should i get this dog?

[chucktaylor]

A friend of mine has a pup that is 8 months old that he will sell me. The pup is not started but has proven parents and litter mates doing well. Will it still hunt good if started now? should i get it?

[Dubud07]

i would say get the dog, after all its only 8months old and alot of dogs dont get to see any action till around that age. my first hound i ever had was 1 1/2 when i got her and she had very little to no training at all and she turned out to be a kill crazy little dog

[powderhorn]

Apart from obedience and fun exposure to the woods, I wouldn't really start a dog hunting much younger than 8 months.. Some do it differently as it depends on the dog, but I don't think you'd be in a bad spot at all trying this dog out. Frankly, some will sell a dog at 8-10 months that is "started" and the only thing it has is a few bad habits.. You'd have a pretty clean slate, maybe a bit of breaking in with obedience training if he hasn't been messed with at all.. But since you're buying, make sure its at the puppy price. That's just my 2cents. Good luck to you!

[bigfootexp]

Chuck don,t you think as a rookie just getting started you would be better off with an old trust-worthy dog that you can learn from and then possibly train a pup after you have some catches under your belt.

[Daniel Tremblay]

I agree with bigfoot. I spent 2 yrs being stubarn tryin to make cat dogs out of pups. That how I wanted to do it. But that isn't doing justice to ur hound. Just get one older pup trainer that is broke and can still catch its own game too train ur pups . A lot easier and a lot more fun. Saves time and money.

[chaseb]

saves alot of money you guys are way right

[Marshall]

I just got a 1 1/2 year old dog a few months ago that had never been messed with in her life and wouldnt even bark period. She is turning out to be a pretty nice bobcat dog. But this was not my only dog either. I have a older dog to show these young pups the ropes. If i had to do it all over again i would buy a solid older dog first. Because catchin cats is a lot more fun then chasin dogs around all night. In the long haul you will save yourself a ton of money, time, and a huge headache if you go with a older dog first if you can afford it.

[CasB]

I think this young fella's problem is the same as many others that wants to get into cat hunting....where do you even find that old pup trainer?? And if you do find it, how can you possibly afford it?? I did some looking a while back and found it would take several thousand $$'s, I figured I'll go the route of trying to make my own cat dog...and I think it's working pretty good so far.

[powderhorn]

If you're just getting started & this 8mnth old pup is from a friend of yours, I'd assume he's got some hounds that are working now?? May not be a bad move getting the pup if you can throw in with dogs you can trust to do the job..

[Warner5]

Walk the bottoms at night for coons. The cats will come.

[farmer12]

Get the dog. its only 8 months old thats not to late yet. Get him out and hunt him and see what he dose. If he turns out then you will feel much more rewarded rather than buying a dog already trained by someone else. A young dog will take more time and cost you a little money, but the time and money doesnt compair to when the dogs turns out and trees its first bear or catches its first cat. No amount of money can beat that.After all thats what hound hunting is about, training the dog to what you want it to do, its all trial and error. Get him and work him hard and he should turn out. Good luck