how old to start pups

[walkerpups]

i just got my first 2 walker pups they are 3 months old and i was wondering how old i should start them at i was hopeing to be treeing coons by 6 months. im trying to catch a caged coon to let them bark at right now. any advice on how to get them going.

[tomtom]

A friend of mine has two walkers that would find and tree a turn loose and stretch him at 5 months. I saw it. That is phenomenal where I come from. Yours will start when they are ready. Nothing you can do to speed up what is genetically predetermined. If you figure out a way please let me know. About two years ago I had two pups that would stretch one at 5 months but wouldn't trail at that age. Little guys barely had any adult teeth but would get after it. It was funny as hell to watch them one on one with about a 10 pound coon. They would roll over with the coon on their head and holler but never let go. They had no idea how to fight but it never bothered them a bit. They loved it. Every other pup I know of would be ruined for a good while if you turned a coon loose at that age and they grabbed it cause they ain't expecting whats coming. I'm probably one of the last people on here who should give advice, but the best thing for you to do right now is teach them to handle... Whatever that means to you, different people have different opinions on how to and how much to teach a hound to mind them. Also, if it were me, I would expose them to livestock, horses, and deer if possible. The more the better. I like for mine to be familiar with everything else in the world I can possibly think of during the time they are too young to hunt. Long walks in the woods. Plenty of exposure to water. Make it a point to take them at night as often as you can. Don't talk to them after you have "cast" them (even though they probably won't go 50 feet from you for a while) and make it a point to blow the doghorn or call them back in the same fashion every time to leave. If they are genetically ready to get the picture at 5 months old, you don't want to be the reason they are too busy getting over "spooks" because all you did was go out in the pasture or the back yard and show them a caged coon. As far as the cage thing, it's pretty easy with coons, but after a couple turn loose chases I would stop with the cage.

[tomtom]

And don't get frustrated if it's more like 10 or 12 months

[livetohunt]

x2 very well said TomTom. You got to let the pup tell you when they are ready some pups are ready to go at 4-5 months others 18 months every dog is diffrent. All you can do till that day is teach them to handle as you like and show them the world they will be hunting in. I find if you let them see and smell and feel whats out there when they are young they skip a lot of the playing when they are older. I like to let my pups have free run as much as I can till they start taking tracks and moving them out of the country then its time for them to be put up with the big dogs. Have fun with them now while you can, you might just feel like shooting them both in 12 months.

[skeets]

i agree with mr. tom tom. dont get mad if they aint doing real good at 6mo. old, just remember they aint been on this earth but 6 months lol. patience it worth more than gold when training a pup and if hes mama and daddy started early maybe yours will to. good luck with him.

[driftwood blue]

you got some of the best advise from tomtom you could get... now get you a Walk with Wick book and read it in the hot weather---

teach them the basics-----lead-load--heel and stuff that will not get them hurt...one big old mean coon at 3 months has ruined many good prospects.(I know from experience!!!)
while you are reading they will mature--- 7-9 months is a very good age to start them as they will be grown enough to handle about anything they come upon
and like he said- get them around stock to learn that is not to be messed with--- and learn about the Wick method of handling trash problems--- I sure wish I had had that kind of book 45-50 years ago.!