Registered: Jul 2014
Location: Middle tn
Posts: 95

I have a 14 month old walker pup. He has shown alot of material ability since he was 8-9 months old. I wasn't able to hunt him but 1-2 nights every 2 weeks up until a few months ago. I know he needed hunted more but its what I was able to do. Last few months, with or with out another dog, he would look great half the night other he would wanna stand at our feet. We assumed just puppy in him and he just needed some meat put out on him. But the last few weeks I've been puttin it on him harder and it hasn't changed. Two night we cut him he shot in, hit ran and treed meat, shot it out to him, he trees hard loves fighting a coon. But both times when we recut him he just stand and look at u. NOTHing will get him out further than 30 yrds. I don't get or ever heard of one hunting hard,treeing, killin a coon and not be pumped and ready to hunt more. When he is on has plenty of drive but right after or from the beginning he acts plum gased out. The kids love this pup and at times been the best lookin pup I've seen. Anyone ever see this and one come out of it? Or any advise on firing him up when he ant wanting to hunt. Also last week started takin him during day just to let him run and I've ended up shooti g out 5 squirrels this week that he hunted hard for and treed like a pro. Any advice? Please

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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: Middle tn
Posts: 95

So far it seems he has gotten a little better the last few nights since taking him during the day.

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Registered: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 439

If after the first drop he kicked around my feet I`d load him in the box and cut another dog. If he`s smart he will realize that hanging around means getting put in the box. Try not shooting the first coon to him, if your gonna give him one make it random.

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Pete Rhines

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Registered: Feb 2012
Location: Polk county Tennessee
Posts: 34

Like the gentleman above stated, don't let him have the first or the last coon you tree. I think they sometimes think a dead coon means time to go home, get him out of that notion. JMO

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Scott Carden 423-715-7097

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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: Middle tn
Posts: 95

That's a real good idea. I should have thought of that. I have left him tied back on a tree that he backed an older dog on and stot coon to the other dog. He went nuts. That night he hunted pretty good after that but it seems it mostly made him tree harder when he trees but that's never been an issue. But the box is a real good idea. Thanks alot!

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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: Middle tn
Posts: 95

Makes all kinda of since.

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

There's a million different things that ya can try.

He should grow out of the worst of it on the other hand he will probably never be a crazy never quit hound.
When I have this problem my go to is to put him in the box the minute he comes back, and then let him sit in there while I hunt another hound. I then will drop him again if I FEEL LIKE IT, if he comes back, back in the box he goes. After a few weeks he should figure it out.


Sometimes a good layup cures these issues. Higher strung dogs seem to respond well to hard hunting, and lower key dogs seem to fall apart to hard hunting. A pup like your describing can burn out imo.

If there are cases of lymes in your area, it could be something like that. If you think it may be lymes I would treat him on doxycycline for a week, if you see immediate change after several days continue the dosage for a full 30 days. If you don't see any noticeable change I would discontinue after a week.

A higher octane food can make a big difference.

Hunting a pup in familiar woods can help build a confidence.

The thing that your describing to me seems to be maturity issue or confidence, probably both. Even though he looks good from track to tree, he probably doesn't completely feel comfortable going on his own. It will just take time and maturing. What I think goes on in these situations, is that early in the night the pup is so wound up and excited he throws caution to the wind and takes off running through the woods, gets struck, then trees....a lot of excitement and natural instincts but not a lot mentally going on there.
Then we walk him away, he starts to calm down, a lot of the excitement wears off. You cut the dog loose he runs about 30 yards and then realizes because he is now thinking and uses his brain, that it's dark, he is in a strange place, and shows more caution about getting in the woods. As he becomes more comfortable with the woods, and understands his job better, he should grow out of this.
Just use common sense, make it fun for him, and don't expect a coon dog over night. Try different things, until you find something that works, be creative. The problem solving aspect of training a dog is what makes it fun and challenging at the same time.

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"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
Mark Twain

Last edited by Fisher13 on 12-17-2014 at 05:22 PM

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Registered: Dec 2012
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2027

quote:

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Originally posted by scottyboy
Like the gentleman above stated, don't let him have the first or the last coon you tree. I think they sometimes think a dead coon means time to go home, get him out of that notion. JMO

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"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
Mark Twain

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Registered: Jul 2014
Location: Middle tn
Posts: 95

I can see that being his perspective dead on. Because I've learned with him, when he wants to stand at ur feet, getting on him or a switch does NOT help. We've learn a head pat and talkin nice and kinda exciting like works alot better. Still not shooting in but better than under u. I've only got 4-5 yrs experience and the great friends I've learned from are pretty heavy handed and get results but this dog got tract good to that way. But I've heard confedence being a possibility but the way u break it down I can really see that being something that is in play. Thanks

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