BigGameHoundsmen.com

Just wondering when u deside what a dog is going to make of itself and how often can you say you predicted this with accuracy? We can only hunt so many dogs, so I'm asking if the dog makes the top cut. Also, how often would you say you can be correct in your judgement at different ages. For example, some dogs I'd guess are going to be good even at a few months of age. I usually know by one year who is who. A few came around late to show they are valuable near two. I haven't kept any longer than that if they didn't prove it to me by that point, so... what do u guys think is a good measuring time? And what do you measure?

Whether they start early or late I feel you see the real dog between 18-24 months old.With that said,I've never seen a complete/finished bobcat dog at 2years old,and as far as lion goes the best dry ground lionhunters out there tell me the same thing about their dogs.Most of the guys who hunt for a living,don't get to excited about dogs doing real good or average till this age.Once in a great while,along comes a real gifted one out of really good dogs,and we know we have something special,because they are very rare,even out of great parents.As far as what to look for,a well balanced hound[in all catagories]is generally what I'm looking for.

I usually know what a hound will be by 18 months old. I think they have all the tools at that point, then experiance is the only factor from then on out. I honestly don't think a dog ever stops learning, but they don't really change much in the "capabilities" department, in my opinion, after the 2 year mark. That said I need to see certain things by a year old to keep a dog, and certain things that I see that automatically gets them culled before then (babbling, fighting, poor temperment, lack of drive). Each one is different, and because I hunt and spend a lot of time with them at home and in the woods all year long, I pretty much base my opinion on "time hunting" vs "age". And even keeping a dog until it is a year old is a big feat for me. Like already has been said, some of them I just "know" from a young age will make some sort of dog. Its hard to exactly put my finger on what it is. Maybe just luck and wishful thinking, but I am usually pretty happy with the ones I have a "good feeling" about at a young age. I think brains and desire are the two main things I need to see. I have one that turned a year old today. I have liked her from a small pup. She is smart, quiet, and is always where she needs to be. Basically I didn't have to train her or babysit her. Since she was 5 months old anytime I let her out of the pen she goes and loads herself up in/on the dog box, she always wants to go somewhere, and can't stand it if she thinks she's getting left out.

I/ve trained dogs that kept improving untill around age seven. I have had a few that by seven months I knew they were keepers. Have never owned one that showed well at a young age that I had to cull later. Have read that slow starting is a bred in trait. Sure can/t say I/ve made enough crosses to have an educated opinion on that. But, think it could be true, most traits good or bad are bred in. Thanks Al Baldwin

So then at what age to you expect your hounds to perform what tasks? Just wondering what others expect. Like running along and making trees by six to nine months. Starting a track alone, trailing and finding trees by one year old, or catching solo (depending on the game) by two. Just trying to measure my measuring sticks here.

In my area, the way the seasons run, it's not age but rather how many seasons they went through.(depends on when the pup was born, could be a year old before it's able to run). 1st season the dog should have the basics down, trailing on it's own, treeing, may not be cold trailing on it's own but should go with the other dogs. Should be able to pick out desirable qualities in the first season. 2nd season they should have things figured out and you should be able to tell if the dog has in it what you want.
This is dependent on how much game the dog see's. It's hard to make a dog in 10 runs..
I like a dog to be born late in the year for bear training, that way their around 6 months old and more than ready to get er done when training season comes along in July.

I agree with mondomuttruner . The # of seasons a dog has been hunted and how many cat the dog has been on in those seasons are more important than the age. The first season hopfully the dog is somewhere between 5 months and one year.I like to see them going and trying to contribute not just follwing along by the end of that first season.I like to see them acting like they know where the cat is at when it is treed but not to worried about how much they bark.I dont fault them if they are barking up the tree and I dont worry to much if they are not. I dont mind if they get thrown out because they are hanging up where they smell the cat and not honoring the other dogs the first season.I think they learn to honor the other dogs and buy the end of the second season they should be breaking there neck to get to the other dogs when they pick up a loose. They should also be getting some of there own looses out. They should be treeing pretty good buy the end of that second season but wouldnt expect them to hold a tree alone for a long length of time by themselves.Buy 1.5 years to 4 they should be in there physical prime.From 4 to 6 they should be in there overall prime. After 6 I better have some young dogs coming along out doing them on a regular bases otherwise I am going to turn around one day and be starting from scratch.Have seen dogs under a year doing what 2 year olds should be doing.Have also seen dogs not start doing much at all till 2 that turned into good dogs. Just my thoughts. Take care,Larry

well said Larry,well explained.

I too did not have a certain age, amount of hunting & # cats a dog has been on has to be considered. When I had a decent pack I gave some dogs more time than some hunters would. At times it paid off other times I gave dogs away with a lot of feed & time invested. If I knew the history of the dogs behind a young dog they got more time. I did get a few young dogs free from hunters who gave up on a young dog & make some good dogs out of them. Gave up on a few that others gave more time that turned also. I used to think how nice if a hunter could know exactually when to give up on a young dog. Guess that why I like a young starting dog, may not make a dog I feed to an old age, but could sell & recoop something for my time & feed. And everyone does not have the same standards on dogs they feed. Dogs can contribute in so many different ways that make giving up on them very difficult. Sure these are not the answers you were looking for, but just my experience. I did become convinced any hunter who paid a big price for a young pup, no matter what the parents were, had the odds against him. Thanks Al Baldwin

Didn't really expect anything except to see what others say and maybe learn something. There's a lot riding on these types decisions for your pack.

Al- can you explain your statement about high priced pups?

MOST OF MY BETTER DOGS CAME OUT OF A CROSS THAT I OR SOME FRIEND MADE & GAVE ME A PUP. HAVE SEEN ADS BREEDERS ASKING 1000 & A FEW TIMES HIGHER & REALIZE NO MATTER WHAT THE PARENTS, SOME ARE NOT GOIUNG TO MAKE IT. ALSO REALIZE AT SOME POINT A HUNTER PAID THE PRICE TO GET SOME OF THE GOOD BLOODED HOUNDS TO OREGON, AND I & OTHERS BENEFITTED FROM THIER EFFORTS. Hunted with a young hound this winter, small tight made female, one year old, was impressed with what i saw. Turned out her dam & sire were both given to the hunter who made the cross. And this young female is the only one alive from that cross. Don/t know if next cross would work, but if things were better, would be temped to try pup from that cross. Thanks Al Baldwin

Thanks Al.