when to give up on a hound

[turk]

I have 2 walkers from a good bloodline. Ran them the last 4 months 1.5 months in pen and rest on the outside. They ran with pack in the pen and showed some interest but nothing that impressed me. On the outside its been tough, they caught one with another hound and held it there and never quit barking. on another note a few days ago i put them on a yote 50 yards off road. They scented track till snowmobile trail and stopped there. I tried to get them to get them back on trail and they wouldnt let me near. They ended up at someonss kennel. I swore i was done that day with them. They are a little over 18 months. When is it time to move on and give up on a hound. I feel like they dont have the hunt and I just keep waiting for that day. I have had them out 2-5 times a week..... I have tried.

[catdogs]

Assuming they are old enough (which could anywhere from 6 months to 18) I would give them 10 good opportunities. If they arent showing you something good by then....ditch em

[turk]

Have ran them 15 times in the pen and more then that on outside. Other then the pen I didnt have good hounds to run them with which didnt help. Thanks for the advice.

[mondomuttruner]

First and foremost is to get a better handle on your hounds. Being you couldn't catch them on the snowmobile trail, that is where you should start. My opinion is stay out of the pen, does nothing for a dog that is intended to be hunted outside. Get a better handle on the hounds and keep getting them on good tracks, they may come around.

[FullCryHounds]

I would also run them separately. Trying to train two young dogs together seems to result in a longer learning curve. I train one young dog at a time now with much greater success. And I agree, forget the pen.

[CasB]

I started 2 pups in the pen. Took them three times. Each time they did a little better but didn't set the world on fire. Took them out in the woods behind the house and they hunted out, struck, trailed and jumped a coyote - took him for a good ride till it crossed out of the block. Never went back to the pen again. Guys I hunt with only use the pen to start dogs or maybe go a little to tune a dog up. Pen is good to introduce them to a yote, but getting them on the outside is best.

They already know what a yote is. Don't know if you have snow or not but if so, put them on a fresh track solo and see if they go. At this point, if they don't after a few tries, I'd be looking for new prospects.

[DunDealHoundHunters]

Mondomuttrunner nailed it! People need to get their dogs to handle before they can hunt! You have to spend a shit load of time with young dogs and get them to listen and obey you and then take em to a pen n get em running a bit once they know the game hunt the outside n run the shit out them. Can't stress it enough to people the most important thing to a good hound in my eyes is spending time from day one. Jmo

[kordog]

i agree with full cry on the hunting together of those two from the sounds of things.at 18 months i would be disapointed and looking elsewhere though for my main dog going by the exsposure you have given them.i guarantee there are dogs out there doing more than that you can get your hands on.and at a younger age. keep your eyes open for better.at 18 months and that much exsposure they should be cranking a hot coyote track . dogs dont have to be perfect at that age to impress me ,but they have to have desire to run the game.not just follow other hounds to the game.is it possible they could turn out yes ,but i wouldnt put all my eggs in that basket .lifes to short.