I call any dog under two a puppy... so that's a choice you'll have to make for yourself. I usually don't put one in the woods until it's a year old, sometimes a little sooner depending on the dog's maturity level. I've seen way too many people give up on year old dogs. Most of the better dogs i've seen and from talking to others, were late bloomers. I've also seen to many "one year old wonder dogs" be burned out and washed up at age four or five.
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