Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Suggestions on a new dog

We are probably going to be giving up our collie mix soon. He's . . . well, let's just say that he's probably going to go and be done with it, at least for now. It's a long story.

The problem is how to fill the void. Let me give you some facts:

We are gone from the house during the day, but the dogs have the run of the yard via a dog door.

We have a 12 yr old beagle mix. She's a well-behaved dog. She's smart, but like most Hillbillies, she likes to hide the fact.

My wife is feeling very bad about the impending loss. This was her dog.

The dog we are losing was a replacement for Barney, the Wonder Dog. He was a shepard-collie mix with incredible powers. He could work a dead bolt lock and the doorbell. He knew how to work a cable TV remote. The current dog was picked more for his looks. He is smart, but not quite in the right ways.

We tend to like smart dogs. We spend a lot of time with our dogs. Our dogs end up understanding complex sentences and complex commands. Barney and I used to watch Film Noir together. The Beagle prefers the Weather Channel.

I'm less than 8 years from retirement. KYHillChick is retiring this summer, and changing professions. Angus is due to graduate High School and move out. We're skeedadlin' to our farm and not looking back.

We spend weekends at our farm. I've spent the last 12 years making deer camp a year-round weekend lifestyle.

We have a coyote problem and a feral dog problem. The dog that is leaving us can eat a coyote. That is not a requirement, but suffice it to say that powder puff dogs need not apply.

I've got a 2 yr old grand child. More grand kids are expected over the next decade. The next dog must be able to dig kids.

Of course KYHillChick is saying "Never again." That will change with time. I'm figuring by fall we can start looking.

What breeds would y'all recommend?

I was going to say Jack Russel until you mentioned coyotes & feral dogs. Jack Russel's biggest drawback is that they have no fear , they will take on ANYTHING , to the point of getting themselves killed.


Mike

Yeah, there was a JR terrier that lived just up the road. It never came home. My personal preference has been large dogs with some size-- 70,80 lbs. However, that can change. Lily is large for a beagle @ 40 lbs. My main worry is that the dog should be large enough and smart enough to stay out of trouble.

Yappie dogs are a turn off. My dogs normally bark once and make someone with ill intentions void their bowels.

I recommend considering an Original Mountain Cur. They're fantastic dogs. The only downside I know of - and I don't consider it to be one - is their loud, sharp, ear-splitting bark. Well, that and, also, as treeing dogs they are a form of baying dog so they sometimes want to play by putting you at bay. It's just play, and you can call them off of it, but for those who aren't aware of what's going on it can be unsettling. But, each breed has it's characteristics.

If memory serves Field_Grade and Safari_Man both have one.

Lot's of info to be found here: sqdogcentral

(Fyi OMCBA = Original Mountain Cur Breeder's Association)

And, there should be a lot of them around in Kentucky

Hmmm, I just saw the coyote part as well. A coyote can kill a lone mountain cur. But I wouldn't bet on a coyote against two of them.

You may want to also consider a blackmouth cur (the original "Old Yeller") or one of those big Lousiana catahoula curs. A catahoula could probably shred a coyote.

Great Dane

Really

Snake

Danes are super great doggies !!!

Shelter

I say get a Scottish Terrier.

Boxer

I agree with all of the above.
Those Cat's are gritty as hell, smart too.
They're more dog than I like these days though. (That Beagle's more my size:)
Curious why you're worried about the new getting mixed up with Coyotes/Feral's but not the Beagle?

Anyways,,, I'm partial to Curs and Shorthairs but if your not a bird hunter I'd go with a OMC or Blackmouth and keep em home nights.
Luck

Edit to add self indulging pic.

I don't know if I would put my money on a Great Dane against a pack of coyotes. That requirement is kind of out there, I think.

Do you hunt birds?

Airedale

Get a Brittany spaniel pup. You'll be hooked for life. Females are more bidible.

Great picture. I hope to be half as successful with my dog as you've been with yours. Getting bobcats with them is the ultimate test of the breed, in my opinion.

Umm, that's a new requirement, I think. NO dog can stand up to a pack of coyotes.

I would look at an Anatolian Shepherd and or maybe a Russian Mountain Shepherd.

I would agree, Danes are out. The blood lines have been to heavily bred for confirmation showing.
The Irish Wolfhound is nearly as bad, though there are breeders focused on coursing strengths. Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound) basically the same.
The Scottish Deerhound has a much stronger following of breeders in the field (coursing) dog bloodlines. Be aware their intense prey drive means that small animals like cats, toy poodles (any dust mop dog really) and barnyard fowl tend to be fare game for chase.

I used to course coyote with an IWH and know for fact one IWH can hold it's own with one coyote and three greyhounds.

That makes me think of an alternative.
If you have a dog track local look into adopting two or more of the retired race dogs. Greyhounds make great family dogs. But then again, their prey drive and small animals,,,

If you are keeping it outside, a Great Pyrenees. Love children, hate coyotes. Hate heat, love cold. All that I have ever had, blood trail deer on a leash with just a little encouragement. miles

I am biased, but I would look at a German Shorthaired Pointer (or two). Smart, great family dogs and they can take care of themselves around coyotes. They can and will hunt anything, including coyotes.