EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

A good while back I was looking for any old plot gyp that was through hunting but was good for one more litter...or one that no longer was needed on account the yard was full of dogs out of her...

almost bought a pup and was still looking...

I really wanted an old gyp from Cajun but he didn't have one to spare...He did offer to breed a female if I had one to his male of my choice...but I didn't have anything worth breeding...

then one day a fellow out of Arkansas PM'ed me...his name is Josh is all I will say right now because I don't have his permission to post his full name...anyways, he had a pochahantas plott that is a great hog dog...she is his second best behind a Rob Day mt cur he has that is hard to beat...

He said he would loan her to me for one litter bred to either his dog or one of mine...at no cost whatsoever...long story short I was to drive up there and pick her up and we made a date to meet...well mother nature doesn't wait...she started coming in heat and I couldn't get off because I was in the middle of a shutdown at work...My wife and grandson drove up there for me and it was a 17 hour round trip...

Josh...besides loaning me the gyp at no cost, he also drove about an hour to help out...he also brought about 25 pounds of dog food for me to transition he over to the feed I feed...

I appreciate his hospitality very much and will pay him a fair price because that is how I do business...I tell folks thank you much and the lord is blessing me with a job...so because of that I would like to pay my fair share...however...if I find myself without a job then I will gladly take the offer...

the good book says something along these lines...if both parties are happy then it is a good deal...If I didn't give something it wouldn't be a good deal because I wouldn't be happy...

She had 7 live pups and one of those was a female...my plan was to keep 3 females and  cull down to one but somewhere along the way I lost her....just gone out of the yard...she was 2.5 weeks old so she didn't wonder off...so now I will cull down to 4 males...they are 5.7 weeks old right now and are as nice of pups I have had as far as looks go and they act right as well...I am very happy with these pups...they are very uniform looking for being 1/2 plot, 1/4 kemmer mt cur, 1/8th pitbull, 1/8th redbone...

I can about guarantee Josh has some go getters back in his home state...he raised some out of her and that bad to the bone mt cur he has...

I will post some pics later...

That sounds great Reuben. Hope they turn out for you. I am sure you are looking forward to getting them going. Keep us updated.

come on Reuben lets see some pics of those pups, they sound like they have some potential! (:

Josh sounds like one heck of a guy you can't ask for more than that. I can't wait to see the pups.sounds like they got the ingredients for some good dogs.Did you breed her to a male of yours?

Thanks everyone...I'll be posting a few pics when they are a little older...

Lh...I agree...Josh is definitely a good man...and I did breed her to one of my males and the pups are acting pretty good at this age...so i am happy with the cross...

Congrats on the pups Rueban. I would like to see some pics. too.

It's good to have a plan, It's even better to see that plan come full circle. Congrats on the pups Reuben, I hope they are all so good that you have a hard time picking which ones to keep. Keep us posted on their progress.

They should work nice I keeped one gyp out of last litter she is working nice there was 6 males and 1 female in that litter the gyp didn't start showing interest till about 6 months the males all took right to it the gyp I keep is 8 months old now hunting out in the 300 yard range finding and baying in a 20 acre wooded pen.

thanks everyone...here are some of the pups they were just under 6 weeks of age at the time of the pix...

(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/cuell27393/484_zpspf1kpyq8.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/cuell27393/media/484_zpspf1kpyq8.jpg.html)

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Josh... that gyp has been an excellent mother to the pups...I like the pups quite a bit...the first pup I have stacked is my favorite at this time...he moves well and is medium boned and he acts very calm yet he is very inquisitive about his surroundings...loud noises don't rattle him...but the majority look quite a bit alike...

Love to see big Ole healthy pups like that. Fine lookin bunch Reuben.

thank you IVR...

Great looking pups!!!

They sure look good Reuben.

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Those some mighty fine looking pups


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Man they look good.

Nice looking pups.

Do you still have the Parker crosses???

Matt

Them are sure good lookin pups

Very nice !

thanks...below are a few pics at 1 day short of 8 weeks...these are the 4 I kept...they look quite a bit alike for not being full blooded...

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Look at that fella with his nose on the ground. Are they all bobtails Reuben?

Lookin good Mr.Ruben !!
I hope they end up hunting just as good as they look. Gotta love those ears
I'm really likin the one with its nose on the ground ! Like it's already cold trailing
Best of luck
Take care

thank you fellas...Yea IHCracker...they are all bob tailed but I cut their tails...

That last pic realy makes the brindle shine in um. Awsome lookin pups good luck with um

Pups are looking great. Keep us posted on them...

