Registered: Feb 2015
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 1110

I am getting ready to place my 5 month old pup in a place where he can run loose. Just wondered about everyones thoughts on this. Now I'm not trying to make up my mind but thought it would be interesting to see everyones thoughts and experiences doing this. I will send mine at about 6 months old. I realize that many people are in the same situation that I'm in and just can't let one run loose where I live.

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Tom Wood

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

In my opinion, it is the single best thing you can do to develope a pup. But most of us are forced to kennel our pups. And in that case, letting them loose in the yard daily is the next best thing. Putting a pup in the kennel and leaving it there till it is 8 or 10 or 12 months old is a sure path to a brain dead pup.

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Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Yadkin County NC
Posts: 1657

Tom In my opinion you are wasting at least four months. I've had numerous pups treeing before five months old and already woods wise.

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1513

I live where l could possibly let a pup run loose. BUT....There are a couple things that keep me from doing it. Deer hunters, coyotes, even though l live a good ways from the road it is still there. And our local Humane Society thinks our dogs should be tucked in a doggy bed every night.

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

I never had much luck with a pup I DIDN'T allow to run loose. A pups mental capacity develops in direct correlation to the exposure/life experiences it has had, and if he or she has learned to cross streams, get through fences, and navigate around through the woods prior to being exposed to hunting situations it seems like the pup is much more capable of absorbing what I'm trying to teach it.

I hate, hate, hate a stupid dog. And way too often, I get fed up with a stupid pup through no fault of its own. Allowing one to run loose works alot of the stupid out before I have to deal with it.

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Registered: Feb 2015
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 1110

Yadkinriver the only reason I'm waiting till 6 months is economic. It is not free to let him run loose so 3-4 months is not economically reasonable. He's a really nice pup that has had many walks in the woods and chased a couple of released coon but just now loosing his puppyness.

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Tom Wood

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Registered: Jul 2006
Location: Deputy, Indiana
Posts: 422

If you can't let them run loose, bring the inside with you. They learn a lot from being around you all the time

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Registered: Aug 2014
Location:
Posts: 780

My pups are 4 months old and are loose everyday, They are still with their mother, weened themselves and have socialized with my other hounds. They are kenneled at night and will continue to be loose during the day until they get in trouble. They know their names and kennel on command.

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location: ky
Posts: 2263

The only way I’ll mess with a pup is if it has ran loose for at least 30 days. I prefer 60 days. Drop them off when they 5/6 months old go get them when they 7/8 months old. Makes my job a heck of a lot easier. I’ve had good luck using this method

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jason

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 1911

Pups are no different than kids when it comes to socializing and learning...

When you send your toddler to a good day care center the child will learn quickly to socialize and mingle and will be corrected as needed to learn manners etc...they will learn to color, learn to read and write a few words and will be very comfortable in that environment...once that child goes to grade school he or she will feel comfortable in that environment...

Comfortable...if we are relaxed and contented in our environment we are feeling confidence...

Confidence...when the child is confident he or she will not be shy and will get involved more readily in the new tasks that are asked of them and are willing to explore...
If we analyze all the possibilities...minus and pluses, we will know it is the right thing to do...to socialize and put them in those environments where they can learn...there are many many reasons why we should...

A child kept mostly at home will have a setback once they go to school...

A puppy who stays in his kennel most his puppyhood will have setbacks as well...

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Training dogs is not so much about quantity, it's more about timing, and the right situations...After that it's up to the dog....A hunting dog is born...

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Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 1911

Well my wife wanted to read this thread because she has been volunteering for over ten years on most every school day in pre-kinder and grade school...

She says there are three levels of pre-kinder kids and she can identify these three levels in the first week of school...this is my wife's way of describing these kids...



Level three kids...kids stayed home until going to kinder...they usually don't come out of their shells until mid year...these kids usually cry off and on until they get used to school and being away from their home environment.

Level 2 kids...these kids went to pre-schooll 1/2 a day...these kids are kind of in the middle but do well...

Level 1...these kids usually went to daycare/pre-school all day...these kids have a high level of confidence and volunteer for tasks and are usually the leaders and teachers pets in their class...

I see puppies in the same way...we get back what we put into them...

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Training dogs is not so much about quantity, it's more about timing, and the right situations...After that it's up to the dog....A hunting dog is born...

Last edited by Reuben on 01-20-2019 at 03:09 PM

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