Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
Posts: 5630

I have coon hunted a long time and been fortunate enough to have owned 3 dogs that I called a COON DOG by themselves and with any thing you put them with. I have seen and hunted several good dogs, but only owned 3 Coon Dogs. My hunting buddy has owned a bunch of good dogs , but he says he has only had 3 COON DOGS. I think the higher your standards and the more honest one is in evaluating what they have, the fewer actual COON DOGS one has owned or seen. There are several men on this forum board that I know have high standards and pretty much ALL of them say the same thing, they have owned and seen very few real COON DOGS. Most of those who have owned or hunted with a COON DOG are never satisfied with anything less, I know that I feel that way, heck I have gave away decent dogs that just did not meet my standards, that other folks thought were really good dogs. COON DOGS spoil a man, but are few and far between, at least in my book. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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I've seen several folks over the years that were spoiled by that one really special dog. They tried to replace it but just never could and ended up giving up.

Remember.............if they were all special you'd have to call the special ones something else!

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Dan

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Location: church hill tn
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Good advice, but being a practical man I know the odds of me getting another COON DOG are very slim. My last COON DOG died this past December at age 14, he was retired at age 12 and my interest has been going down hill since. I tore my ACL a couple of months ago and really don't want to do surgery unless it's the last resort. I am wearing a brace, but don't think that I can hunt these mountains . I still own a couple of decent dogs, just not what makes me want to hunt every night. My knee may be the excuse I need to quit, but my heart may not let me. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Nov 2011
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quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Richards
Good advice, but being a practical man I know the odds of me getting another COON DOG are very slim. My last COON DOG died this past December at age 14, he was retired at age 12 and my interest has been going down hill since. I tore my ACL a couple of months ago and really don't want to do surgery unless it's the last resort. I am wearing a brace, but don't think that I can hunt these mountains . I still own a couple of decent dogs, just not what makes me want to hunt every night. My knee may be the excuse I need to quit, but my heart may not let me. Dave

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Registered: Jan 2013
Location: Marietta
Posts: 10790

Because of being a handler for one of the biggest retailers of used coondogs I had my lead on a lot of well known dogs most because they got some age on them and didn’t have the zip that those major players wanted and they hunted younger dogs. I owned 2 true coon dogs in 40 years. But I probly had my lead on about 10 and can’t no way count how many really nice ones I hunted.



But really now that I look back the most impressive ones were females. It don’t work out I get stuck with the male pups but I like to hunt females.



Tar

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Registered: Sep 2009
Location: Monticello, Wi
Posts: 744

I've been fortunate enough to have owned 3 in my life. What set them apart besides dominating the dogs that I hunted them with was:
*When they struck there was never a thought of IF they would tree the coon, just where.
*Even though they may not look great they always looked better than the other dogs.
*They could identify one coon from another. They could "count" coons and tree every coon that they crossed while trailing the first coon. They would not switch from a feeding coon track in the snow to a red hot track.
*After treeing a coon when hunting with other dogs the other nice dogs would no longer try to tree a coon on their own and just pack. Loner dogs became pack dogs.
*They could tree any kind of a coon and were not affected by where you hunted them or what the weather conditions were. They were consistent every time you cut them.
*They were extremely intelligent with a strong desire to please.

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
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I know both of you guys know what a COON DOG is and that both of your post were indicative of what a guy with high standards has seen or owned. Granted there are some handlers that have hunted multiply dogs from different owners that may see more COON DOGS that the average hunter would. Bottom line is that there are not many that you can call a COON DOG and that be the case. A COON DOG does indeed spoil a man and makes it hard for one to settle for anything less, but I am so grateful for have seen and hunted the 3 that I owned over these 50 plus years of hunting. Looking for another COON DOG definitely kept me going for all those years. Age and health have caught up to me now and a real COON DOG would just be wasted in my kennel. I may be able to hunt the flat lands, but my mountain hunting is likely over. I hope to at least get to hunt with another COON DOG don't matter who owns it. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Dave,
I can feel your pain buddy , it seems like you and I are on the same track lol. I always hunted the mountains but now just the creek bottoms and then I have to have someone with me because I can't make most trees. I've been saying lately that getting old and broke down is the hardest thing I've ever done!

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
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Yes Sir., I know what you are saying. I was in pretty good shape until I fell and tore my ACL. I found out that things can change and change fast when it comes to ones health. Our mountains are very steep up here and you better be in good physical shape if you hunt these mountains. I hope to be able to travel and still coon hunt in the flat lands up North like Indiania and Ohio. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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I live in the foothills of lookout mountain and have always hunted the mountains but after 2 bad knees and a bad hip I can't even hunt from my house without an ATV and a buddy. It sure has cramped my style almost brought it me to a halt!

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Registered: Dec 2019
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 246

I've been trying to replace a female that I owned 20 years ago with no luck so for.