Lookin good reuben!

Man Reuben, I really like the way your pups are looking. If they hunt as good as they look you will be a real happy fella. Good luck with them.

Thanks again fellas...

today the pups are 10 weeks old...it won't be long I will be working them a few times in the bay pen that my friend and I built a long time ago...

At about 5 weeks old I was dragging a rear chicken quarter to see how the pups would react and several locked down on it and others nipped and chewed...

well this morning on my first day off I turned them out in my back yard...after they ran around searching for treats in the yard and exploring I heard a ruckus just outside the doorway...

it was the 2 mid sized pups had one heck of a battle going for pecking order...one happens to be my favorite because of how he acts and searches...about the biggest negative about him was that he was one of those pups that bit and let go on the chicken quarter...the other pup was one that caught a good hold right away...I look for natural ability as most of you know...lol

They were really going after it while I just stood back and let them work it out...the one I like was always getting the worst of it...he was in a rage but biting and letting go made him not be able to get a good hold...the other pup was totally silent and very seldom lost his grip but always managed to have a good hold...this went on for a minimum of 15 minutes but maybe longer...they just broke it up no real big loser but I knew who won that battle...the winner is a little stouter built and built slightly better...he also has that natural lock down bite and he does not waste energy with his style...

I have learned over the years to let them work it out...the sooner it is settled the better...it is a part of nature for dogs to do this and at this age there won't be any damage or blood drawn...if we interfere it will be worked out later than sooner but it will happen unless constantly kept apart...

However, I do not allow fighting when eating out of the same bowl and the pups get along well together...I do not like dominant dogs that like letting all the other dogs know they are top dogs...these type usually worry more about being top dog than hunting...I like my dogs to like hunting and not worry about establishing dominance...so far I like all 4 pups...I like ears on a dog but these pups will have to do a lot of growing to grow into those ears... ;D

Rueben, thanks for sharing with us what you look for in a pup, Im always curious about how others pick and train their dogs. I have a couple ten week old pups that ive been messing with and the other day i heard a mousetrap I had laid in the yard pop, the pups followed me over to see what it was and the larger of the two saw that mouse flopping and clamped down on it before I could grab it, he wouldnt let go for anything, he ate it in a few bites. I felt kinda silly at the time cuz I was thinking, that there is a hog dog! Now I feel validated after reading your chicken leg story. LOL (:

your welcome...I try to share my experiences and ideas with those that are just starting out...does not mean I am always right but it is what I believe is right...lol

I do look for any sign that tells me what kind of dogs my pups will make...I set out small chunks of liver, chicken, wild hog or whatever...hang some off the ground and let the pups work off the wind and then I set drags and just see how they work when I turn them out...observing and doing these little things will help us in pup selection...and of course our hope is to select the very best...

How are the pups looking Reuben? Time for an update  ;D

I'll post some pictures before long...they look and act pretty good...They will be open from what I have seen...open is ok as long as it isn't too much...I will wait until they get older when they can keep up...otherwise they will probably be barking 100 times a minute because they fell back...I need to get them in a bay pen...I think they will do good...

Those are some fine looking pups. You obviously take pride in the care of them.

the first 2 pictures are of my #3 pup
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the second 2 pictures are of my #2 pup who happens to be the smarted of the 4 pups at this time.
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they are a little over 4.5 months old today...I took them to the bay pen 1.5 weeks ago and was not impressed but it was the first time out of my back yard so I am hoping they make some hog dogs...they act right so I am thinking they will turn on shortly...all are good looking pups and they have a horn on them...the biggest pup sounds better than any dog I have owned...loud loud chop mouth to him...


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They are darn sure easy to look at Rueben! Best of luck with em. Unless they are used to traveling that first time off the place is tuff to judge em on!

Nice pups fella


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oooweee look at the ears on those suckers they just keep getting longer lol. Man have they grown and you sure do have them looking good. I bet you are excited.

Them things are growing like weeds Reuben they all look very good.

Good looking pups. They should turn on soon, remember they're pups.. In my experience males usually take a little longer to figure things out.


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yes sir you are right...I am hard nosed hard on my dogs when it comes to performance...but I am very analytical about age, what exposure they have had...how often they have been trained, hunted etc...I will not let a pup go very easily until he has had a good chance...new bloodlines require more patience on account I don't know how they progress towards maturity...but my feeling is if I had fed them a few raw hog heads at 2-8 weeks and toted them around a few times they would of fired off because they want game...

something else that probably made them hold back is that I am always on their buts about baying birds in trees and cats walking down the rail road tracks...

