Dogs lost intrest.

[Cooter56]

Ive got some florida cur pups that I started around 6 months. They were doing really well in the bay pen and doing great on mock hunts. About a month ago the one pup that was doing to best in the pen and in the woods past away. Since then the other two pups dont seem to have the get up and go like they used to. They are around 8 months now. Any ideas on getting their spirits back up?

[halfbreed]

   well the other two were most likely following the good pups lead . just give them time and don't give up on them . i have seen and been guilty of using a lead dog too much and when you loose it you would think that it was the only good dog you owned . but you keep takeing the rest the pack out and they pick it up and go on with it  . you still have puppys , just back up and start over with them you'll be fine  .

[drew]

cooter im with halfbreed  on that about 4 mounths ago i was worried as well i lost
my lead dog i just kept hunting an the  others just took up where he left off dont worry
give it time feed them tracks

[justincorbell]

   well the other two were most likely following the good pups lead . just give them time and don't give up on them . i have seen and been guilty of using a lead dog too much and when you loose it you would think that it was the only good dog you owned . but you keep takeing the rest the pack out and they pick it up and go on with it  . you still have puppys , just back up and start over with them you'll be fine  .

x's 2, A new leader will eventually emerge, give em time, they are still young. I am guilty of relying on my best dog too often, I try to make it a point to leave him at home occasionally to make the others step it up a notch.

[Txhogman22]

Try running the pups separate with an older dog.

[Jpigg]

half breed I will agree with that. I would say leave em at home for a while until you see that they are going nuts to go with you when you pick up your other dogs to go hunting. Believe me, they know that they are getting left out somehow. if you do take them to the woods and put them on the ground. As soon as you see them lose interest put them up and let them to the bay only. puppies that age aint no different than than a child in elementary school. if you need that kid to mow the grass for you, your yard is going to come out a lot nicer if he perceives the job as a fun event rather than work. youd be proud of him for the job he done. but let them get it in their head that it is work and your gonna most likely have patches the size of a car missed and not cut, you know. there are some exceptions, but most dogs will not lose the puppy that's in em til much older than what those pups are. don't make it something they have to do for you, make it  something they want to do for you. in my opinion, that is they way you make them better at any age.

[Cooter56]

Thanks for the help guys. Also ive started these pups from scratch, no finished dog to help them. So everything they can do theyve learned on their own. But definately good advice. The other gyp pup has started to show more intrest, saw a small shoat cross the road the other day and put just the pups on it, they went and hunted it for a while but came back. The knoledge on this site is great! thanks again!