chuckydw wrote:
Man, I would say if he's pulling on the lead and you think he's smelling coon scent to let him go! I've read about this "too young" stuff 'til I'm blue in the face. Every dog is not the same. I've got a 10 mth. old pup here that has been running and treeing since she was 4 mths. old. When I take them to the woods with me when they're that young I don't leave them on a lead, I let them run loose. You never know when they're gonna come across a really hot track that excites them and off they go. Plus, getting them used to getting through the woods in the dark is one of the most important things for a young dog or pup. Good luck!!!!
You are certainly entitled to your opinion on this. I am curious as to what color your face is going to turn when all of the sudden this pup just stops hunting. Like Chet mentioned. If you have not had this happen you just have not been through enough dogs. Once it does happen and I absolutely promise it will sooner or later if you mess with enough pups you will understand what it is like to burn out a pup.
As usuall, I agree with Chet 100% on this. It sounds like your doin just fine with this pup. Many, many pups show a TON of great instinct. Some will make it through without any problems but very few. Most will start showing some real problems and it can be very tough if not dang near impossible to fix them if hunted too much too young. One thing I think important to point out in this thread is this. MOST folks don't train full time. They work with their own dogs and do just fine. As a trainer for the public I am in a position to see many many dogs. It is a FACT that people don't bring young dogs to me if they are doing just fine. They bring problem dogs to be fixed. It does not take long to see a theme develope among these young hounds that are " all of the sudden" having problems. The theme is that they ALL were hunted too much too young.