Need advice on training

[blong]

I was given a Walker Coon hound last year. The person I got her from was moving and couldn't keep her. He did not use her for hunting, I would like to train her for bear hunting. She is about 3 years old. First of all is she too old to start training, second, I don't even know wher to start to train her. Any advise?

[larry]

At that age I would take her hunting and see if she's got the basics, I wouldn't wait around too long for a 3 yr old to come around. Sounds like she was a pet, so I am assuming she already has a good handle and manners, thats most of what needs to be taught, the hunting part is either there or it isn't. If not, I would look for a breed of dog to run bears that does not have the words coon hound in its name.

[lepcur]

Even if she does hunt at 3 years of age I doubt if she will ever have the endurance or stamina to make a bear dog, maybe a coon dog. I truely belive that ya have to work the young dogs by 11/2 years of age to build their lungs and cardio system to ever get the most out of them, you can pretty much build their muscle and feet at any age but ya got to push them at a young age. Mike

[blong]

thanks for the replies, maybe find someone else around here with dogs and let her go with them. See what happens

[redhoundsman]

It helps immensely to start a dog at a younger age, but it's not too late for her to learn the game. Train her like you would a pup. Show her the basics and get her on some live critters when the time is right. You'll know pretty quickly if she has the natural ability and desire. If she can't do it on her own, maybe she will still be useful as a backup dog when run with other dogs.