Should a dog have a good handle before being put in the woods?

pphogdogger i agree with you also..if i yell at my dogs to get out, they know whatever they are doing they better stop or they are getting a boot! when it's feeding time i can tell my dogs to back up and they take three steps back so i can put food down(this may seem trivial but when you have a 6 and 4 y/o that like to feed the dogs, it matters).

i'm not buying that putting a handle on a dog early takes away from their hunting drive. i got one buddy that by 6mos all his pups can be lead without them pulling, will load, and will come to you when called. these same dogs as adults are hunting 700+ yds out and stopping hogs over a mile out. a handle doesn't diminish the drive of a dog, it simply means your dog listen to what you ask it to do....then it DOES it.