Originally Posted By: Duane@ssuNever been around terriers of any kind, till Devin talked me into a cross of his Jagd,Airdale. Been pretty happy with it thus far, but it is still a baby. This little dog is nuts, but he will go a 20 mile day will me beside a horse, fight cattle, and make it back to the rig everytime day after day.As for curs getting wore out gathering a "few 1000 acre pastures", cut them back on there feed, and use them more often.I know for a fact that I use mine daylight to dark, and never had them were out.Maybe the pitbull that Tony breeds into them takes out some of the dogs wind. Not being a dick, just saying that bred right a cur will wear out a horse, and 12 to 15 miles a day is common for us. not four times a year, I'm talking about 45 days in a row.I trade out horses but use the same dogs day after day, if a dog gets hurt, they get a break, I take a diff one,to fill the spot.Fed right, and shaped up, most dogs can keep up with horses on the gather.Just my thoughts.
Duane, reread my post please. We have a whole set of dogs to work cattle. 16 dogs as of now. I never said they get tired.
My decoy dog does not work cattle. He is for coyotes only. If we hunt hogs, we take our hog dogs(9 dogs), if we are working cattle, we take our cow dogs(16 dogs). If I go coyote hunting, I take Nuts.
Our cattle dogs get used most everyday. We have 3,000 momma cows, 150 bulls, and buy and sell stockers as well. We also have 20+ head of horses in our remuda. There is always work for the dogs. Only way one has quit is if it dies or gets hurt. If it just plain quits, it gets some lead treatment. Havent had to do too many of those latley though.
When we are working cattle which is twice a year and then we gather once a year to preg check, it is from before daylight til after dark everyday for a month at a time. You work on a ranch, you know how it is. Always something to be done.