Trapline dogs - Decker rat terriers & Rotteilers?

Hi, I trap coyotes on a 30,000 acre ranch in SW Oklahoma & want to get a new dog to help out on the line. Growing up on the farm & living in the country my entire life, I've had many many different dogs: mutts, greyhounds, pointers, Brittanys, English setter, small terriers, cow dogs, etc. My favorite dogs were a female Rottweiler & a small male rat terrier. My Rottweiler was the smartest dog of all & the most well mannered and the rat terrrier was the most intense w/ a very high prey drive. I'm considering another Rottie or maybe a larger Decker rat terrier. If anyone has had experience w/ either breed on the trapline, I'd appreciate any advice. I'd love to hear about your experiences. This coming season I'm gonna step it up & try to run over 100 traps Dec-March. About 1/2 of the ranch is rocky limestone hills w/ very shallow soil or no soil & I'll be using a lot of drags. In the past, I haven't trapped these habitats as much but it's really good cat habitat & them as well as coyotes are plentiful. I should mention I'm a research biologist & am conducting a project on coyotes; I hope to be radio or GPS collaring coyotes next summer to track them back to dens and a dog could help out a lot.

Thanks,
Brandon

I think a jagdterrier or a mountain cur would serve your purposes well. Dead Coyote on here has a litter of jags on the way and curs should be easy to track down in Oklahoma. Both breeds would have more to offer as far as nose and hunting than a Rottweiler, and a little more size than the decker rats which are on the small side for coyote work in my opinion. Whatever you pick, having a dog on the line sure makes things more entertaining, good luck.

I've spent some time looking into Jagds & I'm impressed w/ the breed. There's actually a jagd breeder in my hometown that also breeds drahthaars. Thanks for the advice,

1/2 cur--1/2 aust.sheppard----all lets go trappin.

If you look up the word. Intense, in the dictionary this is what you should find ! Lol no I’m not kidding.

Sammy was a year old about the Fourth of July, I think he may be of Dead Coyotes stock, maybe . I’ve only had him a few months and he is an amazing ball of energy. I was convinced early on that he was stone deaf but since getting my e- collar back from my son his hearing has improved dramatically. I would say the more time I spend with him the more I like him. I would like to be able to spend every day all day with him as it would probably be a dramatic difference. Obedience training is more about my patience than his ability to learn. I’ve just started using deer liver to try and train him for deer recovery, he has found every piece so far. Next to the rat terrier/ German shorthair I had when I was a kid this is the “ gamiest “ dog I’ve ever owned and I’ve raised coon hounds for nearly 40 years !

I have considered a jagd. I've never had one and I assume like any other breed w/ any prey drive, they have to be socialized w/ people & other pets to avoid problems.

Sammy was 11 months old when I got him from Jeff and was not well received by his female. Without a doubt getting him as a puppy may have helped with his training but like I said he is very intense. You talked about a rott and I’ve not seen one I didn’t like, imagine a rott and jag cross. I’ve often thought a jagd and Airedale cross would be a cool dog but like Lee told me they are both terriers, lol .

Yea, the Rottie I had was well trained & very obedient. I didn't try to train her to work w/ cattle but she picked it up just by riding w/ me to feed, pen cattle, etc. They don't get enough credit for how smart they really are. They can be trained for anything. Having an obedient Rottie in your yard or back of your pickup probably goes a long way in deterring people w/ bad intentions. I haven't had a dog in 5 years so I might end up getting 2 pups, maybe a Rottie & a jagdterrier. It would be interesting to see a mix of the two.

Can’t help but think that would be an awesome cross !

Curs are really good at this. To the point that trapping should be considered light work. Had a black mouth cur that would do the hokey-pokey if I asked her to and was one of the gamiest dogs I had ever seen. Get a good cur and you will have the gaminess of the decker and intelligence like your rott. While having a better nose than both.

In OK & TX, Black mouthed curs are fairly common. A lot of hog hunters use them & I know they're used for cattle to. How long have you used them on the trapline? I appreciate your feedback

I will have a litter of pups in about 2 weeks out on the tan dog in this pic. She is a blackmouth cur and I bred her to a mountain/kimber cur male that is from two dogs that were used by a government trapper from around here. She has an excellent nose and I can put her on anything from varmints to cattle, she is really great to catch and hold cattle. On the trap line she doesn't miss a pile of scat or scent post. She's not the most aggressive dog, but that's what the red dog is for. She is a blackmouth cur, rhodesian ridgeback cross. Her nose is not as good, but she is and execellent site hunter. These pups are going to make some really good trap dogs and will mostly likely be able to be used on cattle if needed. Let me know if you are interested.

