BigGameHoundsmen.com

i know all pups are different but what age should a person start to train a pup. and what method works best to start a pup?

Any age. 8 Weeks old introduce them into some coon skins to pull. then step it up 3-4months old with dead one. And depending on how they act pick it up and show them a live one! Dont let them fight it. Alow the other dogs to show the pup what to do!

2 pups from the same litter can be and often are as different as night and day.
If you spend alot of time with pups they will let you know when they are ready,personally I don't believe there is a "right age" that would work for any and all.
We start with basic obedience commands as soon as possible and gradually progress from there.
As for hunting my grandad always said for male dogs anyway "when they quit squatting to pee like a female....they are mature enough to go to the woods" Now I have not kept track one way or the other but he never seemed to have any trouble and always had some better than average young dogs around.

Tracie&Randy

id have to say like the other fella, start with a coon tail....then a hyde...but then i go to a cage but not untill there 4-6 months old....just walk it buy them....if they act intrested let them sniff it but the minute they ack affrade take the cage away and wait another month or two.....then do it again....no need to rush it....

I agree. Work with the pup from 8 weeks old on the easy stuff coming and playing with coon skin. After that the pup will let you know when its ready, don't push 'em too hard at first and get 'em scared or bored with it. keep it fun always for the pup. At 3-4 months old you should get a good idea where your pup is at. Even if at the young age your pup is wanting to get ahold of the coon don't let it, if that coon gets ahold of your pup it will more than likely set your pup waaaayyy back.

I didn't work with my last pup as far as training, or drags, or cages. Just started hunting and taking her with me. First couple times barked and whined on the road, came back. (very annoying stage for me!!)

Then I noticed she would be at the tree with the other dogs, not knowing why just sitting at the tree looking around.

Then after a couple more trees, she would be treeing, I gave her the oportunity to run her own and tree it, .

she's not done, and she's not trained. But she's the one training.. I'm just the cab driver and the $$ Wallet as far as she's concerned.

I can't really say that I taught her anything. And I can't take credit for training her. except mybe how to handle and teach her that I'm her master on the leash, and She's my master on the trail..(at least the right on trail)..

I'm hoping they will continue to learn and teach them selves.

Buddy, they will if given the opportunity. Most so called "training"
of small puppies EXCEPT FOR HANDLING is a bunch of hooey.

briarpatch

Patch Sorry but I disagree. I have my second litter right now in trainning against a fellow bear and coon hunter.

He keeps his in a pen until they are old enough to go on a chain then they are taught by fire sent with the older dogs when we run a bear and see a cage coon every other week or so.

He has 2 that are running out of six.

I had 7 pups started tehm with a tennis ball covered in bear scent at 10 weeks showed them a cage coon then by 4 months drags and hides and a older dog treeing by 6 months letting them hunt with the older dogs most time they cant keep up then by 10 months they can run with the older dogs and make it to a treed bear or get in on a walking bay.

We have 5 out 7 running .

Might be a fluke thats why we are doing it again.

O yeah and them dogs that are worked with handle soooo much better.


Gator

I like to take my pups everywhere possible. Walks in the woods, along fields, areas I know that coon are around. When they are young they will be content to just try to keep up with you. When they start walking in front bring them into the thicker stuff or start night walks, slowly build there confidence. When they quit spending more time watching you and start using their nose, thats when its time to pay a visit to the ol' coon.

I agree with jeep hound

Depending on the pups I like to start fooling with them sometime after 6 months or so. I let all my pups run loose their whole life until they start gettin gone too much or gettin in trouble somehow or chasing critters and treeing. Then I tie them up and eventually take them to the woods. Sit on the tail gate and drink a couple cold ones why they romp and stomp out in the woods and by the creeks. I dont get to excited about doin nothing with them til they are older. Screwed way too many young ones up but who knows, I may just suck at "training". Had me some good dogs in my life though too.