Registered: Nov 2008
Location: Pinckneyville, IL
Posts: 959

Last night I took the dogs out planning to only make one quick drop so I could take my new little pup (8 1/2 weeks old) out of Cowboy Up and Little Indian Creek Reba along for a walk. I figured he would just follow in my footsteps like most pups this young do and for about the first ten minutes that's exactly what he did.

Then after I got a ways into the woods I stopped and sat on a log to listen to the older dogs work a little. The pup quickly got bored with me and decided to go for a walk on his own. Now since he's not had any training to come when called I decided I'd better follow him to make sure he didn't get away from me.

He put his little nose down in the dirt and little tail wagging the whole time and took off as fast as his 6 inch legs would carry him. He was definitely tracking something and I figured it was probably one of the older dogs.

After this went on for about 10 minutes, that little sucker (get ready for this) went to a tree, put both front paws on the trunk and started whimpering, whining, and bawling as loud as he could. I thought to myself, "You've got to be kidding me!! TREE MY PUP!!!"

The leaves and brush were super thick in that area and I couldn't even see up into the tree, much less find a coon, but he was definitely treeing some sort of critter. About that time my 3 year old female who is about 85% accurate came and backed him up! Circle points!

Needless to say I was kind of excited. I don't normally push pups to hunt hard very young (I usually wait til they're 8 months or so before I even try to start one.) but this was kind of cool.

Now I know some of you will think I'm full of crap, I would've too if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I just wish I would have been carrying a camera (from now on I will be)!! I need him to get big enough to wear a tracking collar quick cause it won't be long until I can't keep up with him anymore!

Pups can be fun when there not making you mad!!

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Keep 'em treed,
Jeff Wagner

Hunting is one of those pleasures that you won't understand if you have to have it explained, which is good because folks who enjoy it can't fully explain why. -Ron Spomer

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: cambridge,ohio
Posts: 4143

my old walker female samatha did that at 4 months old and the old dogs were loosing it in the creek,,she trailed it to a tree with grape vines and had the meat .

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 1535

That is what it is all about!No better feelin in the world than when a pup takes off like that, good luck with him!

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: s.c.
Posts: 6984

Believe me. I know how exciting that is. At almost exactly 4 months and the first time she went to the woods at night, I dumped the box and headed the dogs into the woods. She had not jumped off the tailgate. The dogs struck close at a ditch and took off. The pup went where they struck and started treeing. I chuckled a little thinking she was hung up at the ditch. She was standing on a pine and when I popped my light up, there was a coon on the bottom limb. This was back when I didn't expect Walkers to tree before a year and a half old.

I was so impressed, I kept taking her back and breeding her to the same line for three litters. It took me about seven years to realize that even though most of those pups were impressive young, they topped out mediocre at best. Some of them were better at 8 months than they were at 2 years.

I really hope yours turns out super. Just keep an open mind.

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Registered: Nov 2008
Location: Pinckneyville, IL
Posts: 959

Yeah lyle, I'm trying not to get my hopes up yet and I still don't plan on pushing him into it so young. I don't want to burn him out, but I will keep taking him along and if he does it he does it. If he doesn't then I will do what I always do and work him on caged coons etc when he gets older.

But it sure was fun to watch him work last night. Just doing what he's bred to do.

__________________
Keep 'em treed,
Jeff Wagner

Hunting is one of those pleasures that you won't understand if you have to have it explained, which is good because folks who enjoy it can't fully explain why. -Ron Spomer

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