What are ya ask for the pups? Where in NM are you? I've spent some time trapping kangaroo rats for research purposes all across NM.

200 a piece. I'm just east of Corona about 15 miles.

That mix should be about as good as any for your purposes if it’s close at all, make a fine decoy dog as well for next summer, which in my opinion is the absolute most fun a guy can have hunting period.

Furgey how are those pups doing that you raised ?

They are all doing good from the update pictures and videos from their new owners, had pups go to CO, ID, NE, SD, IA, MO, IL, and TN. Found some good homes for them, wish I would have kept one for myself they should be some keepers.

I will say, most dogs I have seen or heard of, used as hog dogs are half feral. Might know their name and that's about it. Put a handle on them and become buddies. You will get so much more out of them and your dog will be happier, too.

To answer your question, I haven't used a dog on the trapline for very long. To be honest, I was afraid of getting one to run drags and find sign, then it be dumber than a box of rocks. Or Not care about anything I wanted to do. Not the case at all with my cur or any of the others I've seen that were really buddies with their owner. I was thoroughly impressed with about every aspect of them.

Btw, $200 is cheap coming from not just proven out, but currently working parents. I would definitely like to hear some updates on progress if you get a pup from bmccoyote. Pictures wouldnt hurt, either.
Anyway, I wish you luck with any route you go. And happy trappin'.

They definitely buddy up good. Mine are (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) on wheels when it comes to the varmints, and the blackmouth is equally as good on cattle, not so much with the red dog though. But on any given day they can be with my 4 boys and be absolute puppy dogs, and my youngest is 15 months. In the winter I kennel mine in the house at night, and they are well mannered enough to spend evenings on the couch or stretched out in front of the fire place.

Had mine on cattle, too. Run any track I pointed at, or direction I pointed to. Nosey and baying little dog for sure. I think she would've pulled hair on a grizzly bear, but wouldn't kill a 2 pound kit coon. Didnt really make sense, but it sounds like our curs are a lot alike if yours prefers to hunt,bay and hold, rather than kill.

I took her everywhere and she lived in the house with me, so she was exposed to all kinds of people and loved everyone... except one guy. She really didn't like one guy. Think he was methed out of his mind. So I was more than good with that. Then she would let little kids smother her and poke her in the eye. Loved it.

You notice much difference in temperament between your ridgeback cross and your straight cur? Good looking dogs, by the way. Sounds like you are proud of them.

Only difference in temperament is that my ridgeback will kill whatever we catch. Other than that she thinks she is a lap dog, a 70 lbs one at that. hahahaha

I will say im pleased with my aredale gyp a touch hard headed but only when she smells blood. And I cant get her to quit eating cat turds while scouting! Have'nt found a critter shes not scared to comfront

Where the dogs rides is a big factor too. No more big dogs in the cab of my truck ever again. They are almost as bad in a working trapline boat. Terriers are a nice size if they're riding with you.

The minority view here but the last thing I want is a dog that's nuts crazy about killing what I have in a trap. Spend half the day trying to get him/her off critters "IT" wants to pursue. No thanks.

thanx debby downer

How big is your Airedale Tony ?

Hahahahahaha!! Mine ride in the cab most of the time on the trapline, unless were looking for scat, and scent posts. When I take a horse though, they will ride in the trailer.

year old and 60 something lbs I will wait till shes two and get her a boyfriend got a couple of studs located

I know some of the Airedale are of a big bloodline some are smaller. Can’t help but think a smaller Airedale jyp and a jagdterrier would make a good 40# to 45# decoy dog.

My Airedale/jagdt is 43 lbs, perfect sized terrier in my opinion for decoying, she's a pistol.

Has she got more of a mellow disposition? My jagd can be a little MUCH at times !

She's good when at home but all business while hunting or checking traps, I didn't want a straight jagdt because of just that I wanted her to be a little more laid back, it worked out.

