when to train is different depending on the dog. which in turn goes back to genetics-linebreeding.
joey denison introduced his pups at 2 months to a pig. every couple weeks they went back . he documented this very well and if at 6 months they werent getting it done the were a cull. and he only bred the best. thats what made his bloodline so strong. this way has been proven over and over thru the years.cant argue that point b/c it works. so if u have to feed a dog till 18 months just to knowwhetner or not it will hunt. You are already losing time and money. I would consider a different pound or walmart.
Ric.o,
This breeder you are talking about culls at 6 months...more than likely he wants the very best. Early starters beget more early starters, but it does not mean the other pups won't turn on at 1 year old.
Most breeders when needing one dog for breeding/hunting should test the pups and cull down to four or five pups or so when selecting for that one (testing). As the pups get older cull down some more. By the time the pups are 6 months old that good breeder should be down to 3 pups and by 10 months old should be down to 2 or 1 pup.
I like a pup that can show me some good things at 6 months but I want a pup that is hunting pretty good by 10 months and for sure by 1 year. When I use the word culling I ean that the pup is not meeting the ctiteria at a given time (age versus level of progression). The older the cull the better the pup should be in this case.
Life is too short to be waiting on a dog to see if it will turn on or not...Most folks don't have the space for this type of dog or the money to keep feeding this questionable dog.
