EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Hmmm.....got a question. This will probably be long winded but I think it's interesting. My pack right now consists of (in age order)
Zeuse - - - male --- 2 years old - 3/4 Pitt 1/4 Cat
Alice - - - - female - 9 months - - 1/2 Cat 1/4 Red Bone 1/4 Pitt
Bella - - - - female - 9 months - - same as her sister
Jasper - - - Male --- 8 months - - BMC
J.P. - - - - - Male --- 10 weeks - - 3/4 Cat 1/4 BMC
Jinx - - - - - female - 10 weeks - - same as her brother

I'm really not talking about my youngest pups because they rarely spend anytime with the big dogs as of yet, I leave that up to them at this point because they can still squeeze in and out of the field fence as they please. The older dogs don't rough them up to much, they pretty much treat then as pups of their age. My questions have to do with the older dogs. From about 12 to to 16 weeks until just recently I have kept Alice, Bella, and Jasper together in the same yard. Recently (last month or so) Zeuse has put Jasper in his place. This is natural I know, it's how a pack works. Of Course I saw this and decided to start seperating Zeuse from the pack by keeping him kenneled most of the time. I decided to do this because I don't use him as a RCD. He is a lead in catch dog and I wanted to establish a closer knit group with my bay dogs. Hopefully trying to establish one of them as the pack leader. I know they are still way young so this could take a while. It just seems to me that when I let Zeuse out into the dog yard with the teenagers everyone is happy. They play and wrestle and chase each other around. I havnt noticed the three teenagers doing this too much when they are in the dog yard by themselves. Maybe it's just more pronounced when I let Zeuse out. He has pent up energy to expend and the pups follow suit. I'm just wondering if i keep doubg things the samw way (letting Zeuse out into the yard with them about obce a week) if they will always see him as the leader or if one of them will step up by the time they are 1 1/2 or 2 years of age. Im thinking I may need to cut the ties completely. Never let them play together anymore. They have access to him through the kennel fence but no real physical contact, no more assertion of dominance, etc. If I keep going as I am will they always see him as the leader? I've gotta think they will. Thoughts?

I understand where your going with it, but i dont think i would not allow physical contact, may cause a problem down the road with dominance/aggression in the yard.  Just because Zeus is dominant in the yard, or is the pack leader doesnt mean the dogs wont perform in the woods.  My started 2 and change gyp is the dominant dog in the yard but in the woods my old man gets it done.  he just dont care who runs the yard.

Just my .02

Just an opinion...

I think you're putting to much thought into this. Let them be pups and hunt them how you normally do and let them progress how they will.  Thee best thing in my opinion at a young age, 1 1/2 yr old or so, you have to give them the opportunity to be a lead dog.

A dog matures slower in a pack and depends on other dogs alot of times.  The dog progresses faster when he depends on himself.

Well Im on the same page and understand what ur saying.. IMO you are the key to the pack, it's your pack therefore you are the leader! They have to sense that, not by fear, but by calm dominance that u should portray when correcting bad behavior. There will always be males trying to display dominance on the yard it's just from the sack hanging..but I wouldn't pin em up I'd just correct the behavior time and time again until they realize who's running the show! Eventually they will realize... But all dogs are pack dogs may not hunt in a pack etc etc.. But when it comes to who runs the show at the house when they go home that's up to you

Once I saw all the ages of your pups I stopeend reading....dude you have a yard full of pups.  This hog huntmimng things takes years to get right.  If you have one dog over two than all you have is one dog.  Listen to BA-IV...he knows the deal.  Dont push younf dogs under a year....let them run loose and leave them a lone.