Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Posts: 94

What are you all's opinions and experiences on how much to hunt a young dog? I've got a female bluetick (14 months old) that I've been hunting nearly every night and doing quite a bit of road hunting to knock coon out to her. Some nights we hunt all night long. She's done pretty good But Iv noticed the past couple of weeks that she's seemed to have more bad nights than good nights. What I mean by bad nights is she doesn't seem to have the drive that she has on some nights to work a track and tree it. She may work it for a bit then just come back while the older dog takes it on to the tree. I know she's young and young dogs just aren't able to consistently do it every night. But my question is can I be possibly pushing her too hard? Should I back off a little and let her rest more and take her out for shorter hunts rather than several hours or all night? I'm thinking of starting to single her out by herself as I think her having the time to work the track herself will help her a lot. I'm open to all advice. Thanks guys.

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3468

Would you have wanted to work 12 hrs. a day 7 days a week when you were 12 years old?

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Registered: Apr 2014
Location: NC
Posts: 119

quote:

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Originally posted by shadinc
Would you have wanted to work 12 hrs. a day 7 days a week when you were 12 years old?

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Registered: May 2007
Location: fairmont wv
Posts: 11948

some young dog's can take it some can't imo i think you are hunting her way to hard but it's your dog i never hunt a young dog to the point they are wote out that hurt's them as much if not more than just hunting them say 4 nite's a week

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location:
Posts: 446

I have never out hunted a cooooon dog they will tire you out not them

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Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Posts: 94

Shadinc that's kinda what Iv been thinking. I guess Iv got excited since she was doing well and didn't take into consideration that she might be extremely worn out and sore which may be the cause of her drive being down lately. I think I'll lay her up a few days and then proceed with hunting a few nights a week and not all night long for awhile.

Keep the advice coming though. I appreciate it.

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

The dog will tell you what it needs. Lay her up till she starts barking and gets restless.

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Registered: Sep 2010
Location: New Paris, Indiana
Posts: 7076

quote:

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Originally posted by shadinc
Would you have wanted to work 12 hrs. a day 7 days a week when you were 12 years old?

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Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Posts: 94

Jim, no dogs aren't humans, but like humans, they do get sore, tired, and worn out. I think that was the man's point and it was a good point.

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3468

Wow! The things you can learn on this forum. Today I learned that dogs are not human.

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

And next week tune in for another episode of;
WHO'S LIGHT IS THE BRIGHTEST? LOL

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Registered: Jun 2014
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 3468

How about which coonhunter is the brightest?

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Registered: Jul 2008
Location: BOONEVILLE KY.
Posts: 931

And the # one and two topics which dog food is best and what stud dog should i breed too.lol.

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Registered: Mar 2008
Location: LaPorte IN
Posts: 1620

But my question is can I be possibly pushing her too hard? Should I back off a little and let her rest more and take her out for shorter hunts rather than several hours or all night? I'm thinking of starting to single her out by herself as I think her having the time to work the track herself will help her a lot. I'm open to all advice. Thanks guys. [/B][/QUOTE]


it seems to me that you just answered your own ???? you say you have been roading her could that be because you are tried? I know when I had a rig dog after hunting and working during the week I was tired , the dog wasn't because he got to lay up all day when I was at work so on weekends I rigged. hunt her one or two drops a night if you want to keep hunting leave her in the box make her want to go.

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

quote:

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Originally posted by shadinc
How about which coonhunter is the brightest?

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

On a serious note I guess i should way in on the question that was asked. If that young dog seems a little overwhelmed, yes I would back off a little and not wear her out, but at the same time she's not that far from being two years old. At two I would say that dog better handle all I can handle. jmo

Last edited by RLenhart on 01-19-2015 at 03:19 PM

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Registered: Jul 2012
Location: Odessa, Mo
Posts: 2066

IMO. You'll wear out before that hound will.

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: PA.
Posts: 1738

quote:

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Originally posted by Slowpoke 2012
IMO. You'll wear out before that hound will.

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

Not all dogs are the same some do better the harder you hunt them, so do better on there own with out the constant pushing. Laying a young dog up that is a little more laid back can do wonders imo.

Another thing to keep in mind would be lymes, keep an eye on her if you see any stiffness, and you live in area where lymes is, I would go ahead and start a treatment of doxycycline.

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Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Posts: 94

Buck brush what does me being tired or not have to do with anything? I'm asking if a young dog who has not been hunted by the previous owner and has now been being hunted by me nearly every night and road hunting quite a bit in order to get some easier tracks for her is possibly putting too much on her and maybe need to back off a little.

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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Clarksville, AR
Posts: 1077

I'm getting a little too soft to do it now, but there was a time that I wore out and probably ruined several young dogs hunting them too much. I'd always heard that so many dogs just needed "a little more hunting", and I gave it to them. Not to brag, but there were years where we'd hunt in the neighborhood of 300 nights. We had one old dog that could handle it, and it always seemed like the young ones would start with a bang, then fizzle out. I really hung onto the idea that more hunting would cure all their ills, when I was probably making it worse.
It's really specific to the dog, but whoever said above that a pup will tell you how to hunt it or what it needs was spot on. I'd focus on quality hunts, high probability areas and good conditions. Try your best to set that pup up for success after success until it gets to be a habit, then raise the bar a little. Make him hunt a little harder. Start going in less than ideal conditions. Go more often. But do it all gradually. I think a rest and then some quality hunts are in order for your pup. Two "good nights" a week will do more for a pup than six bad ones.

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Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Posts: 94

Thanks Cory. I appreciate the wisdom brother.

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Registered: Mar 2008
Location: LaPorte IN
Posts: 1620

quote:

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Originally posted by Allbritton
Buck brush what does me being tired or not have to do with anything? I'm asking if a young dog who has not been hunted by the previous owner and has now been being hunted by me nearly every night and road hunting quite a bit in order to get some easier tracks for her is possibly putting too much on her and maybe need to back off a little.

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Registered: Jan 2012
Location: Goshen,Ohio
Posts: 2679

You might want to take a look at your feed.Ive never over hunted a dog but have noticed once you get up to 4-5 nights a week or more the dogs start slowing down and dropping weight bad......By the way Im jealous you have that much time and land to hunt.lol

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

quote:

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Originally posted by Cory Highfill
I'm getting a little too soft to do it now, but there was a time that I wore out and probably ruined several young dogs hunting them too much. I'd always heard that so many dogs just needed "a little more hunting", and I gave it to them. Not to brag, but there were years where we'd hunt in the neighborhood of 300 nights. We had one old dog that could handle it, and it always seemed like the young ones would start with a bang, then fizzle out. I really hung onto the idea that more hunting would cure all their ills, when I was probably making it worse.
It's really specific to the dog, but whoever said above that a pup will tell you how to hunt it or what it needs was spot on. I'd focus on quality hunts, high probability areas and good conditions. Try your best to set that pup up for success after success until it gets to be a habit, then raise the bar a little. Make him hunt a little harder. Start going in less than ideal conditions. Go more often. But do it all gradually. I think a rest and then some quality hunts are in order for your pup. Two "good nights" a week will do more for a pup than six bad ones.

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