running dogs and treeing?

[webb]

What have you guys noticed or seen about hounds that have running dog in them ,,about treeing? Such as what age do they really come into it, is there any other training techniques to help bring them into it sooner? I know that several of you folks know a thing or two about this like Dewey and Tim.interested in hearing from everyone.

Thanks, Kyle

[Tim Cook]

I think it has something to do with how much running dog is in them. I have two that are about 1/2 running dog. One didn't start treeing till she was 1 1/2, she is two now and is getting better. The other started treeing young and has treed good since she was 10 months. I have very little experience and am new to hunting the running dog crosses. If you have other dogs that tree I wouldn't worry about it to much, they'll get it when they get it.

[South Texan]

Of my 10 dog pack, 3 are straight running dogs, the other 7 are running-cross. My best locate and tree dog of the bunch is one of the straight running gyps, her litter mate sister is also pretty good. Worse thing about them is they are both tree climbers.

You ask, "What age do they really come into it?" I believe it all depends on the dog and how much game is shown to them. Dogs are a lot like humans, some just catch on faster than others and some never do catch on. My little gyp was 8 months old when I got her, she had never seen any game until then, but by the time she was a year old she was starting to locate and treeing real good. But like I said, this is going to differ between dogs. But I would get a running dog out of a line of dogs that I knew would locate and tree. Your fox hunters would be a good place to look or cat hunters that has running dogs in their pack.

Only training technique I use is exposure to the woods and lots of it. If they have it in them, it will come out, if they're shown the game your running.

But...I just thought of something...I am in south Texas. Low brush country. I would imagine most of my treed cats on an average are not over 15 to 20 feet off the ground and 99% of the time if the dog looks up he can see the cat in the tree. If a fellow was in the big timber country (game 40 foot off the ground and can't see them) where some of these guys hunt it might take a better locate and tree dog than what I have. I've never been out of south Texas and not planning on leaving so my observations are just based on what I have seen down here. Maybe this will shed a little light. Robbie

[cobalt]

I'd like to add on to the running dog treeing question. How long can and will your running dogs stay treed ALONE? Especially the ones that are natural tree dogs in big timber country.

[al baldwin]

South Texan sure can/t blame you, if I lived there I would not leave niether. Would love to have some of that blood from your female. Would like to say it is true all this walker blood was running dogs in the beginning. Recall reading some articles written by Marion Brock ( walker historian) he told about the old running hound Red Liqueur being behind such hounds as Pac Man, Finley River Banjo& numerous others. Was told a long time ago by a very knowledge cat hunter, fine line between a hound that has too much or not enough sawdust in his blood & when you find those that has the correct balance to be accurate high percentage of the time on bobcat, count your blessings. Some bobs in this country can be 100 feet or higher in confirs & lots of hunters pack binoculars. My hunting buddy told me about two cats he found this year, using binoculars and then was not certain he had located the cat, shot close to the cats they moved a little & only then was he sure. Probley silly to argue running better than treeing stock, sure good and not so good in all of them. Thanks again for the information on south texas bobs & cat hounds. Take care Al BALDWIN

[dwalton]

It all depends on the dog, breeding and training. Some tree from the start some never tree. AS far as staying on a tree, till you get there is good enough for me. In the last 6 years I have never had the dogs leave. 4 or 5 hours is about the longest it has taken me to get there but I am old and slow. Dewey

[TrophyHusband]

I have 2 male running Trigg pups, almost 5 months old now. My son and I have been running drags for them and they locate and tree well for their age. One is a serious tree climber. Makes me nervous that he is going to jump or fall out and get impaled by a stick. Has anyone had this happen to a dog?

[dwalton]

Dogs climbing trees is a bad thing in my book, the game will jump out at times because of a climber. I seen dogs fall and hurt themselves. Worst yet they can fall and hang themselves. Just because a dog will run and tree a drag does not mean he will locate a treed animal, but he might. Working drags can teach a dogs a lot but one has to see what he does in the woods before you will really know. Good luck with them. Dewey

[TrophyHusband]

Thanks Dewey. I agree with needing woods time to know for sure. Our training season for bear doesn't open until July 1st. I can't wait to get them in the woods with the older dogs.

Sounds like other states open bear training early in the spring. I wish we could start earlier up here before the misquotes, ticks, and deer flies hatch.