I don't understand

Joeyman · Post by **Joeyman** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:19 am

Here is a problem I have had recently. One of my young females gets a little shy around strange dogs. I have hunted this young female hard with my dogs. I have 4 total and she does a very good job with them. She even leads the pack at times and is always searching and sniffing the ground looking for a rabbit (when looking for another). Great check work and all around great gun-dog. I really am impressed with her team work.

So now that it is gun season I have been teaming up with a hunting buddy. He brings anywhere from 3 to 4 of his own dogs and we run a big pack. He doesn't come along to often but does hunt with us aleast once a week. We throw down the dogs and soon as the dogs get one going she acts like she wants to join in at first but them backs out and stands around me. She will start to go but will look at them for a second then come back to me. Now a few times she has actually joined in and did a OK job but not the same as when she is with only my dogs.

Then the next day I will go out with just my dogs and she hunts her butt off.

Anyone have an idea or why she is doing this. Anyone have the same trouble.

The only thing I can think of is when she was first introduced to other dogs (other than mine) she was just coming into heat and a few of the male dogs kept trying to get on her. She got a little spooked that day. She was hiding behind me to get away from the males that wanted her.

Buckshot101 · Post by **Buckshot101** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:46 am

Is it possible that when hunting with a strange dog, one of them went gator on her once?

An encounter with an ill dog can make a young dog nervous and hesitant around strange dogs.

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:00 pm

Did you ever have to change schools when growing up or remember when you mama left you for your first full day of school. That's comparable to what your hounds going through, she's not quite sure what to make of these strangers she's being put with, in her normally happy little group.
If only one new hound was brought in at a time, the less of impact it will have on her. Then, as hounds are slowly added, she will hardly take notice. When she matures and becomes more use to change, running with strange hounds will no longer be a issue.
Time and exposure should smooth everything over...

Joeyman · Post by **Joeyman** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:24 pm

So in other words that means some dogs have this type of behavior. Because both her parents never ever had an issue like this. They joined in with strange dogs right away and will join in with any other strange dogs that I put them with.

I guess I will just keep putting her in there and when she feels comfortable she will join in.

thornie · Post by **thornie** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:26 pm

Joey, I have 2 females that are that way. They both hunt the way your talking about. They will hunt with other dogs that they have run with but you throw them in a large pack, they could care less. The one female is a brush bustin machine, but don't like males stickin there nose you know where. I have tried everything to get her over this but have yet found the answer. I will keep her until she dies, because I know what she is as far as a rabbit dog and a pup starter. If you find out let me know.

upperlimits · Post by **upperlimits** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:32 pm

I agree on the time thing.last year I was running a young one solo that would always run with my other hounds.I ran into a guy that was running 2 hounds of his own.we decided to run together and mine pretty much sat by my feet.I just kept running this hound throughout the season.later in the year I ran into the same guy and the young hound joined right in and ran great. just give her time.

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:31 pm

Joeyman wrote:So in other words that means some dogs have this type of behavior. Because both her parents never ever had an issue like this. They joined in with strange dogs right away and will join in with any other strange dogs that I put them with.

I guess I will just keep putting her in there and when she feels comfortable she will join in.

It depends on their genitic tendencies and the environment in which they are raised. Some dogs are spookie by nature, others are made that way by events, some will swim no matter how far from shore you throw them...

Joeyman · Post by **Joeyman** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:38 pm

Well she really isn't easily spooked at all. When I open the kennel door she practically licks me to death and wags her tail to where it even shakes her whole body.

She is very playful around the yard when I let them run around for some exercise. She jumps and runs like crazy around the yard.

It's in the field hunting time with other dogs. With my dogs she does excellent one of my top dogs. When I run her with other dogs she doesn't hunt so good to not even hunting at all.

patsmichbeagler · Post by **patsmichbeagler** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:50 pm

Joey this might work I don't know but try kenneling her with your hunting buddies dogs for a few days or in the kennel next to them, or bring a couple of his dogs to your kennel. It might work. My young female and my buddies young female couldn't stand eachother when they are on leads but when they are hunting they work great together so we kenneled them next to eachother and the problem is over.

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:06 pm

I don't mean spookie in all situations, only in new. She loves you and her kennel is her home, put her in your buddies kennel and watch her demeanor change. I'm not saying she bad in anyway, only that she's young and cautious to change or the unknown...
I think it would be best if you brought your buddies hounds over to visit her rather than take her totally out of her element, but really not necessary as she should become used to hunting with them in little time going afield...

Bunnyblaster · Post by **Bunnyblaster** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:08 pm

I would think it's a combination of what everyone has said. Exposure to new things and lots of time will help but I would do like SRPatch said and try adding one new dog at a time. You never know what is going through their head and you have to give them time and try to figure out what they need.