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I"ve been thinking, about the best group or crew of dogs I've owned or hunted over, in the past 30 years, from mine, my grandfathers,or some awful good hunters and dogs, I have the upmost respect for. I've been reflecting on a recent bear. I sold my crew last all, seven dogs, which six was sibblings. I love to train and breed a litter for myself and finish them out, i put together a crew as a challenge, and hit this mean boar and he cleaned house, 3 out of 5 went to the vet. Two out for the year. I know these dogs isnt as gritty as my stock i sold. So why? My last crew treed him three years in a row, heck of a fight, baying, running etc, about 4 hours he would climb, and a few scrapes on the dogs. I have five 4 month old pups now from my male, and working them everyday, I think i have a good opinion The littermates, grow up together, know each others strong and weak points, in general have the same grit, speed, and the qualities i look for. They trust each other completly, and work together as a team. They hit the game as a team, not strug out from different speed, abilities, etc. My buddy from florida has six 1.5 year old sibblings, for a bear pack, and he also is so impressed on catching game and how they work. Thinking about Van, I think that is part of his sucess, is his dogs are all in the same family, and qualities he likes. I feel its the ultimate pack, anyone else experience this or whats your thoughts?

I have always had problems running littermates. they are more apt to fight each other. I have had two champion litter mates that when ran together they bring out the worst in each other. but I have had a couple that accent each other well. so i guess it's probably how you train em. I just personally never had much luck. I have 4 generations of the same cross and one year to another they are fine, it's something about being pups together.jmo.

I think your right on part of that also. But with that being said, part of that is leaving them together to long, in the puppy pen, or thats my opinion. Mine is 50x50, and today my pups turn four months old, and time to seperate them. My last crew was four males, and really not a problem at all, but let them find their place on the pole, in controlled circumstances if i could.Thinking of the line, strain, your breeding, etc. The clay boys catch as many cats as anyone, the family tree doesnt fork much, so their pack is well matched, in everything needed to catch cats, there is something to this,

I prefer two littermates at a time when buying or selling pups. You can train them together from the beggining and then you break them up to do individual training. They learn from each other, they learn alone and the best part about it is they work as a unit.

That sounds like a perty good way to do it. I'll have to try it next time.