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
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They are few and far between unfortunately, my first COON DOG WAS in my twenties, my second COONDOG was in my forties and my 3 COONDOG was in my late sixties, not a very good average by any standard. I guess I was fortunate to have had 3, some folks never have any. The first one spoils you and you never are satisfied with anything else, I have owned a lot of decent dogs, but was always looking for another COON DOG. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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I've owned dogs that in other people's eyes where coondogs but when you have owned that 1 real coondog that you have hunted with night after night them good ones just don't satisfy. Here's the funny thing I bought her from a dog trader everyone said I was the only one to get over on him. I didn't feel I beat him as I payed a fair price for the dog and she was worth every penny.

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I learned years ago that the price of a dog does not determine how good it is. I have bought and paid high prices for dogs that just did not meet my standards and a couple very cheap that made really good dogs. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: Jan 2004
Location: Conway, Ark.
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Tar. Would you name those two dogs you called coon dogs

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Grchgrntch yadkin tar deacon and 2000 $$$ world champ patoka lake bozz. Just didn’t have many bad nights anybody could handle them and win ( and they did ) but they could be beat they were the only two I owned. I judged them on their weekly performance at home not just in the hunts. Tar rattler was 10 yrs old when I hunted with him but he was a coondog and he was loud. Lipper was a machine that’s why 35 yrs later people still try to replicate him. Utchmans blue super glue owned by gene degrafied moved around like no other blue dog I ever hunted with and never seen him on an empty tree. Timber rattler had age on him but I liked him. The whitey dog trader was out of was a coondog. I could mention many more but they were 40 yrs ago and most wouldn’t know who they were.



Tar

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 429

Been at it close to 60 years only seen 3 never owned one myself two were walkers one female one male but the best was a mixed up male my dad owned in the early 60’s he would tree every coon in the bunch the first one that went up and the next etc. never would look at a caged coon and would shake a dead coon once was like let’s get the next one

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SR

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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Clarksville, AR
Posts: 1074

I've got it in my head to make one. Only seen a couple, and never owned one. I'm 40 yrs old and I've hunted since I was 14. Been around alot of good dogs, hunted a really good one all this winter. I've never been good with pups, but for some stupid reason I've got it in my head to try to train something special. Maybe I'm just now getting patient enough. My dad always said a man should wait till he's 40 to try to train a mule, maybe the same could be said for a coondog...

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2765

I think it's a matter of perspective. They're all gonna make mistakes never been a perfect one and never will be. If I've got one that makes the kinda mistakes I can live with and don't make them often I'm gonna consider that a coondog while somebody else may not. Been a lot of dogs come thru here in the last 30 years and ive only kept a few longer then two years. I've come to learn if I'm 75% satisfied with a dog 75% of the time most people will consider them well above average or better. I don't run the roads like I used to but still expect the dog I'm huntin behind the house to do the same as I did the ones I used to throw in the truck and drive 24 hours each way to compete with. Perspective, expectations and being honest with yourself. It's only a dogl

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Last edited by Donnie Stevens on 04-07-2020 at 01:43 PM

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So in your quest to find that one in a million top dog that turns everybody's head, how many of you have sold what you had for what you just knew was going to be better, only to find out you wished you had the one you sold back?

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Dan

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Location: Nova Scotia
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No regrets here. I guess the quest is a big part of the thrill for me and I've always got satisfaction in selling somebody a dog they were happy with. If I kept all the good ones the chances of finding the real good ones get slimmer. Once I've identified a fault or wrinkle I can't fix I'm ready to move on.

Maybe I don't know what I'm looking for lol.

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Friends don't let friends hunt blueticks

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Been alot of times that I've knowingly traded good for new, just for the sake of having something new to hunt and figure out. I like something different, even if it isn't quite as good as what I had...

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You are definitely one that if and when you say it's a COON DOG it will be a COON DOG. You are one of the most honest guys around, I would take your word about any dog based on your honesty and you knowing what a COON DOG is. Some are honest, they just don't know what a COON DOG is and some are just dishonest. I sure hope you get one trained that I can buy before I get to old and crippled to enjoy one. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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Registered: May 2017
Location: West Plains Mo
Posts: 471

I have had 4 that was nice but nothing ever exceptional so called COON DOG. Had 2 that could possible made COON DOG list. First got ehrlichia at almost 3 years old. She had been blowed up with E collar and after about year working with her was just getting start see her potential when she got sick. Second I sold at 17 months old and could been really special but need down payment for house. Have had 2 other including dog I'm hunting now and he will still improve. Already been %50 cast winner but just has few holes that will ever keep him from hitting the COON DOG list.

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Registered: Apr 2015
Location: church hill tn
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You described a lot of dogs that are almost a COON DOG, but are lacking in some way ( holes). That's exactly why the list of real COON DOGS will always be a short list, especially when those making the list know what a real COON DOG IS. I would say from your post that you know what a COON DOG is, I hope you find or make one. Dave

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Dave Richards Treeing Walkers Reg American Saddlebred and Registered Rocky Mt. Show Horses

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