Help! What would you do?

arkyhunter · Post by **arkyhunter** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:02 pm

I have a 9 mo. old ARHA pup that i'm about at the end of my rope with trying to start. No matter what i do, this pup is showing no interest in hunting. I've been working with this pup about 4 mos., and i've tried everything, dragging a dead bunny, sight chase a tame rabbit, etc. he will sight chase a tame rabbit a short distance but then loses interest. I've about kicked this dog in the head so many times i can't count. I've had him out at least once a week since i got him. In the field all he wants to do is stand at my feet and chew on dead stuff. He shows no inclination to follow my other hounds into the brush. I've got a 5 mo. old that puts him to shame. So would you guys say it's time to cull this hound? I hate to give up on him since i had such high hopes for him this season. I know some hounds have it some don't, i guess i just wonder if some of you with more experience than me might know of something i could try differently.
Thanks.

NoBull · Post by **NoBull** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:17 pm

How old is he and if you can find out about his littermates see if any of them are starting easy some dogs are just super hard to start and then one day it is almost like a light switch goes off and they are a totally different dog

bill (flint river ) · Post by **bill (flint river )** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:04 am

there is nothing u can do but keeping taking him out. he will start when he is ready. some branko hounds have ben known for slow starters. i have seen them go to a year or so before starting. but once started they come on very quick. but if u keep getting mad he will pick up on that. so it may be wise to sell him.

hounddog · Post by **hounddog** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:11 am

Give him time. I had a female pup the same way and after she turned a year old, the light came on and she turned out to be an outstanding hound. Pups take patience. Not all are the same. Just like humans......
There's 30 years of training hounds in one paragraph.

hounddog
Jim Umbarger

beagle crazy · Post by **beagle crazy** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:35 am

I've had the same problem. And just as soon as I sell them for nothing or flat out give them away, they turn on and became rabbit hunting machines! Go figure. I wouldn't give up, just keep trying.

DRamey · Post by **DRamey** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:03 pm

Jim got it right. The last several I have started didn't get it right until around 1 yr of age. Hounds pick up on your mood and temperament. I was concerned about how much hunt the last one i started was going to have until she started running wild rabbits. Now I have to make her quit when it's home time. You have obviously invested a lot of time in this pup, won't hurt to give it some more. When the other hounds are running, hold him on his lead. When he matures a little, he will start straining at it to go.

randy37 · Post by **randy37** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:32 pm

I have a hound,bought him as pup had him flown in actually. The nine month syndrom come and went with hound,so many times he would stand beside me and watch a pack chase a rabbit,this hound seen a few rabbits ahead of a good pack cause he was always beside me and I was looking for that rabbit. when he seen that rabbit he would always just watch, didnt chase until maybe eleven month.when he started he was something cause he was runnin the wrong game,got educated.he turned into one of the finest hounds to ever hunt,or trial.I am glade I waited,sometimes good things come to those who waite.

Jane · Post by **Jane** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:20 pm

My opinion on that is when the brain triggers the hound to react to the scent, that is when the pup starts. And God is the one in control of that one my friend. Patience on the pup, could turn out to be the best hound you ever owned. Randy is right.
On the other hand, I had a hound that was over a year and would bark with the pack, wouldn't site chase a rabbit in front of his nose and would watch as my 3 month old female was running in the pup pen, rabbits running in front of his face, LOL! THAT was a house pet, once he did start the scent was too much for him to handle, he was everywhere, drove me nuts. I'll bet he'd been a nice snowhound but I just didn't have it in me to see it through. I had this fellow out 3 days a week for 6 months.
All depends on what you want out of the hound I guess, folks that got him now as a house dog are pleased as punch !

coolbrze · Post by **coolbrze** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:15 pm

Hold onto him for a little longer he's still young. What's his breeding?

CHRIS WHITT · Post by **CHRIS WHITT** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:46 pm

I understand the urge to kick him in the head . I have a 14 mo old pup that I got @ 8 months and sent him to crabbys house to get started and was told to shoot him he would climb out of the rabbit lot

I tried to sell him , give him away , pay someone to take him etc and no one wanted him.So I just let him go with me and watch and one day It started raining and I got in the truck and noticed that he did'nt like being alone , shortly there after he wondered off to the other dogs and would run with them till He seen me then he would quit,So it took several times of stayin in the truck now he does a good job for me....Keep tryin..