I need my own hunting place so I can drop them off and just let them roam and explore...I now have 3 good dogs and those four pups so it is time to fork out a little cash and get me a big place... in Brazoria/Matagorda or Fort Bend counties...

took them to the bay pen the second time out about 2 weeks ago and the 2 bigger pups fired up pretty good and pup 3 and number 4 bayed a little...this evening I took them again and when I dropped they tail gate they wanted to hunt...as much as I hated to not let them hunt I made that call on account there is a busy road about 3 hundred yards from there...but all 4 fired up and number #3 and #4 pups stole the show in the bay pen...

Dang fine looking hounds. Wish I was closer I'd sure as heck try to talk you out of one!

Glad to hear they all are showing interest sounds like you might be hanging on to the whole lot best luck with them Reuben

Sounds like these guys are coming along bud. Good luck with em. Sure are some good looking uniform dogs.

thank you fellas...

RyanTBH...for being 1/2 plott, 1/4 mt cur, 1/8 pitbull and 1/8 redbone they are very uniform looking...

I used to breed mt curs and I had 5 and 7 generation dogs in my back yard that were bred in my yard, inbred and linebred and they had more variation than these in looks...the hunt was almost uniform with the mt curs...hope these pups will hunt...

I just got off the phone with one of my hunting friends...I was telling him it sure hurt having to call the pups out of the woods...if I had them in a good location I would have let them roll...last thing I wanted to do is to call them back to me when I want them to be hunting dogs...

If they take after their momma you will not have to worry about them goin huntin I think they will make some nice dogs good luck with them

Thank you Josh...I took them to the bay pen this morning and I turned them out...They rolled out about fifty yards and they took a hard right and went about 100 yards and then they split up and went into the thick palmettoes...one comes out in front of me and keeps on moving further ahead...I kept walking towards the bay pen and the pup that was running ahead turned towards the right past the bay pen and the wind is blowing his way from the pen...I was hoping he would wind the hog and go to him and bay...and that was exactly what he did...another pup shows up and I let him in on account I was on the opposite side from where that pup was baying...The pup I let in went and found the pig and went to baying as well...the other two pups show up and I let them in...and they go to baying as well...the original pup moves around to my side and I let him in...they did a heck of a job...they don't just run from behind they will head the pig off as well...I have a good feeling about all 4 pups...

The smaller of the 4 pups I have named TD for Tasmanian Devil because he can whip the other pups in the yard except in the dog pen where he can't maneuver and they can use their weight against him...he put some teeth on the hog to stop it so the name is sticking...it is now for sure...the other 3 pups I will name later...probably Smoke and Banjo...and maybe Hoss or Buck...

the pups are on track in making hog dogs...they are slightly over 5.5 months old...I am happy with their performance at this point in time...

Good deal sounds they have want to that can can take a dog a good ways

not quite a week before 6 months of age the 4 pups put on a show...they ran that pig for about 5 minutes max and had stopped him about 3 times and they were working him pretty tight...on the third time he was a caught pig...took me a little while to get them out...I will only enter 2 at a time or 1 if 2 is too much...more than likely they need need a bigger pig...

these 4 pups just might be keepers...they all have some booming chop mouths and they were impressive...I am thinking at 14-18 months or sooner that they will doing it for me if they continue to progress as they have been...

Glad to hear it Reuben sounds like they're on the way to being dogs.

That's good news right there Rueben!

at 7 month I took them to the woods and they hunted fairly well...hit the water like labs and swam across about 50 feet wide creek without hesitation...one pup barked and the other 3 pups honored him...seems like they will hunt well together but will separate...right now TD is the one who will roll out without looking to team up just goes on his own...also good homing instincts...they are on track to make dogs...loud loud mouths on these pups...also will come running to the cow horn from about 3/8th of a mile when they were getting close to a cow pasture...still need to break them off of cows... 

I would have liked it if they had bayed a hog...my grown dogs would of had one bayed or going in 5 minutes...next time I will take them with one dog...

TD is a laid back kind of pup and I do believe he is going to make it...

Though he be but little, he is fierce!”...an old William Shakespeare quote...he is outweighed by 10 pounds but he is like a tornado on his siblings...he's got them fooled...  :)

glad to hear theyre coming along nicely, dont forget to post fresh pics every now and then

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af5/cuell27393/2e96a899-3c1c-4ecc-9369-b3f62dfb4ce5_zpsllczu4dl.jpg~original

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all pups are looking good...right now this is my favorite...

good looking pup Reuben .....

