BigGameHoundsmen.com

i see we are getting alot of new people asking questions about cat hunting but i havent seen this one asked for quite sometime so i thought i would post it to see everyones response.


what do you look for when choosing a pup out a litter. And at which age or ability level do you cut the dog loose on its own to attempt to catch a cat solo or do you.

me personally i look for the indepdent pup thats off from the litter checing things out and seems to not be quite so clumbsy footed as most pups typically are. nice tight feet long legs and deep chests are some of the physical traits i look for. I dont usually cut just one dog loose on a track. i figure i feed them all so i should hunt them all if i see a trash issue with one i run collars on them all most older dogs are collar smart so it becomes easy to tell the trashy dog.

sorry was bored

A teacher once told me there are no dumb questions just dumb answers.

Usually when it comes to picking up pup, I go with the one that I'm drawn to.. I don't know how else to explain it.. I can usually just look at a litter and say "Ok, that is the one I want" within a few minutes of watching them.. I run Walkers and I like them small, tight made and white.. I probably look for the same in the pups.. I don't want a shy one.. Haven't picked one out in person that turned shy on me.. I like a pup that will look you in the eye..

As for hunting them by themselves, it usually depends on the pup.. I don't mind late starting dogs.. I'll take them out when they are big enough to fit into a tracking collar and not get outrun and see how they act.. Once they hit the age they are going with the dogs, I hunt them with the older dogs.. I've had pups that starting outrunning and treeing in front of my older dogs their first cat season.. If they do that, I'll start dropping them on tracks by themselves.. I'll walk along to help if I need to.. I try and hunt them by themselves by their second cat season.. It depends on how much I actually get to hit the woods and it depends on them.. I only expect as much as I put into them..

I like to see a pup that uses its nose but is obviously intelligent I Don't really like stubborn bullheaded dogs that take a lot of discipline to handle and only pay attention when forced to . Those pups can make real good lion hounds if that hard head works a track with the same determination but I much prefer a dog that uses its head as much as its nose. I like them capable of getting around well in rocks and brush and not get hung up just because their nose lead them into it . I also look for the pup that interacts with people with a nice confidence not pushy or fawning but focused