how you cull

[sdrummond]

Would be interested to know how you cull your pups.  Thanks

[waylon-N.E. OK]

Scott that's a taboo topic. Most folks do it the same way we do   Some  spay and then give them away as pet's but most don't.

[NMartin]

yeah i don't think that should be a topic on a public forum 

[tmatt]

Don't really feel that the WWW is the best place to discuss that. Jmho

[waylon-N.E. OK]

Scott check you messages, there listed by the Home Help Seach Profile bar above

[djhogdogger]

 If you are asking how to choose which ones to keep and which ones not to keep...... I personally would wait until they are old enough to try on a hog, about 4 months old. Some people cull earlier but I like to see how they react the first time they encounter a hog. Then at around 6 to 7 months, take them to the woods with an older finished dog to see if they will get out and hunt or not. That is how I cull. Hope this helps.  

[tnhillbilly]

What Dinah said........

[tmatt]

Maybe I read too much into the question, lol. Great answer dj.

[SCHitemHard]

how bout you change the question to "What to look for in a cull?"

[BIG CHRIS]

i think his way of asking is fine . i think some of us just jumped straight to the end of the process! thats a level head DJ keep us straight.

[tmatt]

Always need a female to keep us straight! Lol

[waylon-N.E. OK]

Ok maybe your asking what will you cull a pup/dog for Scott? if so my bad. just didn't understand by the title if that is what your asking

[Noah]

I either like them or I don't... simple as that

[make-em-squeel]

I expect to see something or some greatness by 12 mo old but dont expect it consistantly (perfer it to be) but Ive seen a lot of great 2-3 yr old dogs that showed good stuff in the woods at a young age but kind of petered out or were not consistantly good until 2 yoa.

I also make sure that a dog is comfortable with the pack and people in the woods before judging the dog to hard. ((My finished 4 yr old dog didnt hunt or bay well when he was 6-9 mo old around other dominant males or loud people in the woods)) 

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

"How you evaluate" seems so much better for the WWW.

[Reuben]

"How you evaluate" seems so much better for the WWW.

x2...I like raising the whole litter for a little while.

I test them for winding and locating at about 8 weeks old. I do this several times a week for several weeks. I start them close up and then increase the distance.

I then test a few times on trailing. I am constantly observing for  pups that are natural winders, trailers and locators, also looking for the negatives like overly dominant or hyper behavior.

I then test to see if I have a natural bay dog or how much exposer the pup needs to make him bay or work. I like smart pups that learn easily or are born to do it naturally.

I also try not to pick a shy or hyper pup.

at 3-1/2 months to 4 months I test the pups for natural free casting. I look for a pup that circles and not runs out in straight lines.

At about 3 months I cull down to six pups

at 4-5 months I cull down to 4 pups

at 6-7 months I try to cull to 3 pups but might hang on a little longer...

the longer I hang on to the pups before culling, the better they usually are.

When I say cull I mean that they are not making the cut for me but it does not mean that they will not make good hunting dogs.

I am trying to select the very best from the litter because that is the only way I know how to improve a strain/breed of dogs...

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

Reuben,

That sounds like solid advice. Thank you for sharing.

[make-em-squeel]

"How you evaluate" seems so much better for the WWW.

x2...I like raising the whole litter for a little while.

I test them for winding and locating at about 8 weeks old. I do this several times a week for several weeks. I start them close up and then increase the distance.

I then test a few times on trailing. I am constantly observing for  pups that are natural winders, trailers and locators, also looking for the negatives like overly dominant or hyper behavior.

I then test to see if I have a natural bay dog or how much exposer the pup needs to make him bay or work. I like smart pups that learn easily or are born to do it naturally.

I also try not to pick a shy or hyper pup.

at 3-1/2 months to 4 months I test the pups for natural free casting. I look for a pup that circles and not runs out in straight lines.

At about 3 months I cull down to six pups

at 4-5 months I cull down to 4 pups

at 6-7 months I try to cull to 3 pups but might hang on a little longer...

the longer I hang on to the pups before culling, the better they usually are.

When I say cull I mean that they are not making the cut for me but it does not mean that they will not make good hunting dogs.

I am trying to select the very best from the litter because that is the only way I know how to improve a strain/breed of dogs...

WOW when I am rich and hunting for a living I want to have the time to do this....If anyone looks up how Paul T Garden (Silverton boar dogs) starts and culls pups its well worth the read

[shankem]

"How you evaluate" seems so much better for the WWW.

x2...I like raising the whole litter for a little while.

I test them for winding and locating at about 8 weeks old. I do this several times a week for several weeks. I start them close up and then increase the distance.

I then test a few times on trailing. I am constantly observing for  pups that are natural winders, trailers and locators, also looking for the negatives like overly dominant or hyper behavior.

I then test to see if I have a natural bay dog or how much exposer the pup needs to make him bay or work. I like smart pups that learn easily or are born to do it naturally.

I also try not to pick a shy or hyper pup.

at 3-1/2 months to 4 months I test the pups for natural free casting. I look for a pup that circles and not runs out in straight lines.

At about 3 months I cull down to six pups

at 4-5 months I cull down to 4 pups

at 6-7 months I try to cull to 3 pups but might hang on a little longer...

the longer I hang on to the pups before culling, the better they usually are.

When I say cull I mean that they are not making the cut for me but it does not mean that they will not make good hunting dogs.

I am trying to select the very best from the litter because that is the only way I know how to improve a strain/breed of dogs...

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

[Reuben]

Thank you all for your kind words.

I used to be secretive about how I selected and bred dogs and very few hunters got any of my pups... and now my thinking and my way of doing things has changed.