when do you cull

little bit · Post by **little bit** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 3:27 am

when do you cull, i have a litter of pups,4 weeks old, i have one pup that is very shy, the rest are very bold. dos's he have a chance, i have a buddy that wants him but i think i will take him and play it out . i would like to hear what you all think. im keeping one more pup that is bold, it is my line with help of other breeders. i want good dogs and a good name, i know just because the rest are bold dosen't mean they are going to toe the mark, what do you guys look for in a pup?

nmplott · Post by **nmplott** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:02 am

4 weeks old is not saying much. I would at least give the pup a few more weeks to see how he develops.

Bearsmom · Post by **Bearsmom** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 6:15 am

I just took on a hound a year old that was up for a cull.........said she never barked, showed the slightest interest in anything, loading, running, etc....barely even to eat or come out of the doghouse.
I got her in August, made her sit for 3 weeks to get to know me and my property and other dogs, habits...then ran her on a trainer. That damn dog turned on a switch inside and 2 other trainers since and she turned out to be totally opposite of what described I got. She's so wound up I open my tailgate when I know letting dogs out to play and eat cause that is where I know she is going...to the box! She tracks on her own and trees like a fool and even will climb the tree if she can! I gotta admit I was not prepared for what I was told I was 'getting' the first time out...and what she 'exploded' to be! That turned out to be a bad trainer of dog turned crazy and had before run began...next two...second she climbed and got, 3rd both dogs had on ground so I am not sure but a long run so assuming got drug down if she managed to get up high enough.
I have no idea when to decide...just know in this case it was going to be decided too soon! Don't know if too many dogs where she was, don't know if him vs me being female and working with her more and less dogs? Just know she's nothing like what I brought home and she's turned out to be an amazing 'instinct' pup! I've got high hopes for this year of bob cat running is all I can say about her! And don't cull too soon...still don't know what changed totally from him to me with her...all I know is she changed and she's showing 100% promise of a good cat dog let alone other 'running' later!

Yelloyote · Post by **Yelloyote** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:22 pm

B's mom that was a good post.I almost said cull it but you stopped me in my tracks.Good post.

liontracker · Post by **liontracker** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:16 pm

Give him a chance. Start messing with him more than the others and watch what happens. I bet he comes around.

Mike Leonard · Post by **Mike Leonard** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:10 pm

Absolutly stay with her. 4 Weeks goodness they have barely had their eyes open long enough to take a good look around. Spend a lot of time with her and socialize her without scaring her and at the end of seven weeks you will see a dramatic change. Puppies need to be held, layed on their back in you hand and the toes played with all kind of socialization techniques you could read up on with access to the web. The police and military and search organzations can give you guideance on puppy socilization. I do this even before their eyes are open. It can make a huge difference but you still have a lot of time to get that little girl out of her shell and on to a happy puppyhood.

Catman · Post by **Catman** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:54 am

I agree totally with what Mike says. Heck all of us likes our toes played with :wink:

I can't even imagine culling at that age unless your crossing for looks more that ability. Hang in there and let us know.
Catman

Mike Leonard · Post by **Mike Leonard** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:18 pm

For those of you who would like to know more about the program I mentioned. Do a search on Google or Yahoo and ask for (Canine Bio Sensor program). It can make a real difference in those puppies and it doesn't take much effort.

FullCryHounds · Post by **FullCryHounds** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:05 pm

I personally think that too many very good pups and young hounds are culled way too early. I also think that too many are culled, not because they aren't up to expectations but because the houndsman didn't do his part in socializing and training that pup.
Look how many young dogs are being sold and every ad says the same thing:" year old dog, been on three trees. This dog just needs to be worked more and he'll make a great dog!"

Well I'm sorry but what the heck did you get that pup for if you didn't have the time to work with him. Get those young dogs out in the field and give them a chance.

nmplott · Post by **nmplott** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:32 pm

Dean,
My personal favorite with these ads is "Not messed with much". This is where a lot of people have a huge problem getting dogs started. They need to work them regularly, whihch may be something as simple as taking the dogs for a walk to socialiaze them.
Stephen

Rockcreek · Post by **Rockcreek** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:33 pm

Cull before you breed, then give the pups time to mature. It's a lot more fun raising a pup with a real reason for being alive!

Bearsmom · Post by **Bearsmom** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 12:15 am

Hey little bit another note....I've got a walker with no good breeding at all. Male is a good trial dog but that's about it--female never ran or trained at all. Have no idea what the hell they made the cross for. But I picked her up at 11 weeks for free and been working with since. My first hound and pup. Right now she's going on 16 mo or so. From day one the first time I took her out and way too young she has had a nose from hell. Doesn't tree worth a damn though...backtracks. Can turn around and get her headed back but gotta leash her up at the tree. She will run alone or with a pack and has from day one dry ground or snow above her back. I've just now been working her with this other dog I talked about and is just now starting to open on a track. Still weak at the tree but last time out when I said they got on the ground she was right in there. I don't know if she will ever get strong at the tree but I'm not ready to give up on just yet cause if she catches on there with the nose she has I might get lucky and have one heck of a dog. She never had the breeding of a good hunting dog. But I refuse to give up and have hope and at least signs of improving even if a little slower then I'd like. Her strong qualities are strong enough I'm hoping the weak ones become stronger with age. Her drive is changing consistantly even if slowly enough for me to wait it out. But then again I've only got these two young hounds and my first year with my own and I'm willing to have more patience just to see what we can do both as my learning in training and her learning in being trained. I think my patience and want to is how I got lucky with the other pup I got. And I'll ride it out and see if one does not compliment the other. I've got a sig. other with high dollar great dogs...friends also. I'd rather take my own time in learning with my own and seeing what I have learned from them and if I can train, and just how much they can train me! If this is your first litter I'd be slow to cull anything just yet cause you really have no way of knowing anything if you cull too soon.....just my thoughts! Oh and also---what might not work for you just might work for someone else? Ya never know if you cull too soon....good luck!

FullCryHounds · Post by **FullCryHounds** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:21 pm

Very good Rockcreek. Another thing to look for when looking for a pup. The best dogs I've ever had were not from guys breeding dogs to sell. Find a pup that is free from a longtime houndsman that has breed his two best dogs for himself and now he is looking for homes for the rest of the litter. You won't find many culls with this type of breeding.

Plott Proud · Post by **Plott Proud** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 3:23 pm

4 WEEKS??????? Come on, there's absolutely no way to know what a pup's going to be like at that age.
I agree with what's been said above. Get aquainted with the pups put in a lot of time with them AND LET THEM BE PUPPIES for a while.

Man, am I ever glad my folks nidn't think about culling at an early age :!:

They probably should have thought about as time went by though. :twisted:

Good Luck with the puppy!

onalimb · Post by **onalimb** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 3:39 pm

I don't know about 4 weeks, but you are paying attention, and already don't like the dog. Niether would I. If I see one that is shy and lets the others drag it around, it's a gonner at 8 weeks for sure. So are any that are big or houndy looking, I keep the naturals and they don't all make it, but I won't give a shy one away.
I won't mess with them, try any behavior modification or anything like that, all I do is keep an eye on them, verify they are not sick in anyway, and go from there. JMO