Hog-baiting

Hog-baiting, also known as, hog dogging, is a spectator event that simulates wild boar hunting with dogs. It requires specially bred "hog dogs" that are used to bay a hog or boar. More accurately stated as "hog dog baying" is the act of psychologically controlling the hog by barking, rather than the physical act of catching.

Background

In a typical match the hog is released into a pen and then with one or two bay dogs being released that attempt to control or subdue it by baying which is barking in the face of the hog. Bayings are often confused with a more violent version of the sport, where "catch dogs" bite and hold the hogs' ears to maintain control, and then a man throws the hog down and ties the hog and the event is timed. The quickest time wins. These dogs are almost always pit bulls and are outfitted with kevlar chest and neck armor to guard against injury. Catch competitions should not be thought to be bayings.

Hog dogging is a term applied by outsiders and is never used by members of this activity developed from the training and hunting of specialized boar-hunting dogs. This type of hunting is said to (and may) be the only effective means of controlling the wild hog population which is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States in the 21st century, but in practice the populations of wild hogs may be maintained and even supplemented to ensure that an adequate supply of animals to hunt. The control of the wild hog population is important because wild hogs are not an indigenous species and dominate and destroy the environment that all species depend upon. Typically a hunter with one or two dogs bays, or corners the hog and a catch dog catches (or catch dogs catch) the hog and the hunter comes in behind the dog(s), throws the hog down and ties it. The development of this training into a competitive spectator event is often mistakenly believed to have first taken place in Winnfield, Louisiana at an event known as Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials. The Trials were first organized in 1995 as part of the celebration of former Governor and well-known hog hunter Earl K. Long's 100th birthday. In these trials, a group of five judges score the dogs' skill at baying the hog (cornering it and causing it to stand still). Events are classed by the age of the dog and the number of dogs attempting the bay. In truth, this sport had been going on for decades before the Uncle Earl's annual meet legitimized and made the sport a state recognized event. Injuries are rare in these trials as the hog's teeth are dubbed to prevent the hog from cutting the dog. Any bay dog that catches in a bay trial is disqualified.

See also

• Boar hunting
• Baiting (animals)
• Catch dog
• Bay dog
• Uncle Earl's Hog Dog Trials