Best Dogs For Hog Hunting in 2023: Everything You Should Know

Hogs, with a population of more than 4 million, cause over $1.5 billion annually in agricultural damage in the United States. As a result, hunters from all around the country compete to capture them and show off their skills. Even though you can shoot them from afar, using dogs is far more enjoyable. So, are you looking for the best dogs for hog hunting?

Hunting with dogs has been practised since the time of the Roman Empire. In the United States, hog hunting using dogs dates back to the 1800s. This is why several hog dog breeds of hog hunting dogs originate from this area.

Which hog hunting dogs are the best? It all depends on the type of hunting you wish to do. I’d recommend Redbones to anyone looking for a tracking dog. The cold nose will be on the hunt for the farthest hogs. The excellent build of a Dogo Argentino makes him the greatest choice for a catch dog. However, choosing the best dog isn’t enough, you will also need a good night vision scope for hog hunting too. Read on to find out more about the best dogs for hog hunting.

Best Dogs For Hog Hunting

Here is a list of the best dogs for hog hunting.

1. Lacy

 

The Lacy Hog Dog, or American-bred Lacy, is a real Texas breed that was developed as a ranch dog for herding sheep and chasing hogs. The Lacys are smart, active, and fearless dogs with incredible tracking abilities.

They are used for long runs and have a high prey drive, as they mix wolf, greyhound, and bloodhound. They know what they’re doing even though they haven’t been trained. Lacys on the hunt are lightfooted and quiet, making it simple for them to approach the hog. Their small stature and agility allow them to escape strong hog tusks while cornering the animal. They are extremely swift and can easily outrun running animals for miles.

Lacy dogs are fierce hunters. Once the Lacy is on the trail of a hog, it would not surrender until it locates and corners the animal, holding the hog for as long as the hunter requires. Basic commands are relatively simple to teach Lacys. They are extremely busy and focused. Because of the amount of energy they contain, they are not suited for little children.

Facts

Hunting style: Tracking dogs

Temperament: Active and curious temperament

Height range: 17 to 25 inches

Weight range: 25 to 50 lbs

Pros

• Superior speed and agility
• Intelligence and bravery
• Can be trained easily

Cons

• Cannot engage with hogs physically
• Hot nose

2. Black Mouth Cur

The origins of Black Mouth Cur (BMC) are unknown. Some claim that the forefathers originated in Europe. Regardless of ancestry, BMC has proven its importance in the workplace. It is one of the best dogs for hog hunting. The Black Mouth Cur is a famous dog breed in the southern United States, where it’s trained to hunt everything from squirrels to coons to deer and hogs.

BMC is a standard-size breed with a black mask around its face that varies based on the working lines. It has an incredible smell and can detect the cold and hot tracks left by a hog.

The Black Mouth Curs pack can move quickly and softly across the forest. They can smell the hog, track it down, corner it, and immobilize it, preventing it from escaping. BMCs are frequently utilized because of their hunting drive and outstanding strength, and they can keep on to the wild boar for as long as the shooter needs to cope and shoot it.

They can run hunting all day, thanks to their incredible stamina. They are brave, and if raised to hunt in groups, they will not hesitate in the face of a wild boar. BMCs are pretty active and aggressive as hunters. If they are not used for hunting, they will require a variety of other exercises. They fiercely protect children and frequently interfere in arguments between parents and children. These characteristics make BMC one of the best hog hunting dogs.

Facts

Hunting style: Tracking and catching dogs

Temperament: Fearless and trusting

Height: 16 to 25 inches

Weight: 40 to 95 lbs

Pros

• Well-muscled
• The best dog for boar hunting
• Strong nose.

Cons

• Good as house pets

3. American Bulldog

The American bulldog has historically been regarded as a catch dog or a loyal and obedient working dog. They have a keen sense of smell and can be very loyal to their master and land. Bulldogs in the United States have a rich history of hunting, particularly wild pigs.

American Bulldogs are undoubtedly one of the most popular capture-hog dog breeds in the United States today. No hog would be able to stand against them due to their extreme builds.

Around the 17th century, English bulldogs were considered to have been bred from them. Farmers and ranchers commonly utilized them for protection and livestock. They did, however, survive particularly well in the southern states, where they were highly beneficial to feral hogs.

