BigGameHoundsmen.com

As the user name applies I am just starting out and don't know much about hunting with hounds. I have a few friends that hunt with hounds for some time now, but getting the answers I want is sometimes like pulling teeth. Currently I have 1 finished bear dog that is awesome on the tree, medium nosed, rigs a hot bear track, and handles really well. The dog has never been on cats though and I would really like to be able to run her on cats. Is it possible to try her on a good fresh track by herself (with my help) or would it be a waste of time without a finished cat dog with her?
Also I have some pups that are really starting out on the cage really nicely. When I start training them to trail with drags or other means should I run my finished dog with them as a teaching aid? The finished dog like I said is a really good bear dog and I got her so she could teach me as well as maybe my pups. Any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciate! Thanks

There is no harm putting your dog on cat tracks and trying to cross train her. There are a good number of folks that have dogs that will do both successfully. If you are sure it is a cat track walk with her down the trail and encourage her as she goes. She should want to trail it naturally as long as she thinks she is allowed to. It may take several times of doing this before she really takes to it but be patient and just keep taking her. You can do the same with the pups once they get old enough. The easiest way I found was in fresh snow just because you could see the tracks better but any conditions will work as long as you are sure of the track.

Good luck to ya.

Where in NM are you. There are some pretty decent houndsmen on this site that live in NM. I believe that most of them would probably answer your questions in person, but I doubt that many of them will take the time to type out a good complete answer. I would look thru this site till I found one of them near me, call or pm them and see if you can tag along on a hunt(I wouldn't ask to take my dogs on the first hunt, let them get to know you first.), or pick their brains over a cup of coffee sometime.

In my opinion the short answers to your questions are:
yes
no
yes, but the timing of when and how much are important.

Good luck

Bill