Afraid of the dark

[coondogger80]

Hey ya'll, got an 8 month old blue, I been huntin some. He seen bout 9-10 live coon and bout 3 fresh road killed. He goes nuts on a live caged coon! He's pulled tails through the cage, paws through the cage, anything he can get hold of, he'll pull it through the cage! But the craziest thing is he doesn't show much interest in hunting, yet. I know it'll all click in time, but it's like he's at this stage where if I don't take him out hunting, every time I let him out of the kennel all he wants to do IS HUNT! but when I take him out at night TO HUNT, he doesn't show much interest. It's almost like he's afraid to make any noise at night!

Anyone else seen this before?

[BULLMASTER]

This is just an idea I came up with when I read your post.
What if you started working him with the coon in cage in the night instead of the day light, this might get him to put it together that you hunt coons in the dark and he is more familiar with the night.

The other thing we do with pups is we will walk them into the tree on a leash and jump it out with 1 older dog and then that way he will get some hair in his mouth without a lot of chaos.

Like I said before Its what we have done

[Big Horn Posse]

I had a Bluetick pup that was affraid of the dark also whe she was young. She was the same way real gung ho on the cage and would hunt in the day just fine. Didn't bother me too much cause I am a day hunter. She eventually got over it. Don't know if having to spend two nights out on the mountain after she and one of my Redbones decided they would go tree a second lion when we were coming out after getting my son's lion, but she got over it. I am sure your dog will too.

[bigdog061]

Coon hunting is a primarily a night sport. pups act different at night just like "most" humans will not hunt at night by themselves. You take a person that hunted in day time in an area a hundred times. drop them off at night and see what happens!!!!

"CONFIDENCE" is the key to being successful at anything consistantly. If you go in woods scared of dark, dog tends to stay close and nervous. Keep yourself and pups in woods at night and feel yourself get more comfortable and confident!

JMO cage coons are a waste of time!!!! with exception of catching coon and turning it loose without dog/pup knowing it. if dog/pup won't respond to a 10 minute old track by nose only....well you be the judge!!!!!!!

Ever heard the saying.......why by the cow, when you can get the milk for free!!!!! JMO cage coons can make a pup spoiled and not be willing to grub a tough track later in life...... seen to many road dogs when dropped out, truck in off position, run out in woods for maybe 5 minutes then "hunt tailgate" not my style......not "wrong" but not my style!

Paul

[montananative]

i agree with paul. my female seen one coon in a cage, thats all it took.