American Bulldogs are known for their powerful locking jaws. In a reverse scissor bite, the lower jaw usually is longer than the upper. This tightens their hold even more.

They hunt with exceptional pace, despite their hefty look.

No hog will be able to outrun them because of their speed and aggression. Their noses are the only tradeoff. As you may already know, they don’t track a scent and other hunting breeds.

Give them the activity they need, and they’ll become excellent pets. But don’t be fooled by their hunting style. They have a special affection for all family members, especially the children.

Facts

Hunting Style: Catching dogs

Temperament: Loyal and self-assured

Height: 22 to 25 inches

Weight: 75-100 lbs

Pros

• Affectionate as house pets.
• Robust build and great speed.
• Locking jaws with a reversed scissor bite.

Cons

• They don’t identify odours very effectively.

4. Dogo Argentino

Few people beyond the hunting community recognize that the Dogo Argentino is the first and foremost boar-hunting dog. The Dogo Argentino is a famous wild boar catch dog bred in Argentina to chase big games.

Dogo Argentinos might work alone or as part of a group. Guarding, service and rescue are common to single tasks. Dogos do not work independently because of the significant risk of hog hunting with dogs. Other dogs, such as Dogos or other capture dogs, or a group of bay dogs, are constantly present.

Wild hog hunting is possible without bay dogs for well-trained Dogo Argentinos. They have a superb sense of smell and a strong prey drive. They can locate the animal and keep it down without exerting any effort.

The breed was developed to hunt alongside other pig-hunting dogs. Despite the breed’s origins, which include the now-extinct Cordoba Fighting Dog, when adequately socialized with other dogs, the Dogo Argentino is a highly amiable and cooperative dog. Dogos are frequently used as security dogs since they can distinguish between a fun person and a stranger.

Facts

Hunting Style: Catching dogs

Temperament: Friendliness and alertness

Height: 24-26 inches

Weight: 88-100 lbs

Pros

• Huge build
• Powerful bite
• Friendly attitude with their owners.
• Smaller pets may encounter aggression.

Cons

• Aggressive to other animals
• Dribbling or slobbering

5. American Pit Bull Terrier

The American Pit Bull Terrier or APBT is a pig-hunting dog breed developed in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, hunting with Pit Bulls used to look a little different than it does now. The dog was used in bear- and bullbaiting, a brutal sport prohibited due to animal welfare concerns.

Pit Bulls have acquired unique talents currently used when hunting wild hogs. APBT is a fearless dog, not afraid of hogs that are often much larger than the dog. Despite its size, the dog is powerful and has the stamina to fight hogs all day.

A prey drive or a sense of smell is also not an issue. In fact, with a bit of training, APBTs can make excellent tracing dogs, and even some people train them to hunt birds. Contrary to popular belief, Pit Bulls are not a vicious breed when it comes to humans. They make lousy security dogs since they readily meet strangers.

Facts

Hunting Style: Catching Dogs

Temperament: Obedient as well as ferocious

Height:18 to 24 inches

Weight: 25 to 60 lbs

Pros

• Strong jaws and tearing bite
• Highly obedient
• Strong build

Cons

• Become aggressive if not appropriately trained.

6. Redbone Coonhounds

In the nineteenth century, redbones were bred to hunt raccoons. They outperformed everyone in track because of their unrivaled cold noses. As a result, they’ve gained much traction in large game hunting.

The baying of Redbones is my favourite feature of them. They’ll emit a unique bay when they safely corner a hog to tell you they’ve won. It’s important to teach your Redbone to obey your commands. Otherwise, they’ll just go with their instincts and leave you behind.

Redbones aren’t a good choice if you’re seeking an indoor pet. They’re incredibly active, with a solid need to track with their noses, which won’t be possible in flats. It’s also worth noting that their mental growth is somewhat delayed.

Puppies achieve full size around the age of one year. However, their minds will not fully develop for a year and a half. They will tend to play rough during this time, yet another reason they should not be kept as pets.

Facts

Hunting Style: Tracking dogs

Temperament: Amiable and ready to please

Height: 22-27 inches

Weight: 45-70 lbs

Pros

• Extremely potent
• Cold noses
• When cornering a hog, sound characteristic bayings.
• Persistent in challenging hunts.

