How old are your pups when you start hauling them?

I feel like a 5 month old dog is just too young, can easily get in a bind where a hog can pound them, they can't get away, and can't defend themselves, at that point you may have just ruined a potentially good dog. This is one of those situations that I like to consider part of the nuture VS. Nature, the best bred dog in the world can be ruined if the "nuturer" does not prevent it.

the last one that I started early was doing great on her first hunt at 8 mths. first the coyotes got her seperated & a hold of her freaked her out and she got lost, then we got her back top the resst of the pack and they bayed a good boar, she got between a fallen tree and hog, took a good cut, after that she shut down and did not want to range out very far, took about 8 months to get her to come around again. She strikes them and trails great but will bay plenty loose, and not very good at getting close enough to nip one to try and stop it. And will bay a caught hog which most all my other dogs are helping with catching and not barking once a catch dog gets it, In My Opinion I don't see the need to put an immature dog into a situation that they are not menatlly prepared to handle.

like already mentioned some dogs are ready at 8 months others may be 14 months, before thay can handle what the may be dealt.