Registered: Jul 2009
Location: INDIANA
Posts: 2878

Lets hear everyone's expectations of pups 6 to 9 months old if you are hunting them a couple times a week. Would love to get info. from as many think I expect too much at that age. Not too old to still learn! LOL!

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Iowa
Posts: 599

I don't expect them to do much till a year old. I've had a couple that bayed at caged coons, and such like 10 months, but not much earlier than that. I've hunted about every line of Bluetick there is, and have yet to see anything younger than 10 months old go after a coon with any kind of grit.

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Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 1775

Very dependent on the pup.

Many will monkey see monkey do when cast with an old dog. Very few will go hunting, run and tree a coon when cast alone at that age.

Do you think early starters finish out to nicer hounds than later starters?

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A couple blue haired potlickers

Gone but not forgotten:
Nt Ch Fanny's Midnite Blue Annie - aka Sodie Pop R.I.P. - I will miss you old girl

Nt Ch Becky’s Midnite Blue Hank - R.I.P. Old Boy, thank you for the memories

Gr Nt Ch S&E's Midnite Lite Blue Snow (Co-Owned with my good friend Harry Eidenier) - We had a blast following you ole girl!

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: airville,pa
Posts: 2078

I don't expect anything but with that said over the passed decade when I think back on the pups I have trained most tree there own coon before a year old if they made anything worth while. Some of them by 6 months old. If they can't tree there own coon by around a year old I may finish training them out but breeding them is outta the question for me.
So in my opinion if they have been given a decent chance most pups you can tell by 9 months or less if ya need to cull and move on or not.

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Registered: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 903

On pups that has had enough exposure in the woods by 9 months of age ( hunted 10 to 12 times)
I expect them to stay hooked on tracks, locate trees and tree until I arrive
at the tree on good tracks.
I won’t keep or attempt to train a pup that can’t on won’t tree coon before
their first birthday.

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

How they start isn’t necessarily how they finish. The best I’ve seen dint tree well until over a year old . But they went hunting and were track first dogs . My opinion is to much is expected early. If the dog will actually run a coon track I’ve learned to be patient.

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Registered: Mar 2009
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 880

for those that are setting the bar at 6 to 12 months, Id have to think yer probably overlooking some pups that later mite be the best dog ya ever owned. My experience over the years is pretty normally most wont get too serious until in that 10 to 13 months age group.
I dont cull or replace one under a year old for sure unless they show shy tendenancies. Elsewise maybe tht special moment just hasnt clicked yet on huntin them 6 to 12 times out. some dogs just have it, others seem to need that special something to occur like a fight in the corn, or a coon in a hole where they can see it etc......
So, if ya got one gettin it on at 6 to 9 months, i think ya got an exception to the rule...JMO

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: airville,pa
Posts: 2078

Shy pups are a big no way for me. I just can't stand to waste time on them. Makes me cringe just thinking about them.

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: WV
Posts: 821

I can only speak on my experiences only. I have raised and/or bought many pups and started them with much different results. Probably the earliest starting pups were the ones close up on Jet V. Had em hanging off the side of a tree making you believe it was up there at 5 months old and others not until 10 to 13 months old. I don't get too excited if they don't start by 10 months but usually they should start showing you something before 1 year old. Pups are like kinder garden kids. Some are focused and some are over in the corner snoozing. Know what the bloodline is and how they start. Some start a little slower than others but that definitely doesn't mean they wont finish out better. I usually know by 12/15 months if they're going to satisfy me. I'm pretty hard to please in my old age and can determine early on if they are the type for me. Just because they're not right for me doesn't mean they won't be right for someone else, we each know what we will put up with. In answer to your question, between 6 & 9 months. If hunted 12 to 18 times, they should lead fairly well, load in the truck, show interest in going with the old dogs and show interest in a coon. Some won't bark at a live coon because they are scared but that's not a fault. It just takes some a little longer to click. My good friend Rob Haller describes a pup as a live wire that is not touching yet. Once in a while it will make connection and a light will come on and then go off again but you're looking for the light to come on and stay on which can be soon or a little later.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Columbus, Ks
Posts: 5398

Ron thinks a lot like I do. I get real excited about a pup when they run and tree the first or second night out. However, I loose that excitement when they start blowing at other dogs at a year old. If a pup runs loose until there treeing cats & squirrels, they will probably tree coon when hunted at night. If they go hunting and hate coon I give them a good chance. If you can't ever get good bred pups to tree, your pup trainer is probably the problem.