Cons

• They aren’t ideal as house pets
• unless adequately taught, they can reject commands.

7. Treeing Walker Coonhound

Walkers are recognized for their quickness. As a result, they’re frequently seen in field trials. Walkers, although Coonhounds, do not have cold noses. People often ignore older odours in favour of newer ones. This could be an issue if you’re going after a distanced, cunning hog.

However, if they spot a hog, they’ll pursue it until it’s cornered, irrespective of time. This is due to their incredible endurance and perseverance. Walkers, like Redbones, have a distinct bay when they approach prey. This is particularly useful if you’re hunting at night or your dog wanders too far.

Walkers would be highly loyal to your family if they lived with you. However, they would be less amicable to other pets, particularly the smaller ones. Furthermore, they might quickly become infected if their droopy ears aren’t cleaned correctly.

Facts

Hunting Style: Tracking dogs

Temperament: Even-tempered and persistent

Height: 22 to 27 inches.

Weight: 50-70 lbs.

Pros

• Extremely fast during the hunt
• Endurance and perseverance.
• They are adored as pets.

Cons

• Their ears are vulnerable to infection.
• They can be violent against other small animals.

8. Polish Hound

The Polish Hound is a great hunter and among Poland’s most popular hog dog breeds. A few breeders in America employ these canines to hunt wild boar. Polish Hounds can hunt in a pack or on their own. When hunting alone, the dog is taught to constantly check in with the handler to see what the following action should be.

The Polish Hound bays when on the trail of a hog, alerting the hunter to the hog’s whereabouts. The dog will follow the hog till the hunter catches up, driving it toward the hunter.

Polish Hounds are known for charging ahead of the group when hunting. They may locate a cold trail and track it until they come upon a hot one. The pack can quickly corner wild boar, but well-trained dogs must avoid approaching them.

Polish Hounds are also used for deer hunting, and the dogs’ baying differs depending on whether they are on a hog or deer trail. A skilled hunter who understands his dogs should be able to detect the chaos of baying and determine which species his dog is pursuing.

Polish Hounds make lovely family dogs, although they usually develop a deep relationship with one of the members of the family. At home, they are frequently loud. The prey drive of Polish Hounds is high, and they have a lot of strength. When left without GPS monitoring collars, they can roam pretty far after the prey and have been known to return home just a few days after hunting is done.

Facts

Hunting Style: Tracking dogs

Temperament: Active, calm, and affectionate

Height: 22-23.5 inches

Weight: 55-70.5 lbs

Pros

• Resilient and healthy
• Easy to take care of
• Susceptible to training
• Very devoted

Cons

• Difficult to train
• Need constant upbringing

How to Train Your Dog To Hunt Hogs?

Using tiny, domesticated pets to educate your canines with hog-hunting dogs is best. Different training methods are used depending on tracking or catching the dog.

Training Tracking Dogs

Put your dog in a fenced location with a tiny pig, such as a pen. Tease the dog to get him excited about chasing down the pig. It’s essential to commend him for his attitude.

Once the dog gets hostile enough, lead the pig into the countryside on a leash so it can leave a scent trail. Tie it to a tree once you’ve gotten far enough. Afterwards, take the dog to that location and encourage him to trace the scent.

When you get close to the hog, reward your dog with food and motivate him to try to corner it. Repeat the procedure numerous times before bringing your dog on a real hunt with other well-trained dogs.

Training Catch Dogs

Place the pig in a cage and apply the same method as tracking dogs. When you take the hog out of the cage, the dog will attack violently.

You must train your catch dogs to free the pig when you say so. Distract them with a toy or a rope, and only reward them once they’ve been released. You’ll be able to dispatch hogs without needing to relocate your dogs securely.

Conclusion

Hunting hogs is entertaining and helps your community by reducing the harm they cause to agricultural lands.

Redbones will perfectly track a hog’s smell, and a Dogo Argentino bravely attacks it. Regardless of the breed, be careful to provide your dog with the required training and protection, as hogs can be deadly.

Choose the best dog from the list of best dogs for hog hunting. Take precautions, be patient, and best of luck!