Our dogs are both "catch" dogs and "bay" dogs. Other than initial training they are not specifically pushed either way. We found that it is better to let their natural instincts tell them what to do in each situation. This method has been safer for the dogs and has resulted in very few lost pigs. If a wild pig is backed up to a brush tunnel or thicket, the dogs will almost always choose to bay them. If the wild pig is out in the open, the dogs will catch it most of the time.
Even when the dogs have bayed a wild hog, we are able to walk right up to the pig and dispatch it. Their focus is only on the dogs, and as long as we don't approach too fast or speak to the dogs, the feral pig will never notice(I recently found that a fluorescent yellow shirt is an exception to this rule). Also, Russian Boars can be quite different to deal with than your typical feral hog. Approaching a Russian Boar head on that is bayed, will most definitely initiate an explosive charge. They will do the opposite of the feral pig and focus solely on you.
I have had several people e-mail about the Border Collie in the
picture section. She has gone on hunts with us since she was about 8 weeks old. She used to be just my sidekick and only got in to help bay the hogs. She now has proved herself as a quality hog dog. She will bay, catch and find pigs on her own or with the other dogs. She will stay on a big sow or boar's heels until he decides to stop. We always know which direction to go, because she lets out a yelp as she runs on their tail. She is lighting fast and instinctively knows how to handle big animals without getting hurt.
Other than one minor injury, the dogs have never been hurt when hunting feral pigs. This may be because we have never pushed them past their naturally ability or comfort zone. The dogs have never been on a canned hunt or in a controlled environment to train with wild hogs. They have developed slowly and use their own styles and methods that work best for them. After all, they are the real hunting experts.