BigGameHoundsmen.com

Hey, had a question for you all. wanted to hear everyones opinion. What is the best age to start a a young hound or is there a best age or should you look for some other attribute that will tell you whether or not the hound is ready to start? I've heard alot of debate on this subject.

It all depends on the dog, it's when He/she is ready to start. We cant make them do somthing they dont already want to do. All we can do is give them a chance to do what they want to do. After readding that it soundedlike a ryme LOL. So if your dog shows you that its ready then let'em go for it. It's all about confadence and how we help them build it and maintaine it.

a dogman once told me that when you think you should give up on a dog give him 2-3 more months, then re-evaluate that dog. remember hounds typically are slower to mature than other breeds. most dogs aren't fully grown till around a year or so...hounds are about 3-4years old before they are fully mature.

with that said i would think most hounds are ready to start around 9-10months old some will start as soon as 3-4months, but that is not really the norm. i started basic training with my hound at 6months(come, heel, load up). i showed him his first coon at 7months and he was trailing at 7.5 - 8months and locating the correct tree at about the same time. he didn't get most of the puppy out of him until he was 2yrs though.

The Old Timers that I hunted with as a boy always said to start a hound when they had their permanent teeth, usually around 6 months. That is when I start hauling them. I do not expect everyone of them to start immediately as they are all a little different just like people. I do begin to worry about one that is a year old and is not doing anything. I feel after hunting for 6 months, he/she should be trying to get in there and do something.