Message #75624

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

I've got 2 17 week old hound pups right now.  When I go to the woods, I bring them with me. While we are riding the woods, they are learning that barking just to bark is unaceptable.  I use this time to set the foundation for future learning.  When I say "shut up", I make sure they are getting the point that this is just that.  It is time to shut their mouths.  It also gets them used to riding in the dog box banging around with other dogs.  Typically, I just place them in the same compartment alone with eachother, however, I have also placed them in the compartments with grown dogs.  This gets them used to making contact, and not taking exception to it.  No one likes a growly dog in a box.  When I am listening to the big dogs go, I will throw the pups out around the truck.  It gives them time to explore the woods, and all the smells that go along with it.  Generally, if my truck is parked where I turned out, there is some form of hog sign around.  It lets them go about learning to follow the scent without making them do it.  Ditches become an everyday event to cross, so they become very comfortable with working around water, even if it means crossing it where they have to swim.  Baby steps, that is where you should concentrate at this stage of the game.