Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Indiana SE
Posts: 5

What are you all's opinion of the best age to start a hound? I have a 4 month old redtick female and was wondering what you all thought. And how many times would you hunt a pup with another dog before turning them loose on their own?

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Ohio
Posts: 635

Last night I went hunting with two of my friends a 4 dog cast.
a 3year old Walker male a 2 1/2 year old Bluetick female a 18mt
old Blue Female and a 5 mt old Blue Male.

The 5mt old had never seen a caged coon only a coon tail when we cut the dogs loose the pup hung around our feet till the other two older treed then ne went in and thought it was PLAY TIME and wanted to chew ears and he got his butt wipped.

Two weeks I hunted in a 6 dog cast we was hunting with two of the dogs were 3 1/2 mts old Walkers they have seen a dead coon, coon tail, and a caged coon. They keep up all night with the older dogs and even smelled the trees and did a little barking.

I feel that it would depend on the trainning that YOU have put into your pup and if you have a GOOD pup trainner. i wish you the best of luck in your dicision and your trainning.





Home of GRCH 'PR' Hout's Firehouse Blue Sexy Lady

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 737

Rando,

Here's the honest answer and I am not trying to be smart. You can tell when the pup is ready by watching and listening to your pup. They will tell you when they are ready by their actions!! Some are by 5-6 months, some by 8-10 months, some 18+ and some the 1st day after NEVER.

How soon they are READY will be greatly affected by many things.
1. Breeding of the pup. (Heredity)
2. Environment.
3. Training or lack thereof.
4. Does the pup run loose or in a kennel all the time?

As for me, I like to take my pups on walks by themselves a few times a week in the daytime. When they start ranging away from me hunting and treeing squirrels, then I will take them after dark alone until they start hunting good. If they do that, it won't be long and they will tree a coon!! Just realize, it don't happen quickly. It's baby steps. NOT LEAPS at a time.


Most importantly, have fun with them and enjoy it all!

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Holden, MO
Posts: 408

I've got the same theory as Hoosier in a round about way. I use to run pups on squirels too. But, now I'm in the edge of town and have alot less time so I've went to cage training then the woods. Pups all very. Like Hoosier said some are 4-5 months, some 6-10, some may take untill their 2yrs old. They will show you when their ready. You will see a total maturity change in them and "Know". I like to have all the basic training done as soon as I can. By 4 or 5 months I want them to Come when I say, Load in the box, Lead wherever I want, and cross any fence they come too. When and If they can handle all that, and they have matured a bit then, I will show them the cage. You will know when their ready. You can just tell. Take him with you every chance you get. Walks, drives, any and everywhere you can. Get them use too the world. It helps mature them I think.

Good luck with your pup.
Always remember Patients.

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