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Well just picked up 2 blueticks last week they are 9weeks old starting to regret getting to pups, the headaches begin man those dogs are stubborn and a little slower then labs that I am use to. At what age do people recomend starting dogs on training any help would be great thanks

Training starts the day you bring them home....walks in the woods learning to negotiate logs, creeks, rocks, etc. Basic commands, getting used to being in the truck, used to other dogs. Hunting up squirrels, rabbits, etc....just being pups but learning all the time. Spend alot of time with them, get a good handle on them, introduce them to game when they're ready, and hopefully in the end they'll hunt to please you.

CasB wrote:Training starts the day you bring them home....walks in the woods learning to negotiate logs, creeks, rocks, etc. Basic commands, getting used to being in the truck, used to other dogs. Hunting up squirrels, rabbits, etc....just being pups but learning all the time. Spend alot of time with them, get a good handle on them, introduce them to game when they're ready, and hopefully in the end they'll hunt to please you.

+1

What he said. Soon as my pups got home. They got swimming lessons, obedience and tons of play room. They kill gophers better than our cats lol.

What everybody said. The best training you can give a young hound is to just let him run loose on your property until they start leaving then pen them up. If you are unable to do that then take them out to the river, lakes etc and let them explore. Just make sure they have all their shots.

To add to my previous post, with 2 pups I had a few years ago, I got them out in the woods several times a week. The first time they opened on a track was at 5 months old....of course it had to be a deer that jumped up in front of them....but they smoked it wide open and after a while it wasn't a sight chase...it was at that time I knew they were ready for real training - before that it was puppy stuff. The dogs will let you know when they're ready to progress to the next step.

Can't add anything, just don't get caught up in the "they should be doing this at 4 months and that at 6 months...." BS! They are all different. I have had pups trailing and treeing at 4 months and others not til 8 months or even more.

Get yourself a copy of Tom Solberg's "Dog Talk". Read it and follow it and you'll be years ahead and so will your pups. Good luck.

catdogs wrote:Can't add anything, just don't get caught up in the "they should be doing this at 4 months and that at 6 months...." BS! They are all different. I have had pups trailing and treeing at 4 months and others not til 8 months or even more.

very good advice. this advice lasts up till they're about 1.5 years old. by then you know weither it's time to keep or cull. nothin worse than when somebody puts 5 years on a dog and it's still a cull. better to weed the gene pools down to dogs that naturally want to hunt than try to force dogs too hunt.

bwhntr13 wrote:Well just picked up 2 blueticks last week they are 9weeks old starting to regret getting to pups, the headaches begin man those dogs are stubborn and a little slower then labs that I am use to. At what age do people recomend starting dogs on training any help would be great thanks

well,i started training my litters at five weeks old. not much into the come sit stay stuff as tritronics seems to be able to get past the closed ears and goes right to the brain. i started three pups on lions by walking tracks,lots of miles. if they see you as their pack leader ,they will eventually key in on why your draggin them through the bush. at 9 weeks old i'd only be concerned with makin pals with them,keep it fun and rewarding.