diff --git a/src/Connection.php b/src/Connection.php
index 9a581fe..4c5fabf 100644
--- a/src/Connection.php
+++ b/src/Connection.php
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ private function sanitizeConfig(): void
                     'cert_password' => null,
                 ],
                 'options' => [
+                    'track_total_hits' => null, // null -> skips - max 10k by default; true -> full values; false -> no hit tracking, returns -1; int -> max hit tracking val, ex 20000
                     'bypass_map_validation' => false, // This skips the safety checks for Elastic Specific queries.
                     'logging' => false,
                     'ssl_verification' => true,
@@ -162,6 +163,8 @@ public function setOptions(): void
     {
         $this->allowIdSort = $this->config['options']['allow_id_sort'] ?? false;
 
+        $this->options()->add('track_total_hits', $this->config['options']['track_total_hits'] ?? null);
+
         $this->options()->add('bypass_map_validation', $this->config['options']['bypass_map_validation'] ?? null);
 
         if (isset($this->config['options']['ssl_verification'])) {
diff --git a/src/Eloquent/Builder.php b/src/Eloquent/Builder.php
index 29b230d..aa3865b 100644
--- a/src/Eloquent/Builder.php
+++ b/src/Eloquent/Builder.php
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ class Builder extends BaseEloquentBuilder
         'bucketaggregation',
         'openpit',
         'bulkinsert',
+        'createonly',
     ];
 
     /**
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ public function setModel($model): static
     public function newModelInstance($attributes = [])
     {
         $model = $this->model->newInstance($attributes)->setConnection(
-            $this->query->getConnection()->getName()
+            $this->query->connection->getName()
         );
 
         // Merge in our options.
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ public function hydrate(array $items)
         $instance = $this->newModelInstance();
 
         return $instance->newCollection(array_map(function ($item) use ($instance) {
-            return $instance->newFromBuilder($item, $this->getConnection()->getName());
+            return $instance->newFromBuilder($item, $this->query->connection->getName());
         }, $items));
     }
 
@@ -387,9 +388,25 @@ public function findOrNew($id, $columns = ['*']): Model
         return $model;
     }
 
-    public function withoutRefresh()
+    public function withoutRefresh(): Model
     {
-        $this->model->options()->add('refresh', false);
+        return $this->withRefresh(false);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Explicitly control the Elasticsearch refresh behavior for write ops.
+     * Accepts: true, false, or 'wait_for'.
+     */
+    public function withRefresh(bool|string $refresh): Model
+    {
+        $this->model->options()->add('refresh', $refresh);
+
+        return $this->model;
+    }
+
+    public function withOpType(string $value)
+    {
+        $this->model->options()->add('op_type', $value);
 
         return $this->model;
     }
@@ -644,6 +661,27 @@ public function rawDsl($dsl): array
         return $this->query->raw($dsl)->asArray();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Force insert operations to use op_type=create for dedupe semantics.
+     * When set, attempts to create an existing _id will fail with a 409 from Elasticsearch.
+     */
+    public function createOnly(): Model
+    {
+        // mark insert op type on the underlying query options
+        $this->withOpType('create');
+
+        return $this->model;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Convenience method to perform a create-only insert and surface 409s as exceptions.
+     * Accepts single document attributes or an array of documents.
+     */
+    public function createOrFail(array $attributes)
+    {
+        return $this->createOnly()->create($attributes);
+    }
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Protected
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/Eloquent/Docs/ModelDocs.php b/src/Eloquent/Docs/ModelDocs.php
index 48c45db..36be5ad 100644
--- a/src/Eloquent/Docs/ModelDocs.php
+++ b/src/Eloquent/Docs/ModelDocs.php
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@
  * @method static array getModels($columns = ['*'])
  * @method static ElasticCollection get($columns = ['*'])
  * @method static ElasticCollection insert($values, $returnData = null)
+ * @method static self createOnly()
+ * @method static self createOrFail(array $attributes)
  *-----------------------------------
  * @method static array toDsl($columns = ['*'])
  * @method static array toSql($columns = ['*'])
diff --git a/src/Exceptions/BulkInsertQueryException.php b/src/Exceptions/BulkInsertQueryException.php
index a03190f..b2bfba2 100644
--- a/src/Exceptions/BulkInsertQueryException.php
+++ b/src/Exceptions/BulkInsertQueryException.php
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ class BulkInsertQueryException extends LaravelElasticsearchException
      */
     public function __construct(Elasticsearch $queryResult)
     {
-        parent::__construct($this->formatMessage($queryResult->asArray()), 400);
+        $result = $queryResult->asArray();
+        parent::__construct($this->formatMessage($result), $this->inferStatusCode($result));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -30,12 +31,16 @@ private function formatMessage(array $result): string
         // Clean that ish up.
         $items = collect($result['items'] ?? [])
             ->filter(function (array $item) {
-                return $item['index'] && ! empty($item['index']['error']);
+                $action = array_key_first($item) ?? 'index';
+
+                return isset($item[$action]) && ! empty($item[$action]['error']);
             })
             ->map(function (array $item) {
-                return $item['index'];
+                $action = array_key_first($item) ?? 'index';
+
+                return $item[$action];
             })
-        // reduce to max limit
+            // reduce to max limit
             ->slice(0, $this->errorLimit)
             ->values();
 
