Message #514396

[bootheel]

When I got ole "Sam" from Mr Masons yard, I had kicked around breeding him to one of my gyps and even kicked around the idea of buying a Plott gyp and breeding her so I could some colder nose dogs because of the low humidity around here. He told me that Sam was no superstar but if a hog was around, he'd find it. And he has turned out to be exactly what Doug said, and exactly what I wanted in a puppy trainer. Well, during our move to this place, ole "Sam" and my lead-in catch dog ( 3/4 BMC and 1/4 APBT ) somehow exchanged flowers and the pups were on they're way. They hit the ground June 28 and they turned 11 wks old last Saturday. They all look like Sam, but have the fire of Gypsy. A friend down the road got 4, and I kept the other 4. Saturday morning I had thawed out some pork liver and gave them a sample, then drug a good sized piece for about 30 yards with a treat every 10ft or so to keep them going in the right direction. As soon as I let the little scamps out of the kennel, they're nose hit the ground, and they got to the end before I could get my phone video fired up! Did the same thing this morning but went about 60 yards with a curve about half way. The wind was kicking up pretty good but almost the same thing happened, except this time, when they got to the curve, they all started goofing off except the bigger male. He stayed hooked, I could tell the wind was throwing him off, plus his siblings were jacking around, but he stuck to it, and stayed with it to the end! He had most of the pile of liver slivers down before the others showed up! So after all this, I'd have to say in my opinion, that out of these four pups, Im gonna end up with some good dogs plus a little superstar in the bigger male. So genetics are a certain part of the equation for sure, but halfbreed's right on, when he says its what happens after you get them home. These guys will stay on liver for about 2 more weeks, and  only 2 at a time, then go train on scent/hide drag for a month, or until the are as big as my shoats, then, they'll be on the outside of my pen until I think they are ready to play in the big pen, again only 2 at a time. They'll train on the inside until they start getting to rough with my shoats, then its back to the outside of the little pen they go. By this time, I'll be taking the same 2 with ole Sam to the woods at least once a week. Everything that's happened up to this point, will continue to happen except for the liver part. The training for me and my dogs never ends, they might only reach a certain level and stop, but the training never stops. I hope this helps you out and gives you a different angle to chew on. PS, I aint no world class trainer or breeder, just a busted up ole ridge running cowboy that love his dogs, and mule. So, there's my 2 cents my friend, and good luck!