Registered: Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1150

What is your opinion on when its too late to start working with a dog,

Ex. You come across a pup that is 6-8 months old never been messed with other than knowing how to load up and walk with a lead. But the Sire is a Grand Nite and the dam a nite ch would you take it to start molding it into a coondog.


I have a pup at home she'll a year old in august and i haven't been messin with her too much other than riding in the bed of the truck and lesh manners. and getting her to come when called. She dont know what a coon right now. Do you think its too late for her? I heard if you start them too early it messes them brains up late on, any truth to that?


PS. On a side note my other dog well im starting to wonder bout him. When i hunt him at night it seems like he is trying to work something up, So i ran a drag yesterday afternoon and he worked the track on track and off track all the way to the tree, what i noticed was it he goes around trees along the track getting good sniffs on them and continues working the track, He got to the tree with the skin in it and stop and kept sniffing and sniffing and i think he knew he had it but its like hes not confident, Any thoughts on how to build confident in him? i walked into the and pointed toward the trunk where i made sure to rub the skin real good and he started blowing the tree down,

Anyway to help his confidence?

Thanks in advance

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Registered: Apr 2013
Location: JAX ,FL
Posts: 320

The two you gave their age are still very young . I don't think it's ever too late until the dog has been given a good chance and proves its worth .i wouldn't even try a dog until it's 8 months old . Then if it didn't seem interested I'd try again after a month. Most of them don't show much until they are past a year old. Now before anyone jumps in about early starters I said MOST of them .Lots of dogs are given up on too soon.That said sounds like your trying to start three dogs at once. That's gonna be tough . Just my opinion .Good luck.

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Registered: Sep 2014
Location:
Posts: 562

i let all my young dogs run loose here and i never take them to the big woods until they show interest in hunting or have started some and some may be younger than 1 year old and some older , if a pup or dog has it in them to be a coon dog it will come out no matter how old all though at a older age they may not turn out as good as they could of been , i have never liked to work pups or dogs on drags or caged coons and never will it leads to more problems later on , the best thing you can do is put both of the ones you are talking about in the woods as much as you can and let them figure it out as they go and if they are going to make it you will see it come out all though it takes time and most everyone thinks 10 or 12 trips out hunting and it is over and if you see that it will be a rare case , just keep hunting them , good luck ..

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

You have to get em in the woods Duck. The old cliche "they don't learn anything on the chain" has allot of truth to it. Just start hunting your dogs at least 3-4 nights a week and you'll be surprised how quick they'll come around.

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Registered: Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1150

im not really trying to start both of them, im really putting all my free time into my male dog (About 1 1/2 Years Old) like i said it seems like he is not sure of himself. and some times it looks as if he is trying to look in the tree for coon, my buddy said he is winding something could be. I know he has potential diffidently isn't hanging around your feet when you cut him. Hes been on 2 coon so far in his life, So still wet behind the ears. i know that, Is there anything i can do besides just keep hunting him, with work in full effect now i go only on weekends.

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

quote:

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Originally posted by Duckassassin
im not really trying to start both of them, im really putting all my free time into my male dog (About 1 1/2 Years Old) like i said it seems like he is not sure of himself. and some times it looks as if he is trying to look in the tree for coon, my buddy said he is winding something could be. I know he has potential diffidently isn't hanging around your feet when you cut him. Hes been on 2 coon so far in his life, So still wet behind the ears. i know that, Is there anything i can do besides just keep hunting him, with work in full effect now i go only on weekends.

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Registered: Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1150

quote:

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Originally posted by RLenhart
You know; you don't have to hunt half the night when you go through the week. Just getting them out there for a drop or two is better than leaving them on the chain all week. This time of the year it gets dark so early you can go tree a couple and still be back in the house by 9:00 - 10:00.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North GA
Posts: 14388

Id rather start one later I think. Just seems like they catch on earlier. I have one now that will be a yr old come mid april. She's grown up a lot the last couple months. I will probably start her soon when she comes out of heat.

