HOW DO I SPARK MY PUPS INTEREST!

[ajrexelle]

I have this pup,that comes from proven parent bear dogs and she is showing no interest in chasing barn cats or following a scent.She is 5 months old.Any suggestions would be appreciated. Take care A.J

[inchtowntracking]

She is only five months old, so she probably is to much puppy yet. Mine was the same way with the house cat at first, it wasnt till the cat blew up and took after them that they got really excited and started baying a little. But they was to much puppy too and was easly distracted. It got better everytime till they was chasing the poor sucker every where.

[Dale T]

Hey A.J

A lot of females start a little slower then the males do, and she is still a little young, you could try working her with another dog on the cat to show her how it's done.

Dale

[DirtyBrindle]

i have a 7 month old plott that will tree her own coon and run just fine with the big dogs....at 5 months old she would look at a caged coon with a dumb look on her face.....i would take her out with with my best plott, weather it be on lions or coon (wont dump her on bear yet) and i would let her run with him and she started to catch on real fast...the rate she is going she should finish out to be one of my top dogs here in a few years. be patient with the pup some just take longer then others....just dont be shoving her face in a caged cat every day....give her a break with her age being so young. hope this helps....some people may know different but this is just how i do things and its what has worked for me!

[oregonblues]

hey i agree with dale use an older dog to show her but dont let her get hurt i have seen young dog get ruined

[Spokerider]

Let her trail a drag of salami on a string, she`s just a pup.

If she`s inherited the appropriate genes, game tracking enthusiasm will be the LAST thing she will have to be taught.

Let her mature, then think about engaging her in game interaction. She will tell you when she`s ready, if you`re inclined to watch her maturing manerisms and acknowledge the cues. What`s the rush?

Now is a great time to socialize her with other hounds, teach her to load in the dog box, take her for rides in the box, get her up on the rig rack, initiate gun training, obedience, expose her to the sounds and sights of a quad, a chainsaw, boat rides, bond with you and family, etc, etc. Protect her from getting her @ss whipped by other dogs and critters at this tender and impressionable age.


JMHO.

[briarpatch]

Spokerider, you gave excellent advice! These people who are pushing their pup before it is ready are wasting their time and possibly damaging the pup. Much better to spend your time teaching it to handle and let IT tell YOU when it is ready for hunting.

briarpatch

[ajrexelle]

Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your knowledge and advice it is greatly appreciated.
Thank you A.J

[houndnem]

I'm sorry but I disagree with the whole "don't push it too hard" deal. life is short, why take two or three years to make a dog when the dog could be catchin in the first year? if they don't naturally hunt they will make some little kid a great pet! as for ruining a dog by having a bad run in with a critter. did you ruin it or expose it?????

[George Streepy]

Dang it, I have to agree with Houndnem. 5 months is still pretty young but some pups are ready to go at that age. The young dog I have now was contributing at 7 months. Treeing hard by 8 months. I was shocking him off trash way before I normally would have messed with it. All are going to catch on at different ages but I would just keep working with it. I used to have someone hold back the pups and then let them chase me. Spend the time, pay the dog as much attention as possible, and hope for the best.