The American Beagler Forum

I was just curious because I hear a lot of guys talk about running only one pup at a time when working with older dogs so the pups don't feed off of each other for playing reasons and bad habits, etc. So when do you guys consider them to not be pups anymore??? At what point in their development do you finally say ok this pup is now a dog that I can take with another pup, run with the pack or whatever? Do you just wait until they are solid and steady and hopefully not trashy to run a pup with them? I realize each dog is different but I just wondered what you guys look for to be your indicator that they're ready.

Just curious.

That is a good question.I have often thought about that.

I think when you take them and they know what they are fixing to get to run. out the playful stage in the woods and down to business looking for a bunny

Well and right now I have a kennel of pups and one younger dog that is very solid. And the guy that I run with quite often has a lot of young dogs too so we're always talking before we take off to see who's going that day. His solid dog and a pup and a younger dog of mine or visa-versa...........you know the drill. So after a post on another thread it kind of hit me when do I consider mine not "pups" anymore. I have my ideas on it but I'm curious as to what the rest of you think.

I have about the same situation as you bunnyblaster and we usually run two old dogs with two pups. I like to brace the younger dogs with an older one if it is just the two of us or I am by myself. I know a lot of guys don't like running young dogs together but I had a perfect chance to see if my 11 mo. old was broke the other day when his pup popped a deer. A lot of guys don't like to run with dogs that might run deer but I won't consider a dog broke until I see them turn down another dog running them. As long as it is disclosed before you go that a dog isn't broke though. As far as the question goes I agree with rabbitsmoker, but I think my bag of puppy food says 18 mo. to 2 yrs.

I always thought they should be completely mature physically at 2 yrs. I don't consider them a pup after that. In some dogs they may not be mature mentally at 2yr.

I consider them no longer pups at 14 months old. No scientific reason for this...JMHO.

I have 2 nine mo.old females that I run togather yesterday my hunting partner`s dog bounced a deer neither dog ran it .dont consider them broke .I was just lucky.These 2 pups do a good job running a rabbit but 1 is a little more mature than the other.I also have a 5 mo.old male same bloodlines that has absolutly no play in him when hes out he has not opened yet but he hunts as hard as any dog if he ever figures out what hes hunting for. As far as how old is a pup 2yr. but if he cant get it done the way I like it by 18 mo. he is not going to do it for me.

When I say pup I'm referring more to it's ability as a rabbit hound not necessarily physical maturity. I know pups are considered to be a dog and out of being a puppy at the 2 year mark but this is more of a question about running ability I guess.

3 years old, or after Second "Full" gun season.

I consider them pups until the end of their second gun season (usually second full winter as a running dog) if I still have them at that point they are probably a decent dog. (probably!) Kurt

Sure are a lot of pups being sold on the Adult Dogs for sale forums.

Until you can truely feel compfortable taking them out in the woods by them self and know you can have them circle a rabbit in front of you until it can be shot, they are still a pup. if they are over 2 years old and cant do this, its your fault. lack of training.. don't shoot the dog shoot the handler...lol

I've witnessed 5 and 6 month old PUPS out do 5-6 year old dogs.. Training, Training, Training. you get out what you pup into it.

Does that count even if the dog is a P.O.S. to begin with???

JK