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I have 4 plott and plott cross dogs ranging in ages from 2 years to 12 months. I am having trouble with them staying treed and quitting a race. I have put 4 up that I have saw. Several times I have almost gotten to the tree and they have quit. 2 of the 4 bears have come out while I was standing at the tree. The dogs bayed and even fought them alittle and put them up again but, wouldn't stay treed long enough for me to make it there. They came back to me and I took them back. I went to where I thought they had treed but couldn't find it. Then they would take off and act like they were looking at it (I figure it must have come out and they picked it up again) only to just shut up and come back to me again. I am hunting 4 days a week and am seeing alittle progress. Two dogs are starting to rig very well and are becoming more dependable at it. The youngest two hunt hard and trail never saying a word. They have twice been the last to come back from a race. When I do manage to get there in time they are at the tree milling around. What do I need to do (other than keep hunting them hard) to make them start staying with a track and treed?

It is my quess you have a tree fighter in the group. JMO

Absolutely!

I don't know it could be a few things, including whats mentioned above. Thats nothing to mess with and will most likely ruin or scar the others. Try to figure that out in the yard with a trainer. A set-up tree. Your description makes me think that "maybe" you have a dog or two thats trying to by-pass or leave the tree running. With all dogs being inexperienced, basically sometimes they can't help but get caught up in it if even for a few minutes. It only takes one and usually they take something with them.

in reading your post not for sure about some of the comments you didnt say anything about bite holes if you had i would say fighting but you didnt sounds like young dogs milling around get to the trees as fast as possible tie the dogs up make them tree get them excited then jump the critter out run him again keep tying them up when you get to your trees for awhile see if this doesnt help www.fallriverwalker.com

Thanks for the replies. I tye them back and walk away where they can't see me. Once they start treeing again I walk in and pet them up and praise them good. I have (2) 20'x60' runs off the side of my barn that I keep them in and they all get along great (never fighting). I haven't seen any tree aggretion out of them but, that doesn't mean one couldn't be alittle more dominate at the tree. I will watch for hints of it. They actually done real well yesterday. They treed a sow and cub and stayed with it for about an hour and a half before I got there. That's the longest that they have stayed treed so far. The youngest pup was treeing like an ole pro. He looked sharp. I'm don't want them to stay treed for days but, acouple hours yes.

I have to agree with Ankle Express. If you have one that is leaving he is probably pulling the others with him. Seperate them and see if that is the problem. If your not hearing a ruckus then chances are they are not fighting. It never hurts to keep a close eye on that. Check for holes, alot of the times it's not from a bear. Tie them up immediatey, don't let them or give them a chance to mill. Praise the ones that are treeing. Most of the time the other ones can't stand it and will start, then you priase them. If possible try to get a couple down to them( if in seson). I don't think running them down and re-running them is the answer. I have found if they have a long race or are treed for a long time, hot weather, etc can have negitive effect on re-running. If they start getting run out by being tried,etc they learn to just quit when that happens. That starts bad habits. So I praise mine to death and tell them good job, then leave. THats JMO hope it helps.

Yeah and I agree with Hi Tech. Jumping game out for a pup that doesn't know its up there a time or two might be okay. But after they are trying its a tricky deal. I wouldn't recomend it for loose/slack tree dogs. Seems to make them worse. However for the other extreme, tree happiness, it seems to help.