@@ -44,11 +49,28 @@ private function formatMessage(array $result): string
         $message->push('Bulk Insert Errors ('.'Showing '.$items->count().' of '.$totalErrors->count().'):');
 
         $items = $items->map(function (array $item) {
-            return "{$item['_id']}: {$item['error']['reason']}";
+            $id = $item['_id'] ?? 'unknown';
+            $reason = $item['error']['reason'] ?? 'unknown error';
+            $type = $item['error']['type'] ?? 'error';
+
+            return "$id: [$type] $reason";
         })->values()->toArray();
 
         $message->push(...$items);
 
         return $message->implode(PHP_EOL);
     }
+
+    private function inferStatusCode(array $result): int
+    {
+        foreach ($result['items'] ?? [] as $item) {
+            $action = array_key_first($item) ?? 'index';
+            $error = $item[$action]['error'] ?? null;
+            if (is_array($error) && ($error['type'] ?? '') === 'version_conflict_engine_exception') {
+                return 409;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return 400;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/Query/Builder.php b/src/Query/Builder.php
index 7b07981..01ac2ec 100644
--- a/src/Query/Builder.php
+++ b/src/Query/Builder.php
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 use Illuminate\Contracts\Support\Arrayable;
 use Illuminate\Database\Query\Builder as BaseBuilder;
 use Illuminate\Database\Query\Expression;
+use Illuminate\Database\Query\Grammars\Grammar;
+use Illuminate\Database\Query\Processors\Processor;
 use Illuminate\Support\Arr;
 use Illuminate\Support\Collection;
 use Illuminate\Support\Str;
@@ -108,6 +110,12 @@ class Builder extends BaseBuilder
 
     protected ?MetaDTO $metaTransfer = null;
 
+    public function __construct(...$args)
+    {
+        parent::__construct(...$args);
+        $this->applyConnectionOptions();
+    }
+
     public function __call($method, $parameters)
     {
         if (Str::startsWith($method, 'filterWhere')) {
@@ -117,7 +125,7 @@ public function __call($method, $parameters)
         return parent::__call($method, $parameters);
     }
 
-    public function toDsl(): array
+    public function toDsl(): array|string
     {
         $this->applyBeforeQueryCallbacks();
 
@@ -129,6 +137,14 @@ public function toSql(): array|string
         return $this->toDsl();
     }
 
+    private function applyConnectionOptions()
+    {
+        $trackTotalHits = $this->connection->options()->get('track_total_hits');
+        if ($trackTotalHits !== null) {
+            $this->bodyParameters['track_total_hits'] = $trackTotalHits;
+        }
+    }
+
     // ======================================================================
     // Inherited Methods
     // ======================================================================
@@ -2414,6 +2430,23 @@ public function withAnalyzer(string $analyzer): self
         return $this;
     }
 
