"Dog the Bounty Hunter" is dead (the show, not the man) -- so it's time to pay tribute to the most feared man mullet in fake reality TV crime fighting.

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Dog "The Bounty Hunter" Chapman will have more time on his hands to catch criminals, because his show on A&E is being canceled ... TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources connected with the show tell us ... Dog's people and A&E have been negotiating, but the network has now decided to pull the plug and not do season 9.

One source connected with Dog tells us the cancellation is based on "creative differences."  But here's the reality ... saying "creative differences" is like breaking up with a girl and saying, "It's not you, it's me."

Dog Chapman is lashing back at claims he doused a fugitive in a dangerous amount of pepper spray -- telling us, he followed standard safety procedure ... and nabbed a DANGEROUS criminal in the process.



Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey blasted the bounty hunter in a statement earlier today -- claiming Dog wantonly dumped the fugitive in his office, without properly decontaminating him first ... putting his staffers and several bystanders in danger.

But sources close to Dog tell TMZ, not only did Dog follow standard decontamination procedure -- hosing the guy down and changing his shirt before handing him over to cops -- he performed a CRUCIAL civil service ... and cops should be grateful.

We're told it took three whole days to track down the fugitive in question -- a dangerous ex-con -- who then allegedly tried to make one last run for it by jacking someone's car ... at which point Dog's team pepperballed him.

Sources close to Dog tell us, the bounty hunter was blindsided by the sheriff's comments -- because as far as he knew, the two parted on good terms.

The man Dog Chapman was looking to apprehend during a raid in Colorado last week is a dangerous dude who allegedly broke into a home with a semi-automatic pistol ... this according to cops.



Chapman was bounty hunting a man named Laurencio Salayandia -- who was charged with first degree burglary for allegedly participating in an armed robbery back in 2008. Salayandia went MIA after missing a court hearing ... but Dog vowed to find him and bring him to justice.

According to the court documents obtained by TMZ, Salayandia and two other men -- armed with .38 caliber pistols -- allegedly smashed a window and entered a Colorado home looking to ransack the place.

Dog claims he finally tracked Salayandia to the La Montana Linda Restaurant in Breckenridge last week ... and was ready to apprehend the guy  ... when all hell broke loose.

As TMZ first reported, Dog claims his team was rushed by several patrons who were trying to create a diversion so Salayandia could escape. A fight broke out ... and Dog left without his target.

We spoke to Salayandia's son -- owner of the restaurant -- who tells us he hasn't seen his dad in 6 months ... and claims the suspect "definitely" wasn't at the restaurant on the day of the raid.

Dog's rep tells TMZ ... Chapman and his team are not giving up ... and will continue to track Salayandia.

A racial confrontation erupted between Dog the Bounty Hunter and a bar owner in Colorado last week ... with Dog screaming, "Come on white boy, come on motherf**ker" ... after the other guy allegedly called Dog a "half-breed" ... and TMZ has the footage.



It all went down on Thursday at La Montana Linda Restaurant in Breckenridge, Colorado -- when Dog's team stormed into the place looking for the owner's father ... who allegedly jumped bail on breaking and entering charges. Dog was on the hunt for the guy as part of his reality show.

In the video, Dog's team can be seen marching through the kitchen after entering through the back door. When confronted by a camera-wielding patron, one of the Dog's team members says, "I'm not a superstar ... I can f*ck you up and not get charged."

At that moment, another member of Dog's team throws a closed-fist punch at the patron's face ... sending his camera crashing to the ground. We're told a brawl broke out and another patron was punched in the eye. Check out the injuries below. 


The restaurant owner then goes outside to confront Dog face to face ... screaming at the reality star to get off the property ... and that's when things get CRAZY.

Dog loses his cool and lashes out -- screaming, "Come on white boy ... come on white boy ... come on white boy ... come on mother f**ker!!!"

The owner then throws a plant at Dog -- which pissed off Dog's right hand man ... who lunged at the owner ... tearing off the guy's shirt in the process.

