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how old should pups be to put in on bear chases or should they be led into a few bear trees first

I say if your running some corn feed bears in the fall ive let some 6 or 7 month old pups go. They have made the tree. Hate to get them on a real mean bear too young.

On bear I like to wait until they are a year old and they have most of thier growth and some of the puppy out of them.Some might mature before others but thats my rule of thumb.If you do know were there is a good pup trainer to run that just runs some and tree's and isn't to agressive you could probably try one a little earlier,but I wouldn't push it.JMO

hello Rich, how are your pups?? hope your doing good..

i feel that a pup must know his A, B, C'S before he is cut loose on a bear chase. he should know how to get through the woods, the smells of the woods, how to come to his name, what barking dogs mean, things like that. everyone has different ideas and thoughts thats what makes things interesting. i have heard from a lot of people to wait. dont rush it. and some dogs thats probably true. when my dog wants to go and i feel he knows enough to take on the challenge, he goes. puppies are always walking into trees at anywhere from 10 wks to 6 mos. its all a personal preference. no it wouldnt be my preference to get a 7 or 8 month old pup on a mean bear.. but its a chance you take. ive had to look for puppies in the swamps and on the mountains, but i have also had many smiles at a pups first tree.

i would not run my pup every time as he is still growing and hard runs will be hard on his growing bones.

hi kelly doing great thanks pups are doing great shirley fines every tree i lay trails too and my walker pup does too and hes doing real good job treeing on them tonight i went down layed trail across road and shirley struck let both go they both treeded then went to playing but its great start i guess