+    public function withTrackTotalHits(bool|int|null $val = true): self
+    {
+        if ($val === null) {
+            return $this->withoutTrackTotalHits();
+        }
+        $this->bodyParameters['track_total_hits'] = $val;
+
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    public function withoutTrackTotalHits(): self
+    {
+        unset($this->bodyParameters['track_total_hits']);
+
+        return $this;
+    }
+
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Internal Operations
     // ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/Query/DSL/DslBuilder.php b/src/Query/DSL/DslBuilder.php
index 2d2d8c4..d87a552 100644
--- a/src/Query/DSL/DslBuilder.php
+++ b/src/Query/DSL/DslBuilder.php
@@ -107,8 +107,9 @@ public function setFields(array $fields): self
 
     /**
      * Set a refresh parameter
+     * Accepts: true, false, or 'wait_for'
      */
-    public function setRefresh(bool $refresh = true): self
+    public function setRefresh(bool|string $refresh = true): self
     {
         return $this->set(['refresh'], $refresh);
     }
@@ -137,6 +138,11 @@ public function setPostFilter(array $filter): self
         return $this->set(['post_filter'], $filter);
     }
 
+    public function setOpType(string $type): self
+    {
+        return $this->set(['op_type'], $type);
+    }
+
     public function setOption(array $keys, $value): self
     {
         return $this->set($keys, $value);
diff --git a/src/Query/Grammar.php b/src/Query/Grammar.php
index 796ed7e..9512a5c 100644
--- a/src/Query/Grammar.php
+++ b/src/Query/Grammar.php
@@ -91,8 +91,14 @@ public function compileInsert($query, array $values): array
             } else {
                 unset($doc['id'], $doc['_id']);
             }
+            if (! empty($doc['_op_type'])) {
+                $options['op_type'] = $doc['_op_type'];
+                unset($doc['_op_type']);
+            } elseif ($optType = $query->getOption('op_type')) {
+                $options['op_type'] = $optType;
+            }
 
