Registered: May 2016
Location: Palatka, FL
Posts: 5106

Many people are not getting the full enjoyment or capability out of a hound because they are timid about correcting a dog around a coon. Either while treeing or if the coon has bee dispatched out of the tree. You have to put that old school nonsense out of your training methods. I am from the old school where it didn't do anything to disrupt a dog treeing. But over the years I have learned from the dogs and know the lever of tracing some are capable to achieve. That is really the key. What level of training can a dog withstand.
I had a situation the other night that surprised me. Had a young dog that we wanted to show a caged coon. I have found that dealing with a cage coon in most cases doesn't go as planned. Really not worth the effort in a lot of cases. However we had caught a garbage can coon that was really busy for down here. Cut it loose in some short grass and small pines. It rambled off so we cut a pup and old dog loose. Well this coon went out about fifty yards and didn't climb. The old dog caught up with it on the ground. The pup stayed with us. Well it was a good time to see just how well trained the old dog was. I toned the old dog and called him. I have called this dog off many trees be never when he was face to face with a coon. Anyway he left the coon and came to me. Actually a little surprised but happy about that. These dogs can be trained beyond your imagination and still perform well as a coonhound. I had dogs with plenty of battle scars when I was young. However I learned they became coondogs from their genetics. Not scars.

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22586

Mr Conkey, how many years has it taken you to learn that?

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Registered: May 2016
Location: Palatka, FL
Posts: 5106

Probably over fifty. It is really hard when your working with someone a lot younger. I have a grandson that has moved down here with his family and he is a newbe working dogs. I love his enthusiasm and keep telling myself to just let him learn to do things his way. If he messed a dog or two before he gets it. No big deal. I know I did. It's funny. Dog training on paper is easy to write about. But there has to be a feel for the dogs actions and response to its actions. I found an old book on the shelf titled making coonhounds pay off. Think it was by Miller Brothers. It talks about ending a hunt on a good note and if a pup has a good experience. Let it think about that experience a week before going again. I am not sure about a week but I think a few 4 days or so can't hurt.

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