Developing a dog

Dean I agree with what you are getting at. MANY hunters confuse physical maturity with mental maturity. They think that because a dog is physically able to keep up that they are ready for the big stage. I have seen more dogs that were heck I guess about every age I can imagine in the woods on live hunts. Once upon a time I was guilty of it myself. I learned that a couple of months in a dog can make a huge difference. I don’t start my find dogs or my catch dogs on live, uncontrolled situation hunts until they are a year old. They go to their first hunt thinking they are already hog dogs not realizing I was in control of everything they experienced to that point. When I say everything I mean them finding hogs that were planted and exposing them to hogs that aren’t going to wreck them. If they (my find dogs) are too salty for the size hog I am using I will graduate them to something that can get their attention without devastating them. I never let the dog dictate when we quit. I always end it with them really interested not wanting to quit. You are right that confidence and boredom can ruin a young dog quick. My catch dogs have always been really early starters, but their bigger dogs so I choose to let them mature physically. I like to let those teeth get good and set too. 1 year old is not old, and I know myself it’s hard to wait on those up and comers. It’s all good too until that wrong hog gets found, then that super star is a falling star. It doesn’t matter what species it is game dogs, game chickens, triple crown winners, etc. etc. you can make anything quit. Lack of mental maturity and confidence are absolutely the easiest ways to make that happen.

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