I only run 2 dogs at a time usually on snow. I just rotate my dogs, I try to keep 1 or 2 extra with me if it gets to be a long day. I expect them all to be able to do it. My pepper dog did his first tree being the lead dog the other day, quiet the whole way... treed at its bed with a half ate squirrel. By the way John I have a photo to send you of a tamarack tree. Wish I had tooken some autumn photos for a comparison.
Last edited by Unreal_tk on Wed Jan 02, 2013 12:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Every dog that I hunt that is finished needs to be able to put cats up on their own. If a person has this your success rate will be higher when it comes to catching cats. A young dog on its first cat season needs to show me that it has the desire to go with the seasoned dogs and end up at the tree, doesnt need to tree just be there. These types of dogs ussually go on to learn the trades of the older dogs. Andy
Out of curiosity Andy, how many dogs do you run on the snow? 2 seasoned with a pup or 1 seasoned with a pup? I've done both, I hate going into a lose with a mess.
Warner: Match up with your dogs is very important. I look at what I lack in a pack to see what female to breed each year. I have three types of dogs that I hunt and I am breeding to get all three types in one dog. I have some old type walkers that are cold nose but sticky, some tracks they work best on. Part running dogs that move a track fast,{ NOT DRIFTING DOGS] one drifting dog is ok but a pack will over run to many tracks. I have Leopard curs or half Leopards for treeing and smarts. If the pack is trained together I can run 10 or more. Not to say that is bad conditions maybe 2 or 3 will be turned out on a track. All should be able to catch there own cat by 2 years. They all bring something to the hunt that the others may not do naturally. They all learn from others and get better at what they my lack. The key to a good pack of dogs is the hunter and what he can get out of his dogs. Dewey
i have dogs that will rig but not locate, dogs that will locate but not rig . some that will do everything . the biggest key i think is that they all honor eachother. on a lose they shut up and when someone opens to get to them with out barking . no barking out of place is a big deal .