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Question for the more experienced

First of all howdy, from Texas, it's good to find a message board dedicated to Coonhounds I am a new owner, but trying to learn fast. I have a few questions, for the more experienced trainers, this is my first dog to train from a pup so I'm finding a lot out the hard way. My other experience has been running with my uncle and his dogs, but that was years ago and he's out of the game. Nor does he care to help much. So I'm relying on you fellas.

My dog is a big leggy (nearly 80lb. Buckskin Plott named Scruffy Dog) and he's about 16 months old. He had a rough time growing up so I waited a while to start his training. He was underwieght needed eye surgery and it took him a while to recover. He is still a little nervy (shakes real bad) when he's not working. But, when he's working he's tough as nails. I put him on a caged coon four times now, 2 day and 2 night, about a week apart and he knows exactly what to do. Problem is, now he's gotten to where he loses his cool anytime he hears the darn cage move or anything that sounds like the cage. He's not tracking at all on scent, Oh - he's nose to the ground, but it doesn't matter if it's coon scent or strawberry punch he's after whatever smells interesting. Of course when he hears that cage rattle nothing else in the world matters. So, how can I help him make the transfer from sound to smell?

I think this sucker will make a good dog if the trainer knows what to do, he has a blood lust for coons when he knows what he's after. I just need to help him to make the connection.

Thanks for any help
LHR

live trap

some coon and let him watch you turn them loose. give him a couple sight chases so he runs to catch. if he goes for the chase start turning some coon loose and wait for it to get out of sight then let him try to work the track. once he has treed a few he should be ready to take out at night on his own. may need to spend some nights in the woods before he gets anything treed. but just keep taking him to where there is plenty of coon.

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First you need to find out why he is shaking when he is not working.......Next, give the dog a choice,or better yet allow him to make a choice.What I mean is.You discribed that he is associateing the sound of the cage,with loseing his cool.What do you think will happen if you put 2,3,4, cages infront of him,or all around him.Put a coon in one of them,and see what choice he makes.My guess is that you have used only one cage on him.To him thats a no brainer.One cage, one sound, you got what you have.The transfer you are looking for is in the choice he will make, when you give him one to make.At present you are not giving him any choices to make.Dogs are intelligent capable of making choices.After 2 times at this turn your coon lose,keep your dog on the lead for the first time and see if he trails it.The longer lead you have the better. Use the lead to control him.You do not want to over do it with the cage.