A Catch dog is a specially trained dog that is used to catch large animals in hunting, working livestock, and baiting.

As hunters, catch dogs are contrasted with bay dog

Bay dog

A Bay dog is a dog that is specially trained to find, chase, and "bay" large animals in hunting, such as wild boars. They're also used in "hog dog" rodeos....

s. Catch dogs are typically outfitted with chest and neck armor to prevent being speared by the boar's tusk, and neck injury.

As livestock dogs, catch dogs use their weight and teeth to immobilize live animals so that they can be captured by the dog's handlers, who may be stockmen, hunters, butchers, or farmers.

The use of catch dogs has been condemned by groups like PETA

Peta

Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...

, who consider it cruel and inhumane. Supporters of the use of catch dogs claim that their use facilitates the difficult and important culling of feral pigs where they have become dangerous and environmentally destructive.

Terminology

According to the 2009 edition of Webster's Dictionary of American English, the term "catch dog" is a noun phrase referring to a dog used or bred for working livestock. The entry identifies the term as being American, and dating to circa 1857, although the practice is known to date at least back to the ancient Romans.

Boar hunting dogs

Catch dogs physically take hold of the boar, typically seizing the base of the boar's ear. Once the catch dogs have physical control of the boar, they will hold it down by the head indefinitely until the hunter arrives. The hunter then comes in from behind the boar, and dispatches the boar with a knife or spear.

It is not unusual for hunters to utilize both bay 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 either stop to fight or become cornered. At this point catch dogs are released to keep the boar stationary for the hunter.

Catch dog breeds

Most catch dogs are descended from the Old English Bulldog

Old English Bulldog

The Old English bulldog was a breed of dog.-Appearance:The Old English bulldog was compact, broad and muscular, as reflected in the well-known depiction Crib and Rosa. The average height was approximately 15 inches, and they weighed about 45 pounds...

 and Cordoba Fighting Dog

Cordoba Fighting Dog

The Cordoba Fighting Dog is an extinct breed of dog.The Cordoba was a crossbreed of Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Boxer, and Old English Bulldog.-History:...

 bloodlines, and some are crossed with athletic Molosser

Molosser

Molosser is a category of large, solidly-built dog that includes several breeds, probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from Molossia, a subregion of ancient Epirus, ancient Greece, where the large shepherd dog was known as the Molossus.The proper noun "Mastiff", however,...

-like dogs, such as the Cane Corso

Cane Corso

The Cane Corso is an Italian breed of dog, for years valued highly in Italy as a companion, guardian and hunter.- Description :-Appearance:...

. The Dogo Argentino was specifically bred for hunting wild boar in Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

, and Spanish

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

 dogos are commonly crossed with American Pit Bulls in the south United States, specifically for boar hunting.
Other breeds used as catch dogs or used to breed catch dogs include:

• Boxer
  Boxer (dog)
  Developed in Germany, the Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog. The coat is smooth and fawn or brindled, with or without white markings. Boxers are brachycephalic , and have a square muzzle, mandibular prognathism , very strong jaws and a powerful bite ideal for hanging on to...
  
  
• Dogo Argentino
• American Pit Bull Terrier
  American Pit Bull Terrier
  The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium-sized, solidly built, short haired dog whose early ancestors came from England and Ireland...
  
  
• American Bulldog
  American Bulldog
  The American Bulldog is a breed of working dog that was developed in the United States. There are generally considered to be three types of American bulldog: the Bully or Classic type , the Standard or Performance type , and the Hybrid type...
  
  
• Catahoula Bulldog
  Catahoula Bulldog
  The Catahoula bulldog is a crossbred ; it is a cross between the Catahoula leopard dog and the American bulldog for a specific purpose....
  
  
• Perro de Presa Canario
  Perro de Presa Canario
  The Perro de Presa Canario is a large Molosser-type dog breed originally bred for working livestock. The name of the breed is Spanish, means "Canarian blood hound," and is often shortened to "Presa Canario" or simply "Presa." The breed is also called Dogo Canario, mean Canarian...
  
    (Dogo Canario)
• Cane Corso
  Cane Corso
  The Cane Corso is an Italian breed of dog, for years valued highly in Italy as a companion, guardian and hunter.- Description :-Appearance:...
  
  
• Bandog
  Bandog
  The term Bandog originated around 1250-1300 in Middle England, referring to a mastiff type dog that was bound by a chain during the daytime and was released at night to guard against intruders...
  
  

External links

• Dogs on Hogs website
• Dogs on Hogs hunting video