Ghost14
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Nov 2014
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Posts: 168 |
quote: Originally posted by Ron Ashbaugh
I am sure this is a great and satisfying process, but to even a committed coon hunter this is just completely overwhelming and unrealistic. Most aren't starting with even one breeding worthy dog, or the knowledge to know what that is. Time, money, space, and even desire to raise 4 puppies at a time is a huge commitment for even the most experienced houndsman.
I have been at this on a hobby level for about 15-20 years and I will never have 2 pups the same age again in my life. I am just not cut out for that headache. Trust me all starting out coonhunters, pay the money, get a nice dog to hunt, and if your still into it in 5 years give a pup a shot. Coonhunting doesn't fit in a lot of today's lifestyle and hunting ground gets eaten up daily, don't waste your window of interest with junk dogs or pups that never make you happy.
Better yet, find someone to go with and hunt with their dogs. Lol....it's way easier and cheaper!
Truer words were never spoken.
Epigenetics isn’t even close to what you’ve been talking about for the past 15 years Reuben. If it were, you would have your “line” that you supposedly had years ago still intact. Or you would have a good line already again.
The problem with dogs of today, are people feeding hides and meat to pups and all these high end training “experts” and not enough hunting and culling. 25 years ago good dogs caught game without my training or help, the culls never were worth a dang. Tonight, good dogs will catch game and the culls will “need more or better training”. I’ve seen 100’s if not a thousand dogs and not one that was trained to be a better game catching dog. Seen a lot with better handling and high numbers of voice commands but not one ever trained or imprinted into a good game catcher. Dogs are no different than any other living thing, they are born what they are genetically, their environment will effect their development to some degree but most will be what they are by nature. You can fight it all you want, but I don’t consider a dog that’s 60% accurate a success on the trainers part. I don’t consider it a success when you have dogs racehorse through the country like chickens with their heads cut off running trash and then falling off treed on a coon cause their owners aren’t honest enough or smart enough to know the difference. Nature can not and will not be tamed, you better find a dog that wants to tree game and does it naturally without any gimmicks or training needed. And no, I don’t agree that the pup that finds food scraps first at 6 weeks old will lead the way at 6 months. That is scientific proof of more Internet forum hunting than actual hunting experience. More times than not, pups will flip flop at different times as they develop. Just like some will grow out better on different nutrition or develop mentally due to each persons ability to stimulate their minds. It’s a real simple process but us humans have to over complicate everything. Hunt pups that have the desire and catch game. Cull the junk that needs expert training. Stop trading dogs around and start being responsible for your own yard and what comes out of it. I’ve sold 3 trained dogs in my life that I considered good enough to have my name attached to them but not what I really considered exceptional. They are now legends in the areas I sold them to and men call weekly wanting more. That tells me most people have never seen good dogs and most people think they are mass produced and easily had. If I sold those 3 for time and material nobody on earth could afford them. You cull through to a good prospect and you both work yourselves to the bone and the product will be pretty reliable. But it won’t come cheap or easy and there are no shortcuts.
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