BigGameHoundsmen.com

Just wondering how old you guys start a pup getting in shape, like when you start roading them, how far and what speed to start?

I start taking them on horse pack trips any time after 3 mo. I've had a couple that spent the night out there when we got back cuz they gave out but only on rare ocasion. They usually just start following the older dogs and learning from them.

i started at 4 month old but i dont force the dog to run or keep up i pick her up as soon as she seems like shes slowing down now at six months you cant stop her she runs with the older dogs just fine

Start em at about 3 or 4 months but dont expect too much or dont ask too much I should say until between about 6 and 7 months old. This is just gettin in shape, not doin their job.

Jeremy, how is the little monster doing I bet he is starting to look like a hound. Five months old and you can start roading them a mile or so just dont over do it. later, Andy

The only problem Is that roading them your teaching them to chase trucks and atvs. this can be a real pain in the a$$ when your hunting and a truck or wheeler comes by and pulls your pack off the track. Also I have ran over and killed alot of good dogs roading them . I'd rather go turn my dogs out and let them chase a herd of deer for exercise than road them. the best way to keep em in shape though is to keep em in the woods hunting what you taught them to.

houndnem wrote:The only problem Is that roading them your teaching them to chase trucks and atvs. this can be a real pain in the a$$ when your hunting and a truck or wheeler comes by and pulls your pack off the track. Also I have ran over and killed alot of good dogs roading them . I'd rather go turn my dogs out and let them chase a herd of deer for exercise than road them. the best way to keep em in shape though is to keep em in the woods hunting what you taught them to.

Not to start anything but there are very few guys that have the privelage to hunt 12 months out of the year and roading is a (must if you want to be consistant at catching game.) If a hound will pull from a track to chase a vehicle he needs to be corrected for that and if he or she cant be they need a SPECIAL place to go too, just like if they cant be broke off trash. They need to go to that same SPECIAL place! In my eyes all hounds need to be (taught) to road and there shouldnt be any problems with it down the road. Dont get me wrong hunting them is the best excersize there is but that is not always an option and roading is the next best thing but to say you would rather let them chase a herd of deer rather than road you have to be kidding jmo later, Andy

If you live where you can hunt them 12 months out of the year why road them? huntem up!!!! I do hunt mine year round. they have never sat in the kennel long enough to need to go run up a road aimlessly. I guess I haven't really had to road my dogs in alot of years and back when I did they were pups and it was really a mess. That's where I'm coming from. I'm not saying that you couldn't teach a pack of dogs to road and not to come off a track top chase trucks, but I think it's far from the best way to keep dogs in shape. if you've got time to go drive around in a truck with them following you then you've got time to saddle up a pony and ride canyons or heaven forbid just hike with them.

dont always have time to head to the woods and i can road him on the dirt roads by my house, i would love to be in the woods every day but if i was my wife would throw all my crap on the lawn and lock my a$$ out! As far as letting him chase a herd of deer i would lose him every day, every morning we have a dozen or so in the yard and in montana a dog can be shot on site for harassing wiledlife, not to mention nows not a good time with fawns on the ground.

jeremy,build him as you go,he's going to have alot drive,roading him is good for his mind,it helps keep there paws tuff, nails trimed,he'll look forward to it,beware of his youth,road him in front of you if you can,or behind you where you can see him back aways,once he's learned to run a track and get treed,then you can get him in hunting shape, he's still just a pup,i've burned the wheels off alot soft hounds in my day,it pays to road them,keep them legged up,as far as those deer go sooner or later you'll have to deal that, larry