Starting a pup

[Mosby 355]

This has been asked many times. I ask it to every terrierman I speak with. When do you start a terrier. I grew up starting dogs when they wanted to start on their own. If they were 7 months so be it. They started. I went through a ton of dogs. I know men who have had success breeding awesome dogs that start very young but they were raising numbers of terriers I couldn't handle and culling unbelievable numbers.

Currently, I have 3 pups in my yard that all want a go. If I leave them to their own devices, they find game and they engage intensely. One got in on a coon underground and really went to it. Luckily, it was shallow and I got her out fast.

Recent topics have discussed that black dogs have been more popular of late due to their early starting. My understanding is that many pups want to start at an early age but what ruins them is letting them go as soon as they want to. I have been told different tales by those who I respect as more knowledgable than I.

There is the opinion most prevalent in my neck of the woods which is start them as soon as they want to go and if they end up ruined it's because they weren't worth having in the first place... I used this standard for a while. 1 out of 10 dogs seemed to make it and stick to it.

I am now trying to hold dogs back taking the advice of another group which believes, hold the dogs off until 16-18 months and work them soft at first then after a season of work give em all they can handle. Really test them the second season... which would make them nearly 3 years old.

What I wonder is the opinion of men who have raised many pups to adulthood. How/when do you start them? Is a year old enough? I'd like to hear from men who still get to work badger and men who were able to in the past... When is a dog to be started on this more trying game.?

[robwelsh 354]

hope you have the right reply...but, personally..every dog is an individual, same as me and you, no matter what breed, every dog is diffrent, go on instinct, but pull back abit a few months then let it go,....iv never had terriers, but just dogs in general..

ATB robbo

[Mosby 355]

Thanks for the reply bob. I understand every dog is different. More what I'm looking for is what has produced the highest percentage of workers. Starting later or younger? Does starting a dog young lessen t's likelihood of becoming all it can be?

[Saho-man 50]

you are a scientist mate .

[Saho-man 50]

what you think of the story of that old colby dog in early 1900s who was started at 6 months and won many fight. Also hard dog and bailer would differ . It may not be as bad starting them young unlike hard dogs. The fox may put them back in their place and teach them at young age when they weak not to mess with them. It could turn out like trying break your dog to foxes and they may never wanna go at a fox again down hole. They will associate fox hole with bad experience at young age and get flash back and remembe pain . And will refuse to enter. But i think you would produce hell of dogs if you culled one that can take it at young age and touch of game dog will make job much easier of think or should i say speculating

[Saho-man 50]

what you think of the story of that old colby dog in early 1900s who was started at 6 months and won many fight. Also hard dog and bailer would differ . It may not be as bad starting them young unlike hard dogs. The fox may put them back in their place and teach them at young age when they weak not to mess with them. It could turn out like trying break your dog to foxes and they may never wanna go at a fox again down hole. They will associate fox hole with bad experience at young age and get flash back and remembe pain . And will refuse to enter. But i think you would produce hell of dogs if you culled one that can take it at young age and touch of game dog will make job much easier of think or should i say speculating

[robwelsh 354]

as he states above ^if it has a bad experience at young age, its confidence is knocked for six usually

[Cleanspade 3,322]

as long as the terrier has a good upbringing and is well socialised. and out and about learning to hunt. whats the rush. around two years is a good age to give em thiere head

this may vary depending on when they where born. and how they land in relation to the season. its easy to throw a pup in early and sicken it. then blame the breeding.

there is a lot to lose by entering to early. and everything to gain from holding back a promising pup. i think folk breeding and rearing there own stock are far more carefull when entering. than lads that buy in. this is because they only have thereselves and their own terriers to blame. these are the lads that get the most success. says it all to me

[alan626 305]

I HAVE A BITCH HERE I BRED SHE IS NOW 19 MONTHS AND GOT HER FIRST LOOK AT A FOX YESTERDAY,,,, IF THEY START TO EARLY THEY USALLY FINISH TO EARLY

[liamdelaney 2,586]

This has been asked many times. I ask it to every terrierman I speak with. When do you start a terrier. I grew up starting dogs when they wanted to start on their own. If they were 7 months so be it. They started. I went through a ton of dogs. I know men who have had success breeding awesome dogs that start very young but they were raising numbers of terriers I couldn't handle and culling unbelievable numbers.

Currently, I have 3 pups in my yard that all want a go. If I leave them to their own devices, they find game and they engage intensely. One got in on a coon underground and really went to it. Luckily, it was shallow and I got her out fast.

Recent topics have discussed that black dogs have been more popular of late due to their early starting. My understanding is that many pups want to start at an early age but what ruins them is letting them go as soon as they want to. I have been told different tales by those who I respect as more knowledgable than I.