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The Hounds I Enjoyed Hunting:
Dual Gr Natural Smokey River Rebel, A buddy of mine
Gr. Nt Natural Blue Echo ( Gr Nt Quail Ck Jimmy X Nt Ch Natural Blue Bell)
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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3465

quote:

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[i]. If you can't ever get good bred pups to tree, your pup trainer is probably the problem. [/B]

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Registered: Jul 2009
Location: INDIANA
Posts: 2878

Lots of good comments and thoughts. I have basically only had very few in my 50 plus years of coon hunting that would not tree, the problem is finding a young one that meets the needs. Hell when we were young we got them at the dog pound and had them treeing in no time!! I can honestly say I have only got rid of two hounds I regretted getting rid of in my life, one a walker bitch and a blue bitch. I personally can not keep one -past 9 to 10 months old that will not run and tree. They have left one way or another, had faults and I did not want to live with, some that left would not have please anyone and you wont see them in the breeders arena and do not care about the blood line, worthless is just that!!

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Registered: Aug 2010
Location:
Posts: 742

I had a jet pup out of a male out of jet v that started running and treeing with older hound at 4 months old. Treed by her self 6months old. Got her from Grayson Paul.had one out of Leon's Darkside and blue Lable lily ran and treed his own coon at 5 months old by his self his name was max.

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Registered: Mar 2018
Location: oklahoma/Kansas stateline
Posts: 49

I've always went off what older guys taught me. Robert Shelton always preaches to me that blue dogs mature alot slower than say walkers or english dogs so you have to be more patient and then Mike Williamson always told me 80% of their instincts are bred into them so its a matter of getting them to light that fire, which i also believe is true. i have a year old gyp that showed interest in a caged coon at 10 months old and she will go hunt now but she hasnt quite figured out what shes looking for due to my failure of being able to trap another coon for her to see again. and im also not the type to cull a dog cause 1. im not rich and cant afford to kill dogs that dont suit my liking 2. its hard to pass judgement on a dog that hasnt been brought to its full capability especially a pup.

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: WV
Posts: 821

The most valuable tool a person has when it comes to training a young dog is, "PATIANTS". Also, get a pup from a reputable source and know it's linage and how they started and finished. And one more very important thing, lay off the shocker! Remember that for every action there will be a reaction and sometimes it can take a young hound a long while to get over the "E" button. Don't use the shocker just because you're mad because your dog is doing something stupid and your buddies dog isn't. How many of you have seen a group of little league players and picked out which one would be the best player in 5 years?? It's a process. "PATIANTS"

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

My experience . The longer I hunt I realize the less I know.But I’ve seen a lot of pups given up on and passed on because they didn’t do it all at a young age. I don’t claim to know how to train a pup .As soon as I think I’m qualified to give advice I find out I’m not lol ..With that said I had the pleasure of watching two slow starting hounds turn real nice . I hunt with a guy that’s as patient as they come . He takes them to the woods and turns them out . He don’t baby them but he don’t beat them ,kick them , or shock them . When he talks to them it’s always the same , always loud . They don’t cower down from his voice .They do what they’re told. When they’re not hunting they’re in the kennel He don’t pet them.Wnen folks said how do you put up with them he said “they’re all I got”. None of his dogs were good at nine months old ,not even close they were nothing but green pups but they had a few nights that showed potential .At two years old they were mediocre hit and miss kind of hounds . At 3 years old they were good hounds . Today both are excellent ,accurate ,hard hunting coon dogs .They seldom have a bad night. I have been to the woods with these hounds every time they were hunted.one of them for 6 years ! The other for 3 years .We hunt twice a week year round which might explain slow progress.It has been a learning experience.Patience.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Posts: 4174

