Catch Dogs

A catch dog is used in hunting to catch large animals, or in ranching to work unruly livestock. As hunters, catch dogs are contrasted with bay dogs who corner prey animals and alert their handler by barking or baying. As livestock dogs, catch dogs use their strength and determination to immobilize large animals so that they can be captured, or literally hogtied, by the dog’s handler. The practice of using catch dogs has been employed by stockmen, hunters, butchers and farmers since at least the days of ancient Rome.

In boar hunting, the catch dog takes hold of the wild hog, typically seizing it at the base of the ear. Once the catch dog has physical control of the boar, he will then hold it until the hunter arrives. The hunter proceeds in from behind the boar, either binding it up by the legs, or stabbing it in the heart with a knife.

It is not unusual for a hunter to utilize both bay dogs and catch dogs in the same hunt. Bay dogs are used to find the boar, initiate the chase, and pursue the quarry. Sometimes the boar will run from the bay dogs at first, but at some point during the chase the hog will either stop to fight or become cornered. It is at this point when a catch dog gets released to take control of the boar and keep it stationary for the hunter.

Bred by Dr. Harold Autrey, Sherling’s Mack was a gritty, 65 pound Old-fashioned Black and Tan English Shepherd. It was not unusual for Mack to subdue several 150 pound wild hogs in one day. Wild hogs of this size have razor sharp teeth up to an inch-and-half in length. For a catch dog, a mortal wound is one mistake away from reality. Most of the wild hogs caught by Mack were live captured for transport to John Sherling’s game preserve^[1]A game preserve is an area of land in which hunting and fishing are carefully controlled^[2]https://indiancreeklodge.com/. After a successful career catching dozens of wild hogs, Mack retired as a companion to Dr. Autrey’s brother Bill.