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How much time do you give young dogs to become bay dogs before you give up on them. Should a 1 to 2 year old hound stay in a bayup on his first bayup?

Last week I turned on a bear in the evening, me and my friend were heading back to camp and he was smarter then me by not turning loose that late but I couldn't resist it a red hot strike with a 5" track going up the bank. Finally at midnight I managed to call off the dogs as they were crossing a road but the one dog wouldn't quit it and went on finally at 2 AM he bayed up solid 250 yards off the road in very brushy steep country. I went down there and got right in there with a young dog with me, the bear was doing what they do on a bayup and my young dog wouldn't go. He went maybe 75 yards then came back. Was he scared of the bear or the dark? Should I give him more chances or just not waste more dogfood on him?

I wouldnt give up on that young dog yet. It could have been a lot of things. I noticed a young pup I had that was doing good on bear. When season ended I went to coon hunting. At night he didnt want to leave me even when the other dog started a track. Daylight and he would go huntin. He got over it but it was sure a strange deal for me. I think John Wick said it best when he said "dogs arnt machines that you push a button and they go. They are flesh and blood with their own personalities".

I'd say the dog was scared of the bear, but the dark didn't help. I've seen some pretty tough bay dogs that wouldn't run worth a darn after dark. But they did fine in the light.

On this young dog, what has it done before? If this was it's maiden voyage on a bear, you've set it back some. I always try to put young dogs or pups in situations to succeed not fail. Tossing it on an owly bear that has already weakened the other dogs is not a position to succeed.

I have seen some very promising young dogs really shut down because they got thier ass beat by a tough bear. I've seen more ruined than made. Now some say that "well they aren't a bear" dog, No they didn't become one, but they may have if they weren't shit kicked at a young age. Bear dogs need to stay in there in the majority of situations. I say "majority" because I've seen some awful good bear dogs quit on a certain bear or fall out when they've been hurt. I can't fault them for that, but it shouldn't become a habit.

With that said, if you're going to put a young dog in a known bad bear, make sure it's got some other good dogs in there to cover it's back. How would you feel if the coach trotted you out to carry the ball against Ray Lewis without an offensive line.

No this wasn't his first race, I have had him on an estimated 10 bear races, but this was his first bayup. Usually he is up with the front dogs in the first 5 miles then starts lagging behind. The dog I had in there baying is the father to the pup and he is very fast but generally doesn't get closer then 15 feet to a bayed bear if he is by himself. The mother is a lot more aggresive but doesn't have the speed so a lot of times she is way behind. In breeding these 2 together I was hoping for pups with the male's speed and the mother's agression. I got the speed but it appears I might not even have as much aggresion in the pup that the male has????

Its definately not how you want to see your young prospects act but I wouldn't give up on him yet. JMO

In my opinion, some dogs don't get aggressive as they can until they are about three to three and a half. Sounds like the pup is showing good things in several different areas. I would keep feeding him. You might be looking at a good one that will stay alive for a while. Keep us posted on his progress.

BAY DOGS ARE BRED NOT MADE
I WOULD TURN THAT YOUNG DOG LOOSE WITH HIS FATHER AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS I START THEM EARLY

I've gotta agree, they have it or they don't. I can see where good prospects can get ruined getting chewed up on early. But at a young age they should be at least going, barking, and not scared to at least LOOK at a bear. I wouldn't want to set them up for failure, and to put them on a bear thats gonna eat them up. But they aren't made of glass. If they have any heart at all you should see it.

Mine better stick with it, day or night. They don't have to be hangin on him, but they better at least be annoying the crap out of him.

hey i got a question. about training. i just got a pup froma buddy. thee mom is a great cat dog, and good bear dog. and the dad is a unbleviable bear dog and im not kidding. he has put up a lot of bears alone. and he can start a bear track that no other hound will. but anyways back to the question. next year when my pup will be old enough to hunt. should i turn him in with the other dogs. at the begging of the race. or for a few races should i wait. and dump him in more towrds the end of the race. that way i can set him up for more succes. thanks

I have never been bear hunting, only hog. I try to turn a pup to a minimum of ten bays before I let them make a race. I messed up a couple of good young dogs trying to get them to stay with older, fast, long range dogs. Make sure they are on the game you want, then put them in. If the animal breaks, that is even better.

Another reason we do this is to minimize trash races. If you can let them know that they are supposed to go to a hog when the tailgate drops, then you are already two or three steps ahead.

this is for bearhunter,bartamenko,cassandra do any of you guys know a guy that goes buy tex dthere in cali dnt know if hesa still around i think he had cancer but dont know if hes stil around but anyways if you guys need a tagalong let me know i havent been bear huntin in about 15 years or so but i am gettin the bug again

I wouldn't give up on him yet if he is keeping up with the rest of your pack when you first turn loose, it might take a few bay ups for him to get used to it.