-            // Add the document index operation
+            // Add the document operation
             $index = DslFactory::indexOperation(
                 index: $query->getFrom(),
                 id: $docId,
diff --git a/src/Query/Processor.php b/src/Query/Processor.php
index 6abebbd..a3bae02 100644
--- a/src/Query/Processor.php
+++ b/src/Query/Processor.php
@@ -448,9 +448,9 @@ public function processBulkInsert(Builder $query, Elasticsearch $result): array
             foreach ($process['items'] as $item) {
                 if (! empty($item['index']['error'])) {
                     $outcome['errors'][] = [
-                        'id' => $item['index']['_id'],
-                        'type' => $item['index']['error']['type'],
-                        'reason' => $item['index']['error']['reason'],
+                        'id' => $item['index']['_id'] ?? null,
+                        'type' => $item['index']['error']['type'] ?? null,
+                        'reason' => $item['index']['error']['reason'] ?? null,
                     ];
                     $outcome['failed']++;
                 } else {
diff --git a/tests/CreateOpTypeTest.php b/tests/CreateOpTypeTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4e19fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/CreateOpTypeTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use PDPhilip\Elasticsearch\Exceptions\BulkInsertQueryException;
+use PDPhilip\Elasticsearch\Tests\Models\User;
+
+beforeEach(function () {
+    User::executeSchema();
+});
+
+it('creates a document with createOnly and rejects duplicates', function () {
+    $id = 'dataset:check-1:2025-01-01T00:00:00Z';
+
+    // First create should succeed
+    User::query()
+        ->createOnly()
+        ->withRefresh('wait_for')
+        ->create([
+            'id' => $id,
+            'name' => 'First Insert',
+            'title' => 'admin',
+            'age' => 30,
+        ]);
+
+    $found = User::find($id);
+    expect($found)->not()->toBeNull();
+    expect($found->id)->toBe($id);
+
+    // Second create with same _id must fail with 409 (bulk error)
+    expect(function () use ($id) {
+        User::query()
+            ->createOnly()
+            ->create([
+                'id' => $id,
+                'name' => 'Second Insert',
+                'title' => 'user',
+                'age' => 31,
+            ]);
+    })->toThrow(BulkInsertQueryException::class);
+});
+
+it('creates a document with createOrFail and rejects duplicates', function () {
+    $id = 'dataset:check-1:2025-01-01T00:00:00Z';
+
+    // First create should succeed
+    User::query()
+        ->withRefresh('wait_for')
+        ->createOrFail([
+            'id' => $id,
+            'name' => 'First Insert',
+            'title' => 'admin',
+            'age' => 30,
+        ]);
+
+    $found = User::find($id);
+    expect($found)->not()->toBeNull();
+    expect($found->id)->toBe($id);
+
+    // Second create with same _id must fail with 409 (bulk error)
+    expect(function () use ($id) {
+        User::query()
+            ->createOrFail([
+                'id' => $id,
+                'name' => 'Second Insert',
+                'title' => 'user',
+                'age' => 31,
+            ]);
+    })->toThrow(BulkInsertQueryException::class);
+});
+
+it('supports per-document op_type via attribute', function () {
+    $id = 'dataset:check-2:2025-01-01T00:00:00Z';
+
+    // Create with per-document op_type
+    User::create([
+        'id' => $id,
+        '_op_type' => 'create',
+        'name' => 'Doc Create',
+        'title' => 'admin',
+        'age' => 42,
+    ]);
+
+    $found = User::find($id);
+    expect($found)->not()->toBeNull();
+    expect($found->id)->toBe($id);
+
+    // Duplicate should raise conflict
+    expect(function () use ($id) {
+        User::create([
+            'id' => $id,
+            '_op_type' => 'create',
+            'name' => 'Doc Create Duplicate',
+        ]);
+    })->toThrow(BulkInsertQueryException::class);
+});
diff --git a/tests/LargeRecordsTest.php b/tests/LargeRecordsTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3c39d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/LargeRecordsTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use PDPhilip\Elasticsearch\Tests\Models\Product;
+
+beforeEach(function () {
+    Product::executeSchema();
+
+});
+
+it('tests track total hits', function () {
+
+    Product::buildRecords(11_000);
+
+    class ProductWithDefaultTrackTotalHits extends Product
+    {
+        protected $connection = 'elasticsearch_with_default_track_total_hits';
+    }
+
+    $products = Product::limit(1)->get();
+    expect($products->getQueryMeta()->getTotalHits())->toBe(10000);
+
+    $products = Product::limit(1)->withTrackTotalHits()->get();
+    expect($products->getQueryMeta()->getTotalHits())->toBe(11000);
+
+    $products = Product::limit(1)->withTrackTotalHits(false)->get();
+    expect($products->getQueryMeta()->getTotalHits())->toBe(-1);
+
+    $products = Product::limit(1)->withTrackTotalHits(300)->get();
+    expect($products->getQueryMeta()->getTotalHits())->toBe(300);
+
+    $products = ProductWithDefaultTrackTotalHits::limit(1)->get();
+    expect($products->getQueryMeta()->getTotalHits())->toBe(11000);
+
+    $products = ProductWithDefaultTrackTotalHits::limit(1)->withoutTrackTotalHits()->get();
+    expect($products->getQueryMeta()->getTotalHits())->toBe(10000);
+
+    $products = ProductWithDefaultTrackTotalHits::limit(1)->withTrackTotalHits(300)->get();
+    expect($products->getQueryMeta()->getTotalHits())->toBe(300);
+
+});
diff --git a/tests/Models/Product.php b/tests/Models/Product.php
index 4eb79c9..3579558 100644
--- a/tests/Models/Product.php
+++ b/tests/Models/Product.php
@@ -29,4 +29,17 @@ public static function executeSchema()
             $table->date('updated_at');
         });
     }
+
+    public static function buildRecords($limit = 100)
+    {
+        $records = [];
+        while ($limit) {
+            $records[] = [
+                'state' => rand(1, 100),
+            ];
+            $limit--;
+        }
+        Product::insert($records);
+        //        Product::withoutRefresh()->insert($records);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/TestCase.php b/tests/TestCase.php
index 6727b0f..974a911 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase.php
@@ -56,5 +56,15 @@ protected function getEnvironmentSetUp($app): void
                 'logging' => true,
             ],
         ]);
+
+        $app['config']->set('database.connections.elasticsearch_with_default_track_total_hits', [
+            'driver' => 'elasticsearch',
+            'auth_type' => 'http',
+            'hosts' => ['http://localhost:9200'],
+            'options' => [
+                'track_total_hits' => true,
+                'logging' => true,
+            ],
+        ]);
     }
 }