Training pups

[grizz07903]

i have some 5 month old pups that have never seen a pig. what should i do to train them. i have never trained pups so i am new at this. just looking for some advise and tips..

[justincorbell]

in my opinion the ONLY right way to train puppies is to first put them in a pen with a few (2-3) older dogs that will not catch, just bay on a smaller pig (150lbs max) this is get the pups really excited and into it seeing older dogs working and about 70% of the time from my experience the pups will end up baying with the big dogs. Sometimes this take a few tries, its usually not an over night thing. The first time that you bring the pups dont put them in the pen with the older dogs, put them somewhere that they can see whats going on just to get them interested, based on their reactions go from there ex. if you leave them outside the pen and they start goin crazy running around the pen trying to get in on the action obviously you're gonna want to throw em in and let em rip, if they dont just repeat step one at least 4 or 5 times before givin up on them. The most important thing is that you try to make it fun for them, as much as it can piss you off seeing a pup thats not interested make sure that you dont scold it in anyway, you want this to be nothing but a positive experience. When you have pups in the pen always make sure that you take them out while they are still wanting more, you donbt want them to tire out or loose interest in the pen you want to make it to where they are trying to jump out of your hands to get back to business. After they have bayed in the pen a couple times find a buddy who has some good older dogs and bring em huntin. the smartest thing to do is to keep em on the 4 wheeler at first until the older dogs start bayin and try to get em to within 100yds of the bay so that you know that they will hear it and make it in before you do so they can get some work in the woods, repeat this a few times, then gradually start lettin em run with the big dogs and in no time they will figgure out what they are lookin for, how to find it and what to do with it when they do find it. best of luck and if you have any more specific questions that ud like answered that i can't i can guarantee you that someone on this site WILL have the answer, i'll do my best but no promises haha. the names justincorbell msg me anytime you have a ?, and good luck buddy.

[Snuffer]

I agree with justincorbell to start them off outside the pen and gradually work them in with some more experienced dogs.  Thats how me and my buddies do it.  But, once the pups can bay pretty solid i like to teach them to work a trail.  I just take a smaller pig thats easy to handle and make a trail with it and tie it to a tree.  Then bring the dogs past it and let them pick up the scent.  Once they start finding the pig, gradually increase the time between the drag and turning to dogs out.  That will help them learn how to pick up colder trails.  Thats just my opinion.

[pigstkr]

i agree with all the above....something else i have been doing out here in calif is placing a tied up hog(back leg to a tree), send my baydog out with a pup or two let them start baying and we hold a few pups back till they line the barking out and let them go....we try to teach them to honor a bay....a few times like this and we let the pups on their own without an older dog to see if they really want it.....we only work our pups a few times in the bay pen and everything else in their puppy stage is done as live as possible...just another thought that seems to be working for me...pigstkr

[justincorbell]

ya'll know yall both bring up a really good point.......I never have thought of or tried either of those tactics ive always just got the pups bayin good in a pen then lettin them run with the other dogs but i think that draggin a small hog is a damn good idea, im pickin up three pups on the tenth and im gonna sure try that with them, and also pigstikker ive never thought about it but what u brought up will deff. help me, i have a walker dog who is by far my best, he ranges about 3/4 mile, never takes his nose off the ground, bays harder than hell and can stop a pig in its tracks but never and i mean NEVER does he get cut (knockin on wood) but ive had problems with some younger dogs not wanting to honor him whether its they dont realize hes bayin cuz he sounds so different or if they just dont care to im not sure but u can bet ur bottom dollar that these pups im about to pick up and gonna get training in both of those fields when they come of age.......great ideas guys......guess it goes to show you that u really do learn somethin new everyday. Thanks and HAPPY HUNTIN! ...Justin

[pigstkr]

THATS FOR SURE,,,,WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW ALL THE TIME....I HAVE SOME GOOD DOGS THAT FLAT WOULD NOT HONOR ANOTHER DOGS BAY,,,,THATS WHY ISTARTED DOING THIS ROUTINE WITH MY PUPS.....ALSO WE HAD A DRY SPELL WITH NO PLACES TO HUNT SO I KEPT BAY PENNING THE YOUNG DOGS TO KEEP THEM GOING....HAD A OLD TIME DOG MAN OUT HERE HUNT WITH ME AND NOTICED AFTER A FEW HUNTS THAT A PATICULAR YOUNG DOG WOULD GO OUT ON TRACK BUT NEVER BAY....HE TOLD ME THAT THAT THE DOG WAS FINDING HOGS BUT WOULD NOT BARK.  ASKED ME HOW MUCH I BAY PENNED THE DOG AND I TOLD HIM ALOT......THATS WHEN HE TOLD ME TO TIE UP A HOG IN MY ORCHARD AND SEE WHAT THE DOG WOULD DO.....SHE WOULD GO FIND THE HOG,   CIRCLE IT AND DID NOT BAY TILL I GOT CLOSE,,,,HE SAID SHE WAS WAITING FOR ME TO BE THERE LIKE IN THE BAYPEN.....NOW I ONLY BAY PEN THEM A FEW TIMES TILL YOU CAN TELL THEY WANT IT AND IT IS FORBIDDEN FOR ANYONE TO COMMAND THE PUP IN THE PEN------TOTAL SILENCE....NO COMMANDS,    DOGS(PUPS) ARE SMRTER THAN WE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR.......AT MY PLACE THEY GOT TO WANT IT ON THEIR OWN.....JUST A THOUGHT AND SOMETING THAT HAPPENED TO ME FIRST HAND....I WOULD NOT OF FIGURED THAT PUP OUT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE OLD TIMER....GOOD LUCK IN YOUR TRAINING......I THRIVE ON SEEING YOUNG DOGS STARTED....PIGSTKR

[justincorbell]

you and me both, i think i like hog huntin with dogs more because i love seeing my dogs work and work well........the hog is just a bonus but i know theres nothing like walkin into a bay and seeing your dogs hammerin down on a big ol boar.........its somethin everyone should get to experience..........good luck trainin and i hope u enjoy huntin with em as much as we all do!