I was told by a breeder she more than likely came out of odon corrs bloodline. Her mom was in the upper 70s and saw a pic of her grand pa he was 120.lbs lol a straight up brute!! id say my dog will be in the 70lb range . So far shes not very gritty! Shes happy baying until they try to escape then shes ready for business. I don't care if she don't want to fight. I'd rather her be a tracking dog versus a kill dog! But at just a year the scales can tip any direction.

I'm John and I approve this message. I've got a catahoula curr/Dorn mix. She's off the chain. A nose better than my lab and drive to help like a starving stow away. I've watched her chase 4 coyotes from the property before I had her trained and anytime one went for her she would just bounce off the back of another one. We had a chat and got that under control.

I have a cur/jack-dale who comes from Corr lines and a cur/Plott. Both great dogs in their own way. I can honestly say once I started using dogs, I have yet to lose a poorly hit coyote. My red one has some kind of pathological hatred of badgers. Both dogs weigh in at about 50 lbs. I wouldn't want any bigger.

Badgerman that red dog must be half possessed! To want to go toe to toe with a prarie wolverine! Cool pics though!

I just wanted to thank everyone who has provided their experiences w/ different dogs on the trapline. I've been reading and taking in everyone's stories & have have learned a lot. I think I'll go w/ a cur, either BMC or Mountain Cur. I'll be running 100+ traps on 30,000 acres Jan-March so hopefully I can get a pup by mid Sept & it'll get plenty of action.

Thanks,
Brandon McDonald

Badgerman, mine will get after the badgers too.

B. McDonald, glad we could help you.

She’s actually a really well-behaved smart dog. She just nuts up when she gets around badgers. I have no idea why. She can get a little aggressive with coyotes but doesn’t exhibit that blind hatred. If a coyote in a trap shows submission by laying down or looking away she just investigates. One bouncing around gets more interest. Aggressive ones she will mix it up with but not quite the intensity as with the screaming weasels.

Mr. McDonald, good luck in your hunt for a trapping buddy.

So far my little jagd is turning out to be my little buddy, but I think he is too small to use around coyotes . Maybe one in a trap as long as he don’t get under one, lol my hands may not be strong enough anymore to grab a coyote by the scruff and pull them apart. Lol You guys are making me think I should have gotten one of Fergy’s cur pups !

The pups arrived yesterday afternoon. Took about 3 hours for all 13 to get here. Haven't looked at male/female ratio yet, will try to get some pics later.

9 females, and 4 males

Cute little fellers

Oh boy my hands were full with 11, once they were weened off momma they were eating 50 lbs of food every 6 days..enjoy the first few easy weeks and good luck to ya, they are some good looking pups.

Yeah, she had 12 in a previous litter that was an oops and thought they were going to eat me out of house and home. The skunk and badger populations get pretty scarce at my place once they get up and around

Hey, congrats on the big litter. Looks like the sire was a brindle. You keeping very many?

Beautiful pups. Mine had 8 a while back and they were such a handful, my wife cried daily taking care of them. Now that they’re all sold, she wants to do it again. Sounds like addiction.

Red89, not sure if I'm going to keep any, just will have to wait and see, maybe just one. Have a guy from around here that's interested in making some decoy dogs, so those will be higher priced than what I originally posted, will just have to wait and see. My boys want to keep at least one.

Badgerman, yeah they can be a pain once they get big enough to be running around, but I've raised dogs my whole life and it is definitely an addiction. I have a pretty good set of kennels so I can keep them contained.

golf ball those jags are gritty little dogs watch a video of them working feral hogs! I bet that pig thought big bumble bees was after it! The video I watched that pig couldn't get away from that dog! Currs are a all around good hunting dog. tons of heart and a good nose to boot!

Tony I don’t think their will be any lack of Grit , only mass Lol !

dynamite comes in small packages that a male

Bmc those are nice looking pups. If I lived closer I would like to have one. I'm itching for a "hound" dog and I'm sure the wife would be ok with it cause puppies are cute. Lol

Road trip!! It's been a while since I've been that far east. hahahahahaha!!

I wish. Lol . I have never been west further than north western PA . I don't get out much. Lol

I've been to DC twice and once while I was there we went up to Baltimore. On a plane both times though. Would like to drive sometime just to see the country. Might have to wait til I retire though. When I get to driving somewhere there might be 50 side trips before we get to said destination. hahahahahahaha!! Let me know though if you are really interested in the dogs, I have shipped them before on planes.