullie that's for sure!

Stoeger

Steve, you must be fluent in Spanish or Portuguese, I think that's the language spoken on the film.

I'm glad to hear that the dog came to his rescue and wasn't there specifically to bull-bait.

It's amazing to watch their instinct kick into over-drive.

Stoeger

Awful cameraman but Bullies hunting!

BulliesofNC

I was waiting to see that Bull Terrier bring up a fox from that hole.

xchairity_casex

it is nice to see our breed doing something and being good at it.

Chimera would make an excellent ratter or small game dog, maybe rabbits.

however, I live in Upper MI where we are nothing but woods and wildlife, and me and the dogs are out in the woods year round-I cannot allow them to chase after deer here-nor would I trust them to go galloping out into the woods and bring something back! so I have taught my two to NOT chase deer,bear or anything else off the trail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcXR0BXK850

Sara81

Speaking of small game hunting.... Last night this is what Dezi and the cat rounded up. Couldn't bear for them to hurts it so now I have a bunny :-/

Leslie

Awwww I would have done the same thing!!!! I can't or watch anything hurt another animal. Ya great big softee!!!! )

Stoges_mom

I defiantly want our stoeger to try hunting! He could totally eat squirrels and rabbits! I would feel better if he caught an we skinned and froze for a while then serve! That'd be awesome if he hunted, caught, and ate some stuff!

Daisy

Snoopy stuck his head in a bush while on his walk and pulled out a breaded chicken breast.  Does that count?  

Stoeger

lol @ Daisy & Snoopy :-p

I don't know that Stoeger will be able to catch a Rabbit or Squirrel on his own but if I shoot it and he runs it down, finishes it off if need-be and brings it to me, I'd be more than pleased.

Daisy

Our Jack Russell, Sookie, is a great little huntress.  She has caught rabbits and snakes in our yard (we have 3 acres and 1/2 of it is wooded).  She'd love to catch a SQUIRREL!!!  But those scamper up those trees a little too fast!  Sookie and a local hawk have been eyeing each up for a few years.  Now THAT's a little scary

Sara81

@ Leslie yea I'm a softee don't mind when it's rats or mice or anything not nice but how can you let them maul a baby bunny? He's got a nice skin puncture and a rip of the skin off his ear but other than that he's just really shook up. Don't want to release him and get him caught again so till he heals and gets a little size I suppose he can stay.

Stoges_mom

Rabbits taste great..... Plus I wouldn't mind him eating them because iif we don't keep them controlled they'll eat my garden!!!!

Sara81

I understand the garden situation, and the circle of life but but but it's a wittle baby bunny. Lol the biggest garden pests I experience are caterpillars, I hate those things.

philsergeant

JRT's are great hunters! That's exactly what JR bred them for .... Does anyone know why a JR will sit in your lap with his (her) front legs wrapped over your forearm?

BulliesofNC

:-? #-o :-??

philsergeant

Seeing as your'e the only one curious Steve..... =:)
Bloodhounds went on the ( traditional English, what what) hunt not only because they could scent, but because they could keep up with the horses and catch up with the foxes.... After the fox was holed only a Jack Russell was small enough, and courageous enough, to go down the hole and face the foxes snarling snout and bring him up. But obviously they couldn't keep up with the hunt with their little legs and had to be carried on the horseman's lap. To stabilize himself he crooked his arms around the riders forearm which which was outstretched to hold the reins... That's why, to this day, having never seen a horse, a Jack Russell, if in your lap in the car or couch will wrap his arms over your forearm.
You probably knew this all already and are just busting my balloons !

Stoges_mom

Very interesting!

Leslie

No I did not!!!! My husbands friend brought his jrt over and him and Savannah chased each other for hrs. Literally! !!!! She loves her some Jrt....

philsergeant

Great Savannah's enjoying the whole family ( or the whole Famn Damily is what they call it where I come from), terrific, where are the pictures with the Jrt?

Leslie

They were to fast!!!!

philsergeant

Excuses, excuses!

BulliesofNC

I really didn't know that. Each breed of canine has their own individual characteristics that make them special and unique.

Stoeger

Pretty cool trivia!

BulliesofNC

philsergeant

I always wonder whether a BT can get all vicious and deadly with a creature like that and then return to kissing babies?

Daisy

I would think so, Phil.  I would think it's like doing your job and then going home to your family-kind of

My uncle was a canine policeman until he retired.  The dogs aren't worked until old age.  He was able to keep a couple of his old partners.  The dogs "turn off" their training unless triggers are used -be that a special collar/harness or word.  Most of his dogs were trained in Germany and responded to commands said in German,

We were at my uncle's home for a cookout, and I was near a table where the food was set out.  No one but me saw one of the police dogs going for the hot dogs.  I didn't think.  I just automatically went up and tapped its nose and said no.  It slunk away.  Just a dog when not on duty.

I like your JRT story.  Pretty cool.  I have had 2 and, unfortunately, never noticed mine doing that.  They do like to perch on our shoulders when we sit on the sofa. They also  curl up under a pillow or blanket.  Sookie has even gotten into the pillow's case and nested.  So they DO like small confined places.

BulliesofNC

I guess it could be compared to the defense and aggressiveness a mother would display if she felt her litter of puppies was in danger by another animal.
Yep, I think she'd have no problem kissing her babies. It would be the timid and shy dog that allowed a preditor to come within close proximity that would raise question of affection to her babies.

BulliesofNC

Stoeger

That looks like a relatively recent painting of Bullies being used as catch dogs Steve.

Very interesting.

I came across a few older paintings depicting Bull Terriers being used to hunt.

philsergeant

The Bullies, horses and wild boar look fine... But I think those people have been inbred!

BulliesofNC

Could be bad genetics coming from piss poor bloodlines. I noticed that too. Definitely Pet quality people.