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Michael Ghorley

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Registered: Jan 2016
Location: Bois d'Arc, MO.
Posts: 1823

Sounds like he's gettin in a habit of check in trees is it dry there? The way you hunt him probably has a lot to do with it didn't you say you road hunt alot? If that's the case stop doing it start casting him into timber and the more he is hunted the better he will get.

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Registered: Jan 2016
Location: Bois d'Arc, MO.
Posts: 1823

And personally the only drag I'd make is with a fresh coon. hides are a waste of time And I like so start them as soon as possible no it doesn't cause problems down the rd. Some dogs do start a little slower all the more reason to start early! Remember good situations make all the difference and alot of that has alittle luck involved.

Last edited by rob thompson on 02-15-2016 at 11:36 PM

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Registered: Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1150

quote:

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Originally posted by rob thompson
Sounds like he's gettin in a habit of check in trees is it dry there? The way you hunt him probably has a lot to do with it didn't you say you road hunt alot? If that's the case stop doing it start casting him into timber and the more he is hunted the better he will get.

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Registered: Mar 2013
Location: Rover,Arkansas
Posts: 1133

I would say it's never too late to start one. The first good dog I had was 4 when I bought her and had never been out of her fenced in yard . she was a pet only. She was a good dog in a week and great one in a month. Me and you talked about the road hunting before ( remember the horse racing ) if that's the only way You can or want to hunt have at it But it creates a bunch of problems i'm not going to have. As Rob said above putting them in the right situation while training is vital . It's more important to hunt smart than hunt hard. Good luck hope things come together for you.

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Registered: May 2008
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3147

What part of California are you in? What's your coon population like?

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Get a Good One

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Registered: Jan 2016
Location: Bois d'Arc, MO.
Posts: 1823

quote:

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Originally posted by Duckassassin
Yes i road hunt, He will go into the timber and check things out & come back onto the road. And it is starting to warm up around here we are hitting the 70's

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Registered: Jan 2016
Location: Bois d'Arc, MO.
Posts: 1823

And as far as your pup don't start her road hunting! Hunt her like a coondog! It's fine to turn her loose on a hot coon but start her by freecasting her. If you need a feeder so be it. Walk hunt recast off of trees tree more than one in a patch of timber. Walk hunting is the best way to hunt a dog period. The guys I've seen with the best dogs recast and walk hunt. Just food for thought.

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Registered: Feb 2007
Location: Pomeroy, Ohio
Posts: 2843

One of my favorite dogs was started at eleven months, laid up until he was two and half years old and hunted about 20 nights the laid up until I got him at 4 1/2 years old. I started hunting him and he became a really nice hound that I enjoyed for a few more years.

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John Smith
Ohio Valley Bluetick Kennel

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Registered: Aug 2011
Location: Louvale Georgia
Posts: 1460

I've talked to a fellow he is a breeder that's been around for a long time and I'm sure some of y'all know him and just one conversation with him I've learned a lot. His name is Archie Dore and he told me waiting for the pup to get 8 or 9 months old before starting a puppy. Helps the puppies to get their feet under them good and they can keep up with other dogs in the woods if you hunt the pups with a pup trainer. Obedience training first.

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Registered: Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1150

Thanks for the advice guys, The main reason i dont walk hunt is cause the areas i hunt i woulndt want to leave my pickup un attendedv might come back with it being picked to the bone..but there is a creek by my house that i may start walk hunting them in.

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Registered: May 2008
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3147

What is coon pop like in California?

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Registered: Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1150

quote:

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Originally posted by high ridge
What is coon pop like in California?

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Registered: May 2008
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3147

What part of Cali are you in? I would enjoy to coon hunt in California. Would you entertain taking someone a few nights if they came out

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Registered: Feb 2015
Location: California
Posts: 1150

quote:

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Originally posted by high ridge
What part of Cali are you in? I would enjoy to coon hunt in California. Would you entertain taking someone a few nights if they came out

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