Timid dog

[Bowtech99]

So here's my question, I'm just starting back and trying to get a small pack built up. I have a couple puppies but I'm waiting on them to mature.

My oldest dog is about 11 months, full blooded catahoula, smart dog, great temperament, just really timid. I've worked him in a big bay pen with 40lb boar and he doesn't show much interest. Just follows me around. And when I walk up to him when he's on the chain he lays on his back and pisses. Should I invest time in trying to make him a good dog or write him off and start over?

[Bowtech99]

I don't have a mature dog to help guide him either, I was thinking maybe he still has alot of puppy in him. I know some dogs just mature later than others.

Just wanted y'all's opinions

[lettmroll]

He may always lay down when you walk up to him, but he'll stop that pissing on himself when he gets a little older.
Now on the baying part that's just a chance you take raising pups. I will say this a bunch of the catahoula's I've had and been around didn't start turning it on until they were two years old. But a lot of time people don't want to wait that long.

[Bowtech99]

I can coax him into baying a little bit, he just ain't really into it. Got alot of puppy in him, just wants to play with other dogs.

I been taking him to the woods and just walking thru the woods getting him familiar, most time he won't leave my feet, maybe venture out 50yds.

I don't mind putting in the time and making a good dog, I just don't want to be wasting my time

[Judge peel]

Just keep fooling with him and don't get up set with him. Then one day you will know dud or diamond


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[Reuben]

Here is something to consider...he is your only pup that is almost at the age where he should be making a hog dog...if he does not make it in another year it will be a setback...if you can swing it keep working this pup and see about getting another dog to try as well and up your chances of getting at least one good hog dog from the pair...

[Bowtech99]

I have a 3month old catahoula gyp, and she seems like she's gonna make it. Fearless and got one heck of an attitude. I reckon I'll keep workin older dog until my pup gets old enough.

[Bowtech99]

If he ain't done nothing by then, he flat ain't gonna

[JW0627]

Has he seen another dog bay or work a hog?  Try throwing him in the pen with a buddies dog that knows what to do.  He might just need a little visual coaching.  Getting a bigger, more aggressive hog in there will help too.  Nothing that's going to break his confidence, but something that will charge and give your dog a chance to choose fight or flight.  Sometimes all they need is to be backed in a corner and the flip a switch.


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[justincorbell]

The first thing I take from this is the use of a "pen". I will say this flat out, I ruined and even culled a couple young dogs that would have more than likely made decent dogs years ago because of a pen, I didn't know any better and wasn't even looking into other options because "if they wont bay in a pen they wont bay in the woods" was my train of thought but boy was i WRONG.

I no longer use a pen at all to work dogs and my turnaround rate has changed drastically. The ONLY time my mutts ever see as hog in a pen is when they are 12-14wks old and I drop a shoat into their puppy yard (50-80') to see what they do...... usually with 4+ pups one will fire off right quick and the others fall into place but to be honest even doing that is more for me than for the pups, they are pups being pups, I just like to see what they do off the bat. After I do that at a young age, in a setting that they are all very comfortable being in as they have been born and raised in that pen I never show em a hog in a "pen" again.

When they hit 5-6mths old I start tying hogs up in easy to find locations in nice open woods and then start doing mock hunts with the pups, if they don't initially find the hog I just ease in its general direction until they do then sit back and let them bay for awhile.


If I were you I would try to get my hands on a couple smaller hogs and tie them up along a trail and then bring your dog out there and let him find them in the woods and work him that way, make sure you make it enjoyable for him and pet him up good when he does what you want, I would be surprised if he doesn't perk up a bit once he realizes that baying a hog is what you want him to do. Having another dog that he can buddy up with will help with this as well. Also keep in mind that you don't need your buddies with other strange dogs there making all kinds of racket distracting him, I would do it alone a few times until you know your pup is going well before introducing unfamiliar dogs and other people into the mix. If he has any want to as all after you show him a few hogs in the woods he should figure out that when he hits the woods it is time to hunt.

Hope this helps, good luck with him.

[NLAhunter]

I agree with what Justin said I like to show em one when they young maybe couple times just let em see what hog is then tie em up in woods let em find em and bay em the last 3 dogs I started wouldn't hardly ever bay hog in pen when I hide it woods let em find it they fired up went to baying good and they been on hogs in big woods ever since they was 9 months old now they about 1 year and 8 months old and I have probably caught 60-70 something hogs with just them and bulldog. I have started other dogs they bay there head off in pen never do nothing in woods so I don't put all my stock into one baying in a pen

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[Bowtech99]

My pen is a woods pen, 100yd round pen in the woods. That way it mimics a woods scenario. The dogs don't just walk in pen and look straight at the hog, they gotta sniff around and jump him.

I got him when he was 6-7months old, so I didn't get to mold him during his impressionable few months. The more I handle him, I really think he just dont know what to do. I'm thinking about letting him watch me leash in a catch dog and catch just so he can get the hint. Idk I'll keep working him a little each day.

[NLAhunter]

Yes sir I have been around several catahoulas that were just funny about stuff didn't like other people or certain dogs just fool with him all you can ride him around on four wheeler take him places let him see some things if you do this alot he might get to trust you and start working for you but I bet he be funny around strangers and other stuff rest of his life probably

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[Bowtech99]

Just an update, buddy called me couple days ago, guy he works with has a young plotting male, around 1yr old. And was wanting to know could he put him and a 4yr old plotting gyp in my pen and work his young dog.

I told him sure under 1 condition, put my catahoula in there with them. He sent me a video of all 3 bayin. It was 100lb boar I caught in a trap and they was workin him like crazy! So long story short I think he'll make a decent dog. I'm just gonna keep working him and let him do the rest!

[Bowtech99]

I typed plott idk why my phone corrected it