Raising Pups

Here is the thing with me...I know pups will change as they get older...have seen it many times...but I will test them if I have the opportunity...

If I take the pups to the woods at 4 months of age and turn them loose and one pup leaves out for a round with or without company and all others follow consistently ...3 or 4 times at different days...this will tell me quite a bit about this pup and the others as well...at the minimum this pup will make a hunting dog and probably a lead dog and the others making every step with the lead pup speaks quite a bit as well....next I leave the lead pup at home and see which other pup will step up if any...

I set up for winding scenarios and see which pups click naturally...I also see which ones find the most consistently...I lay down a track and see if any one or more take to it naturally...take them to the marsh and see which ones take to water naturally...and see which are the strong swimmers while at it...the good ones make a minimal wake and all you see is the head gliding through the water...set up to rig a hog as they get older or stake one out for them to find and bay...

When raising pups these little insignificant details can help in making a better selection...especially when one wants to improve a breeding program...to me this is just as much fun as hunting...

Often enough a star can be identified at a young age...
A star has natural ability...I look for pups that are born with that natural ability as well...