Good deal reuben, glad that they are making hands for you. Where you are at now is about where i'm at with my pups, granted yours are a hair older than mine. The next 4-5months are the WORST part about raising pups in my opinion, I've got my 2 where they need to be as far as the baying aspect goes and I will start taking them for evening rides on the buggy to get them accustomed to all of the new sights and sounds but other than that  its all a waiting game for them to mature enough to start going to the woods and I HATE it! In their case due to their age it is honestly probably a positive thing because by the time they are mature enough to hit the big woods it will be too hot for me to mess with hunting and then it will be deer season so these will have a little extra time to grow up before they hit the ground with my grown dogs which cant hurt I reckon.

 At what age to you tend to start hunting your pups in the big woods or I guess I should ask at what age do you plan to start this particular group in the big woods? everyone has their own thoughts and opinions about when to start hunting a pup and I personally don't think that there is a right or wrong answer as there are quite a few determining factors to base the decision on , I'd like to hear your take on it when you get the time.

Hey Justin how old are your two pups now?

A hair over 5 months I believe Rednose, I'd have to look in my book at the house to be sure though.

thank you Larry...

Justin, I sometimes take my pups between 7-10 months on real hunts...but my guess is that older than 10 months is best so the pups can have more agility and endurance...not to mention their minds need a little more time to mature...I probably have ruined a few pups starting them too early...but my thoughts are that if a pup is weak minded he will quit with a bad incident and a good minded pup will get back up and bay defiantly in the hogs face...and I see that as a trait I would like passed on...

Since I got out of hog dogs in 2007 and tried getting back in around 2010 has been a long road till about now, mid 2016...so between now and then I went on invites and hunted the style others preferred...

as a result I did not have the opportunity to test and condition the pups as I like doing...but now that I have a pack of dogs that I like I went looking hard for a place and picked up a good one...once I get these four pups up and hunting I will look for one more good place...

These pups are chomping at the bit to get out in the big woods...my hunting will start in the first of May but will be starting a TA from mid May to Mid June...and I am willing to endure the heat to get my pups up where I can see what they can really do...I am excited about it...this place is 30 minutes from my house and 30 minutes from one of my sons house so it should be fun...

The pups will be 1 year old in May 10...so they are ready...

They sure do look good for only being five months, I bet they make you some good ones.

Thanks for the reply reuben, i figured i knew your answer before i asked and as usual we are on the same page. Wish you nothing but the best with em!

And thank ya Rednose, i appreciate that

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I appreciate the pup Reuben he will get his chance and I will keep ya up dated on him

well seems all 5 pups are making hog dogs...

I met Josh (Curcross1987) Saturday morning at Indian Valley Ranch (Britt) so I could give him one of the pups, meeting about half ways...Josh was nice enough to loan me the dam to the pups to have the pups...and she is a good hog dog out of excellent dogs...so after he lost his best dog I offered the pup...I met Britt and he is an awesome person...Josh, Britt and I traded some stories and laughed a lot...

After seeing Britt's ad on his baypen I figured we could kill 2 birds with one stone...I took 3 of the 4 pups with me and they showed out pretty good in the pen...This pen is not for pups or dogs that will stay around your feet...it is real woods hunting in a controlled environment, for those who want to see what kind of dogs they have or to tune up dogs...or give good dogs  experience if they need it...

All 4 pups work almost the same...I have one favorite and another that will lay some teeth on one...He didn't make the trip because he is recuperating...

Josh was pretty happy with the young dog and he should make a good one for him...

10-4 Josh...Your very welcome...

That is sure a nice set of young dogs with a lot of potential. I hope they meet all of yalls expectations. It was real nice to meet you both, hope we can get together and do some hunting this next year.

Reuben, I appreciate the kind words, thanks for your business. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, we were able to get alot accomplished in a short amount of time. Josh sure knows his stuff when it comes to that Alpha system, I will probably be calling you guys to help me out if I am able to get one. Never have used a shock system all these years but I want one even more after seeing you put yours to use. Again, I enjoyed every minute, you take care.

They're looking good Reuben.Sounds like they're hunting pretty good too...

Thanks LH...
Britt...yes ole Josh worked my pups perfectly...I got pretty excited how my pups came right up to me with Josh working the alpha...hopefully now I can go home at 11 am and not 3 pm or later...

You get them use to that toner and you go home when ever you get read just hit the button and they will come