Tracked Hunting Dogs: The best tracking dogs on wild boar - breeds, traits and characters to choose the hound that's right for you.
That wild boar hunting is a great passion for veteran and novice hunters, and what everyone knows, the question that instead leaves everyone with some too many doubts is that relating to the four-legged friend to take with you during the adventure. Although there are exceptional hounds that have little to do with pedigree and family reason, today we discover together which are the breeds that more than others are recommended and used during the following on the wild boar.
The Italian hound could not miss the first place, either for nationalistic pride, or for the actual abilities of the animal. Introduced to the peninsula in the distant past, it has long been used not only in boar hunting but also in hare hunting.
It is a lively and robust hound, with an exceptional sense of smell, tireless on any type of terrain and characterized by a well-known harmonious voice that has made it so appreciated. There are at least two varieties: the Italian short-haired and strong-haired hound. The first is more lively, while the second is certainly more reflective.
In general, both varieties love hunting and would pay to walk alongside their owner: if well trained a good one Italian hound he soon learns to move through the woods and to respond obediently to voice commands. Both varieties are well suited to single, pair and pack hunting.
Another five-star hound used during wild boar hunting is undoubtedly the Maremma hound, typically Italian and which was selected relatively late, at the end of the nineteenth century, but with great success. Admiring him barking at the wild boar gives the owner great satisfaction, and his fixed stakes are a joy. It is characterized by a lively and free gait and just like the Italian hound it is not infrequently used during hare hunting.
The most popular varieties in wild boar hunting are the short-haired and the strong-haired ones: generally the Maremma dog proves to be a dog of great temperament, with a ringing and modulated voice that constantly informs the hunter about the various phases of the following. It works well on its own, but also gives great satisfaction to the wetsuits. In principle it is a courageous and tireless dog.
Another noteworthy hound during wild boar hunting is the Jura hound, also known as the Argovia dog or even the Jura howler. The breed comes directly from Switzerland and seems particularly ancient. Naturally predisposed for hare and fox hunting, the dog in Italy is also used during wild boar hunting above all because of its constancy and tirelessness. He is vigorous, passionate and resilient and his voice, needless to say, is booming and expressive.
During the wild boar hunt, the Beagle, a particularly ancient breed born from the encounter between the harrier and the English hound. An excellent small game hunter, he is also capable of following the wild boar and not infrequently, given his grace, he is appreciated as a show and companion dog.
His voice is harmonious and the dog is attentive and full of initiative, easily trained and able to bond with the owner in a relationship of real friendship. Me too'Ariegeois, a typically French breed, is used in Italy during the following to the wild boar. Born from the crossing between the Gascon Saintongeois and the Blue de Gascogne, even today his fame is somewhat limited. This does not mean that it is an excellent hound that hunts both in the hills and in the plains. Endowed with excellent resistance, his gait is fast and light and his sense of smell allows him to identify game with simplicity and immediacy. With the master immediately creates a strong bond, probably thanks to his intelligence and his innate sagacity. Needless to say, he loves hunting, he loves living in the woods and his rusticity makes him ideal for moving in difficult environments with critical climatic conditions.
We close this brief overview by talking about the Bleu de Gasconge in its Petit Blue variant. It is an excellent track and follow dog; it is therefore not surprising that it has often been used during wild boar hunting; his innate hunting skills have earned him the name of "most imposing and noble hound in the world", probably thanks to his five-star sense of smell.
The dog is reliable, resistant, capable of chasing hares, wolves and wild boars with a certain ease: even if it is docile, calm and even affectionate, during the hunt, which it loves immoderately, it is fast and characterized by a rapid gallop.
Having said that there is no breed that is absolutely and more suited to the following of the wild boar, there are rather better trained specimens and owners able to bring out from the hound the best that nature instinctively gave them.