And if you didn't have access to an older dog what would u do different?
Exact same Mark but supplement the tip from get.low.curs above and attempt to maximize your initial exposure with young dogs in the woods. The first year in the woods is crucial to shape and mold what's to come. They need to be on the ground everytime you go and hunt their butts off. Older finished dogs can stand periodic layoffs and still come right back to business. Younger ones are to susceptible to falling into bad habits or creating their own through lack of attention until they mature mentally.
If you have friends or hunting partners that have dogs that are to your standards you can drop the pups behind theirs. But don't get mad if they prefer to hunt only their own by themselves. Its usually a sign of somebody that knows what they are doing and runs interference on possible training sidetracking from outside influences.