There is the opinion most prevalent in my neck of the woods which is start them as soon as they want to go and if they end up ruined it's because they weren't worth having in the first place... I used this standard for a while. 1 out of 10 dogs seemed to make it and stick to it.

I am now trying to hold dogs back taking the advice of another group which believes, hold the dogs off until 16-18 months and work them soft at first then after a season of work give em all they can handle. Really test them the second season... which would make them nearly 3 years old.

What I wonder is the opinion of men who have raised many pups to adulthood. How/when do you start them? Is a year old enough? I'd like to hear from men who still get to work badger and men who were able to in the past... When is a dog to be started on this more trying game.?

No rush give them to much to early and as a rule they throw in the towel(who could blame them)When i was young I ruined plenty of good stock by putting them in at eight nine months on foxes.When we could badger dig I liked to keep them at foxes at the start until they got a bit street wise and build up there confidence,most were nearly two before they were put with the grey lad(but it was very tempting to try them earlier)Slightly of topic I once gave a staff to a man for trials it was three years old and never seen nothing(pet owner died)I told the experienced trial man his age and he said , he will just be right so.That dog turned into a good trial dog.Better to start them a bit older than to young. Just my opinion.

[Rabbit Hunter 6,612]

From what I've been advised on by the older lads that have been there and done it, it's best to hold them back till they're physically and mentally strong enough which I think is about 15 months onwards. I've got a ten month old pup here, he's a big strong lump and I've had him out with us digging for about the last 6 weeks, he's seen foxes in nets, he's seen them run off and he's seen basically everything that happens on a dig so when it comes to his turn he'll stand in good stead with nothing being new to him when he's out. The last couple of times out he's marked earths and I couldn't pull him away he was that keen, but he probably won't be going to ground till the start of next season, when touch wood he'll do the job himself...

[Mosby 355]

Good deal ya'll. The type of answers I'm looking for. I've started a ton of pups. More got culled than I ever expected. I took a long time off from pups after I got a few good ones and now I'm back at pups. I want the most to turn out as possible. Super difficult waiting when in the hole for dogs. Not that adult dogs aren't available to me. It's just I've never worked an adult that has been raised by someone else that hunted just how I like in this area. I've had some game catchers but there is always something wrong. I think knowing how to make an exceptional dog is a skill and some people just churn out good dogs from what ever breeding you hand them. Of course there're dogs that just won't ever make the grade but I'd like to be a man that gets the best out of every dog that has the potential.

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

Seen a few ruined by starting too young - can't thing I've seen any screwed up by letting them be for a while.

I had a really god Border x Lakeland way back in the 's and he was 3 years old before he struck a blow. And he was one of the best terriers I ever had and he sired some pretty dependable (if a little too hard) stock in his time. You can't undo what's done but you can call the shots if it isn't done yet!!!

All depends on the dog too. Happy New Year

[steveio 39]

as long as the terrier has a good upbringing and is well socialised. and out and about learning to hunt. whats the rush. around two years is a good age to give em thiere head

this may vary depending on when they where born. and how they land in relation to the season. its easy to throw a pup in early and sicken it. then blame the breeding.

there is a lot to lose by entering to early. and everything to gain from holding back a promising pup. i think folk breeding and rearing there own stock are far more carefull when entering. than lads that buy in. this is because they only have thereselves and their own terriers to blame. these are the lads that get the most success. says it all to me

EXACTLY.WELL SAID

[p3d 879]

From what I've been advised on by the older lads that have been there and done it, it's best to hold them back till they're physically and mentally strong enough which I think is about 15 months onwards. I've got a ten month old pup here, he's a big strong lump and I've had him out with us digging for about the last 6 weeks, he's seen foxes in nets, he's seen them run off and he's seen basically everything that happens on a dig so when it comes to his turn he'll stand in good stead with nothing being new to him when he's out. The last couple of times out he's marked earths and I couldn't pull him away he was that keen, but he probably won't be going to ground till the start of next season, when touch wood he'll do the job himself...

 

Great answer.

The hardest thing to learn is reading the dog in front of you, is it ready or not.

Some people never learn this. They get lucky and get a dog that is strong enough mentally to overcome an early bad experience.

In time with enough dogs like this they form the opinion that the dog will just GO if it is Good enough.

They even get lazy and don't start the pup through the stages of bushing, ratting, tied out at digs. etc..

All dogs that start badly they put down to the dog been from a rubbish line.

They never take any of the blame themselves.

IMO if the dog fails you should believe you gave it every chance to succeed. Cull it then and move on.

ATB.