Registered: Oct 2015
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 52

I bought a bluetick female back in May when she was 8 months old and had never been messed with. She's 13 months now and I'm in the process of getting her going. I started messing with her when she turned 9 months old. Let her get used to me, and me to her. Sweet and smart pup. She's out of NITECH GRCH Mighty Blue Ruffus and Hountz Blue Bawling Charlene. Goes back to Hammer 18 on her daddy's side. Has many GRNITECH's and NITECH's in her pedigree. She's been hunted mostly by herself up to this point (about 20-30 nights, 2-3 times a week). When i do hunt her with other dogs she won't go hunt with them. And when she's by herself she stays at my feet and maybe goes 20 yards before she turns around and looks at me. I've tried everything recommended to me...keeping my light off when she's off leash, ignoring her, pushing her to go out and hunt, popped a switch on my chaps, scolding her, etc. She just won't do it!

I've been as patient as possible with this pup, and i know from reading similar posts that some dogs take longer than others. I don't think she's a complete dud because i've seen her instincts come out a couple times...she treed a coon last week after being kenneled up for three weeks while in heat. It was nothing spectacular, but it was better than nothing. Tree was only 20 yards from where she was released. She did hunt pretty good for me that night...went over 100 yards away before coming back. Just so happened the coon was in a big oak tree close to where i turned her loose. Too bad it was the day before season opened here in Kentucky! She's attempted to run track a couple times. Has been educated about running deer and other trash via the shock collar. I'd like some advice from the seasoned hunters out there with more knowledge and experience than me...should i just give her more time, or is it time to give up and move on?

I've read John Wick's book a couple times now and have tried to do everything right with this pup. Showed her enough, but not too many, caged coons (5 or 6 total over a 3-4 month period, never more than 2 per week). Let her run released coons twice. Hunted her with other dogs - mostly one other young dog because I haven't had any luck hooking up with anybody with older broke dogs. Most of my nights are spent walking up and down creeks, rivers, and wood lines, hoping to find a hot track with the pup by my side or just ahead of me. All this seemed to help some, but she has recently hit a slump and i don't know what else to do. Should i continue to wear out the soles of my Mucks with my fingers crossed that she finds a hot track, or should I start over with a new prospect? I'm realistic in the fact that i don't expect any miracles...i know she won't go from being a pup to a solid track and tree dog over night. However, i do think she has enough natural ability to be able to run and tree a coon. She's shown me those instincts a couple times. Is this wishful thinking, or am I just spinning my wheels? My descriptions may sound like she's doing fine for a pup, or they may sound like she's not worth the food in the pan for a dog her age. Just looking for some input from some other, more experienced, coon hunters.

Last edited by KYBlue Cooner on 10-08-2015 at 11:35 AM

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1513

I would not have used the Electric on her till she was running coons. And then with caution! Most likely you took some of her desire away by doing that. In some dogs that are not started on coon yet they still may want to run off game, myself I would have just tried to round her up and keep trying to put some coon in front of her.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location:
Posts: 4312

In my opinion )and u know what they say about opinions)

I think you set her back with the shocking collar. I'm a firm believer in they need to be doing something right before u stop the bad. I'm not saying let them run wild on trash but try to control the situation.Which I know is hard when trying to start them alone. With all that said I wouldn't give up on her just yet. No more cage coon that she sees some release coon wont hurt, leave her in the box turn it out ,wait a couple minutes then her.A field works best so the coon has to run at least to the edge. Just my opinion

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Registered: Oct 2015
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 52

I appreciate the feedback guys. I do want to clarify something in my original post. When i said she has been "educated about running deer and other trash", i've shocked the dog twice. Both times were in hunting situations. Both times were very controlled in that i saw the deer and the dog, and after she didn't listen to me saying "NO!", she got tickled enough to get her attention and come back. I haven't fried her brain. I can see where this could have set her back though. I'm not taking offense to your comments, just clarifying for anyone else that reads my post. Thanks again!

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Registered: Oct 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2633

I don't know if you set her back with the collar or not...some dogs are very, very sensitive or they just absolutely cannot take being shocked, even just a tingle. That is why a lot of trainers and even the companies that make the collars always say to only set it enough to get a slight reaction from the dog. It doesn't have to hurt them when you first start up, some guys call it a "nick"...when you hit the button and the dog just kind of gets that surprised "what" look.
If this dog is soft to the collar it wouldn't matter when you hit it, the dog will not like it and eventually, it is something that just about all of them have to get over. Some dogs understand one thing...full power, but it sure don't sound like this dog is one of them.
On the one hand you have a dog that don't like electricity, on the other, you just cannot allow a dog to have a free race on deer or fox...you might never get him to stop.
I have one that is the same way. I suggest you leave the collar off of the dog and try it that way for a while. Keep showing the dog coon tracks as suggested above. Turn one out in a field and then get the dog and let him/her run it. There is no substitute for a live wild fresh coon track to a dog.

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