how to pick puppys?

[gila_hound_chaser]

Hounds men when you have a litter of hound puppys how do you pick the good ones that you are going to keep?

[AZDOGMAN]

I always pick the one that looks cool. But i always end up with the dud so i pick the ugly one or close my eyes and grab one. lol

[Ike]

I think AZ pretty much covered my thoughts on it, and that is it's a crap shoot! The best way to pick a pup is grab two or three of them if that litter is special to you then choose the best later on and sell off or give away the other to a friend if they are in need. In my limited experience, those pups will either favor the sir or the damn, and if you're lucky they'll take the best from both worlds. Good luck!

ike

[Big Mike]

Keep the whole litter the only way to be sure. If you can keep them til there 12 weeks or later they start to show some more personality, and look for traits of there ancestors. When all else fails pick the one with the longest ears and biggest poop shoot!!!

[Big Horn Posse]

Usually before the litter is born I have a sex in mind. I prefer females so that is usually what I will choose. If I have a lot of females to choose from I will take the runt. Just my prefrence.

[frs123]

when i pick a pup it usually aint worth a crap but my wife has a soft spot for the runts and i always end up with the runt and the one i picked. and yes she lets me know about the fact that a hell of a lot more of hers have turned out then what i pick so now i just pick the runt and have had good luck. but that aint a sure thing either. just my opinion.

[Mr.pacojack]

I have a sex in mind.

I am really holding myself back on this one

[bluedogs]

the guy i have gotten pups from keeps the whole litter till there about 2 to 3 months old that way he can make sure they all are healthy and he can see who is doing what at that age. makes it easyer i think i still pick the one i like the best. my ex when she wasnt my ex had a walker who had pups and i picked one to keep that dog annoyed the hell out of me she would tree and trail awsome at 4 months and 5 months old but when it came time to get back in the dog box she would run and hide it would take forever to finally catch her i came so close to ending that dogs career asa huntin dog and a dog in general. well one day i went to the sportsmen show and was walkin that female around and two guys from idaho asked about her i ended up selling her and i told them what i didnt like about her and how she was hard to catch well couple years later i run in to those guys agian and low and behold that dog is one of there top lion dogs in idaho LOL moral of the story doesnt matter what pup ya pick its eather gonna be a shitter or a keeper.

[Mike Leonard]

This is a touchy subject but I truely beleive there are a couple of things you can do before you ever start looking to pick a pup that will increase your odds.

Now first off if this is a litter you raised and it was just one of the accidental breeding or somthing you just sort of let happen becasue puppies are cute and maybe one will turn out to be wonder dog then most of this does not apply. Throw the dice as they have said and take your lumps along with the rest.

But if you are really interested in getting the best possible puppy prospect for you money this might help.

1. Choose your pup from a breeder who has established a track record for quality hounds.
2. Do your research find out what he hunts, where he hunts and the type of game and how successful his dogs are in light of the area. You can't say just because somebody lives in a game rich area that is easy trailing and has 7 days a week to hunt and catches some game that his dogs may be the best. Well they may but they may not there are a lot of variables working there. do your research. Who hunts this line of dogs how do they perform in other areas?

3. Know the parents and the strong and weak points of each know their background. Were they just a good dog that came out of nowhere? Or were they bred from a long line of proven game catching dogs. This has nothing to do with papers this has to do with credentials. Well he said he owned the female and she was his best dog, so he decided to breed to his buddies dog becasue he was pretty good but didn't start till he was over two. But he is good looking and maybe these pups will really be good. Maybe, maybe not that is a gamble.

4. By choosing a breeder who has references over the past of good dogs, and that has knowledge of crossing, line breeding and genetic matching is a good start. Also a breeder that has a program where he socializes his pups and when you go to observe them you are not looking at a bunch of fly covered spooky pups diving in a dog house in a pen. and he has to get down on his knees and fish the quivering little buggers out. Just get in your car and leave. Happy pups ready to see and play with people. Pups that have been allowed to roam and explore and start to develop their senses this is what you want.

5. References are crucial and expect to wait if you want a really good prospect because they don't come in big bunches. Most breeders who have this kind are discovered by savvy hunters and they usually have a waiting list. Big prices don't assure top quality pups/ You can pay $800. for a pup and spend another $250. getting him home but if he is not out of a proven cross from dogs that are hunted hard and proven themselves( and I don't mean their great grand parents were cougar catching machines). Hell my great grandfather was a Doctor in Ireland but that doesn't qualify me to prescribe anything stronger then Bushmills whiskey. I mean they are out of top hunting parents and the breeder also keeps some of these same crosses for his future program. then you are on the right track.

No it doesn't always work out and as in anything in life there is a bit of risk because life itself is a gamble. But i am one that would at least rather walk into the gaming parlour with some knowledge of the card game I was going to play before I sat down at the table and said , boys deal me in.

[Big Horn Posse]

I have a sex in mind.

I am really holding myself back on this one

Key word here is "A" sex in mind not "sex on the mind" as it is obvious you do.

They say that men have it on their minds every 3 seconds. Oh well boys, will be boys!

[Mike Leonard]

Tessa,


I don't know the experts that came up with that every 3 seconds deal because that is pure b.s. No man I know is talented enought to think about fishing, hunting, beer, hounds, nascar, girls, hunting fishing, beer, boobs, bears. lions, coons, deer elk, horses, butts, etc. and turn it all over in a 3 second period.,ya follow me? that takes most at least 8 seconds. that is why they have the 8 second rule in rodeo. They know they can only think about that bull for max 8 seconds and then ....!&$###@TILT! SEX_SEX_SEX!! LOL!

[Big Horn Posse]

Mike,
That is the funniest thing I have ever read. Probably cause it is so true! Thanks so much for that..... after the week I have had I needed a good laugh.

[blueticker78]

It is true when picking pups from less then proven crosses or dogs you don't know much about it is a gamble but there is some things you can look for when picking pups that will give you better odds 1. Go look at the pups around there feeding time if they don't mind you doing so you want a hungry pup but not an overly aggressive pup at feeding time and pay attention to the breeder is he interdicting when the pups get a little nasty with each other this will tell you wether they are being socialized correctly or not and wether you really want to take that pup home. If there is no squabels at dinner time then the breeder has been doing his job. I like pups that are out going and like to explore these one usually are easier to train on the trailing and treeing aspect of hunting, also call that pup back to you that has wondered off see how they react to your command.depends on what type of hound you like as well as in size and type but I've found that imprinting and the breeding behind the pups are key but here are some good things to look for I hope I helped out a little.

[Mr.pacojack]

Tessa,


I don't know the experts that came up with that every 3 seconds deal because that is pure b.s. No man I know is talented enought to think about fishing, hunting, beer, hounds, nascar, girls, hunting fishing, beer, boobs, bears. lions, coons, deer elk, horses, butts, etc. and turn it all over in a 3 second period.,ya follow me? that takes most at least 8 seconds. that is why they have the 8 second rule in rodeo. They know they can only think about that bull for max 8 seconds and then ....!&$###@TILT! SEX_SEX_SEX!! LOL!

Good one Mike and one for you

[Dan Edwards]

I always have sex on the mind also so it makes it easier. Then I just start culling early and keep a few back and go as we go. If none make it, its OK with me. I probably didnt need the grubby sumbucks anyhow.