I have been blessed with young dogs that have been treeing coons at a very early age alone. They have turned out to be excellent cooners. I found out when your hunting a certain line or type of dog you know what to except and how to get them going. Most I have seen ran track first then treed. Some have done it all. One thing I did know and see is that they hated a coon. To me it seemed like they go yonder stuff came with more age. Most treed tracks as they came to them. I'd say know your blood line your dealing with and don't get flustered. If your breeding to late starters then don't get mad if they are not showing you anything at the early ages. If your breeding early starting dogs then in my opinion you expect more or at least I do.
Yes pups running loose have more of a chance to start early if you have the space for them to do so.
I my opinion a dog that tracks first is more accurate than one that trees first then tracks. There is no pleasure in walking to a slick tree.
I believe in taking a pup alone when hunting. They can't learn anything sitting in the pen.
Being a patient trainer and knowing how to train is huge.
Anyway keep the blue and true. Stay focused and do your homework.

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GrNitech Overton's Breathless Blue Chief Full brother to Nite ch Snowdens Runt
Gr Nite ch Overton's Breathless Blu Knight. King of Hunt Fall Round Up 2006 loudest dog I have ever owned.
Gr Nite ch Overton's Breathless Blue Roler hit died at 2years old at semi finals of World hunt
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Gr Ch Nitech Rob's Blue Tomahawk
Pr Overton's Breathless Blue Dolly super fast track and tree dog. accurate.
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Nite Ch O Breathless Blue Tree Dragon
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*All my dogs are old Ucthman Hawk and Scout breeding with some Smokey River Chief and Diamond Jim.
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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: southern ohio
Posts: 144

Pups

Walker dogs generally are running and treeing before 12 months as far as blue dogs u guys might as well wait till there 14 or 15 months to try to start and then if it’s cold out make sure u dress warm and build a nice fire !!!

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: airville,pa
Posts: 2078

quote:

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Originally posted by littleharry_80
Walker dogs generally are running and treeing before 12 months as far as blue dogs u guys might as well wait till there 14 or 15 months to try to start and then if it’s cold out make sure u dress warm and build a nice fire !!!

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Registered: Jul 2009
Location: INDIANA
Posts: 2878

quote:

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Originally posted by littleharry_80
Walker dogs generally are running and treeing before 12 months as far as blue dogs u guys might as well wait till there 14 or 15 months to try to start and then if it’s cold out make sure u dress warm and build a nice fire !!!

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Registered: Sep 2005
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 1775

quote:

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Originally posted by littleharry_80
Walker dogs generally are running and treeing before 12 months as far as blue dogs u guys might as well wait till there 14 or 15 months to try to start and then if it’s cold out make sure u dress warm and build a nice fire !!!

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A good lawn chair and a 3 acre spread for ole blue to ramble around on and the evening will be complete!

Not to hijack the thread, but at what age do you expect a young blue dog to be able run and tree their own coon when hunted alone?

For myself, although encouraging to see a youngster show good actions when hunted with another dog, I don’t get too excited about one until they start treeing some coon by themselves when being hunted alone and are showing progression when doing so.

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Home of:
A couple blue haired potlickers

Gone but not forgotten:
Nt Ch Fanny's Midnite Blue Annie - aka Sodie Pop R.I.P. - I will miss you old girl

Nt Ch Becky’s Midnite Blue Hank - R.I.P. Old Boy, thank you for the memories

Gr Nt Ch S&E's Midnite Lite Blue Snow (Co-Owned with my good friend Harry Eidenier) - We had a blast following you ole girl!

Last edited by Vic Stoll on 01-12-2019 at 04:41 PM

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Registered: Jul 2009
Location: INDIANA
Posts: 2878

If they will not run and tree by them self and have been hunted up to ten months old they are gone from here. I'm 62 and only had two I got rid of I wished I had kept. The rest might have made a coon dog but not what I wanted.

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Corey Robbins Cell : 812-608-1645 / Home 812-547-2775

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