Looking for early culling traits and defects really. I've seen a few talking about culling hard and early as possible, and just want some tips on what to look for...
Ryan,
I start noticing every thing I can about all the pups in the litter. I cull out the longer haired pups. I look to see which pup comes out of the dog house first and figures things out...looking for intelligence and willingness to explore...cull for shyness but sometimes the best dogs can be a little on the shy side. I test for nose and finding ability at a young age... test for ranging out at 3-4 months old. also watch who sticks the track at the youngest age...all the pups are on a mental point system and some that make it as keepers might not make it as breeders. I check for baying style for grit and willness to get back on a hog if the pup gets banged around some...
Usually by time the pups are 4 months old I can just about pick the keepers and sometimes way younger than that. I used to keep the whole litter and then culled down slowly because I wanted the very best at the end.
one thing I will say is that just because a pup didn't make it early did not mean it would not make a good dog...The pup just wasn't competing at the same level with the other siblings at that particular time.
I usually new who the breeders were going to be by time they were 10 months old sometimes a little younger and sometimes a little older...but I was breeding not just for hard hunting dogs that could find game easily if it was there but for early starting dogs as well...
at the beginning I had a few pups that wouldn't even look at a pig in the litter and mid way thru I was usually getting 100 percent turn out rate especially after testing...the ones testing good at a young age usually made dogs.
The other part of having good dogs is to handle them plenty as little pups and make loud banging noises with the food pan. shoot a cap pistol when you call them to eat...just little things that look insignificant but in reality are very important for the growing pup...besides...you could be culling a pup for shyness when in reality it was not genetic but a lack of human contact...
and making an out cross because the line is getting depressed or tired is going to be a big deal...this can produce some culls because all the recessive traits that are covered up can surface...sometimes might have to cull the whole litter and shop around for another prospect to breed to...It is best if you can find one already carrying some of your blood...The fresh blood needs to be bred on the side meaning that do not just breed it into you line, test it and only bring in 1/4 of the outside blood into your line... otherwise you line will actually be somewhat lost if you just bring in that outside dog and just breed him to the majority of your females...outcross in slowly and very carefully.
you want that outcross dog to be similar in type and hunt with your dogs and preferably a dog that brings a strong trait that your line needs to improve on...
this worked for me...