That's when Dog whipped out his stun gun -- and made sure everyone knew he meant business.  Dog eventually left without having to shock anyone.

Sources close to Dog tell TMZ ... Dog considered his target a "very dangerous guy" ... and notes that tensions were high that day. 

We're also told Dog -- who claims he's part Native American -- claims the owner made the FIRST racial taunt, referring to the reality star as a "half-breed."

We're told Dog also felt his team was "rushed" when they entered the restaurant ... to create a diversion so the suspect could flee out of another exit.  We're told Dog is claiming one of his men was sprayed in the face with cleaning fluid ... and that's what ignited the altercation.

The suspect is still on the run.

Dog the Bounty Hunter was at the center of violent bar brawl Thursday night in Colorado -- and according to sources on the scene, Dog's security guard sent a guy to the hospital ... where he got 15 stitches.


TMZ spoke to the owner of La Montana Linda Restaurant in Breckenridge, Colorado -- and he tells us, Dog and his crew raided the place looking for the owner's father ... who allegedly jumped bail on breaking and entering charges.

According to the owner -- named Luke -- Dog barged in out of nowhere and confronted Luke's mom about the target ... and was extremely disrespectful.

Luke stepped in to calm things down -- but several customers had already taken offense at Dog's behavior and got in Dog's face ... at which point the bounty hunter's hired muscle jumped into action.

We're told one of the customers sprayed the security guard in the face with cleaning fluid -- and the big man lashed back with haymaker to the customer's face ... leaving a gash that required 15 stitches.

We're told the fight got so nuts -- it resembled a "saloon brawl" from a Wild West movie ... someone even threw a potted plant.

Cops showed up soon after -- but no arrests were made. According to law enforcement, the situation is still under investigation.

So far, no official word from Dog's people.

Nic Cage has friends in high places ... TMZ has learned it was Duane "Dog" Chapman who posted the bond for Cage today.


As TMZ first reported, Cage was arrested this morning in New Orleans on charges of domestic violence and disturbing the peace after an alleged argument with his wife Alice.

Sources tell TMZ they were the ones who helped get Nic out of jail -- he was being held on $11,000 bond.

Beth alluded to the bail out, posting on her Twitter, "My guy just walked out of the jail damn new Orleans 8 hours holy cow that's a lot of time to Process one guy."

Duane "Dog" Chapman is focusing his bounty hunting skills on Randy Quaid -- and we know this ... because he said so on Twitter. Goodbye, element of surprise!


Dog made similar proclamations a few months back when he was a guest on "Lopez Tonight." He eventually decided against pursuing Randy and wife Evi.

The Quaids have been hanging out north of the border lately. They've had warrants issued for their arrest several times this year, stemming from a case in Santa Barbara where the Quaids are accused of burglary after they were found allegedly living in a home illegally.

Dog the Bounty Hunter was back out on the town following his brief hospitalization earlier this month for internal bleeding -- and we gotta say, he couldn't look more ... er ... radiant.


Dog -- whom bad guys can see coming from a mile away ... at night ... in a fog ... without their contacts in -- lit up Boa Steakhouse in L.A. last night.

Get your shine on.

Duane "Dog" Chapman was taken to a hospital in Los Angeles last night after he was injured while on a bounty hunt, this according to his wife Beth.


Dog was taken to UCLA Medical Center where he was treated for internal bleeding. His wife posted a statement on Dog's official website, saying, "He was admitted for tests for a possible blood clot following an injury he suffered on a bounty hunt. Duane is in very capable hands and and we thank everyone for their prayers."

He was released and is expected to make a scheduled appearance at at the Cathedral of Faith Church in San Jose, CA.

UPDATE: This morning, Beth tweeted: "Yes dog is injured it is an occupational hazard that we deal with he is very strong and in excellent condition he will 4 sure survive."

While in Hawaii this weekend, George Clooney posed for pics with two of his biggest fans ... Duane "Dog" Chapman and his lovely wife Beth.



Someone's definitely going to update their main Facebook pic.