Hello Jerry,
Thanks for writing. You have asked several questions. Which
are
"what age should I start training bull dog puppies to catch?"
and
"I have one that catches good with another bull dog but doesnt catch
by the ear by his self?"
First, let me say this, I dont claim to be a bull dog expert by any
means, theres a lot of folks out there that are more knowledgeable
about the training of those dogs than me, but, I have raised, bought
and kenneled some bull dogs that I think catch real good for me.
What age to start them? Thats kinda up for grabs. I start messing
with mine when they are pups with a sock or stuffed animal getting
them to playing and catching. I try and spend more time handeling
bull dog pups than any others. I want them climatized and
neutralized and humanized (what ever the proper word is, I want them
dog gentle with me and other dogs). I let them as pups run free
with the other pups or dogs so they will get use to the other dogs.
A bull dog is worthless to me if he has an attitude towards people or
other dogs, and I dont care how good he catches. I want to be able
to leash my bull dog to any other dog, I want to be able to load him
in the back of my truck with my other dogs, and I want him to be
friendly with all people. Im not in the rolling business or
protection business, all that bull dog has to do is walk next to me
and not pull on me on a leash, not growl or fight with other dogs,
not be aggressive to people and WANT TO CATCH A HOG MORE THAN ANY
THING IN THE WORLD!
I like to let my dogs no matter if they are catch, find or bay grow
up before I put them in the woods. I will usually try them when
they are about 6 months on a hog that wont hurt them and small enough
for them to handel. Other than that, I will wait till they are about
a year old or until their permanent teeth come in. Have you ever
looked at the teeth of a bull dog that someone has that started them
in the woods at 6 months when the dog is about 2yrs old? Something
you will find is a high percentage of those dogs will have missing
eye teeth. The reason? they were catching hard with their baby
teeth that were pulled out and then their permanents started to come
in and they were pulled out also. Thats not to say they wont catch a
good one at 6 months, because some of them will, its just they havent
gotten good solid permanent teeth in their mouth yet.
This is how I like to start a bull dog. (note, im not saying this is
the best way, but its how I do it) I will take the bull dog to the
pen. and tie him on the outside. I will put a bay dog in the pen to
bark at the hog, maybe even catch it. I will do this several times
maybe over two or three sessions and havent turned him loose on the
hog yet. What should be happening is, the bull dog should be about
to go crazy wanting to get at the hog by now. When I think hes
fired up enough, I will go into the pen and hold him. Hopefully the
hog is still against the fence. I will walk the dog up while holding
his collar as close as I can get to the hog, the pup should be
rearing to go. At that time, I will let him go. I want mine to
catch the ear. If the pup grabs a leg or his side or his jaw, I
immediately go over, pull the dog off and immediately show him the
ear and let him grab it.
I repeat this process a couple of times, and each time he misses the
ear, i pull him off and put him on it. I had a great bull dog
man
in my opinion named Mitch tell me one time that where a dog starts
catching is where he will catch from then on unless you show him what
your wanting him to catch. Ive always remembered that and so far its
worked for me.
Your next question in regards should you use the other dog that
doesnt catch evidently to well to train this one. If you could get
another good one to use instead the first few hunts, thats what I
would recommend. If you want good dogs, you need good dogs to train
them with is a rule I try and use in all my training of any kind of
dog.
I will add one note tho.... Above all, when your ready to start
hunting your dog in the woods, get you a good quality cut vest for
your catch dog....I feel a person OWES THAT TO THE DOG. Because GOOD
dogs, no matter what their responsibility is, are hard to come by.
Average dogs can be found most anywhere.
Good luck with your dog, and good hunting,
Jim