How can I tell my dog is ready to hunt?

Question

I have a 10 month old bull boxer named, Tank. My husband and I have been working on him for quite some time teaching him obedience, and discipline. He has an amazing prey drive, and what is great about him, is he only acts on those feelings when he should.
My husband thinks he is ready to start going on hunting trips, but I'm having second thoughts, due to his age. He is already 67lbs and built perfectly, but I don't know. I know he will be love it, but I would hate for him to get hurt and sting his confidence.
We have 3 other adult hunting dogs we got at the same time. I have not had much experience with introducing a new dog with older knowledgeable dogs. Is it too young? Will he just follow the lead of the other guys? Should I just keep him on a lead to watch? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Here is a pick of our newest hunter

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1423/9734610/17751632/276921727.jpg

Serious answers only, People do have different interests.

Sorry, I forgot to leave out our usual game. We like to hunt hogs, coons, and birds. We use a vest for our dogs no matter the game. I'm really paranoid about my dogs safety.

Answer 1

Give the little guy a couple more months. Remember, he's still a puppy. Just keep up the good training and send him out with his brothers in a few months.

Answer 2

Personal experience, he is playful, he eats, no he is not ready to be euthanised. Secondly, if he is ready, he will ask or tell you. You will know when that time arrives. Yes a vet will come to your home, any decent vet will, but obviously an extra charge will be required. Regarding the 'screaming' and the arthritis, I have a dog who is epileptic and suffered sever arthritic attacks. So bad his hind legs resembled chicken legs, or ski sticks crossed. The interesting thing is this. The vet said that the dog had to be on medication for his epilepsy for life. He was 4 at the time. Having seen Wessex experience 2 years of trauma from being neutered far too early, I saw him go into decline on the medication for the epilepsy and I decided the alternative. I slowly weaned him off the meds and gave him natural products like Valerian Flower remedy and St. John's Wort within a selection of Summer or Winter herbs (Hilton herbs), whichever the season. He slowly started to lose that aura of apathy and perked up, enjoying his walks again. Whenever I saw a pending fit, I would give him diazepam and increased the Valerian drops. He only had one fit a year and now a different vet said he did not need any medication. So, only when he had a fit, I sprayed his mouth with Aloe Vera and Valerian drops inside the lip. At the end of the fit, I give him 2 diazepams and the next day 1 diazepam (5mg). In the case of a bad fit I may give two half tablets the 3rd and 4th day. His coat always would start to smell before an attack and he would become clingy, lying on the bed with me and his coat felt oily and dirty. He is now 9 and has a fit once every 18 months. Then the arthritis started about a year ago and discovered some doggie sticks at Pets at Home. These worked after 3 weeks and slowly his rear end and legs started building up the muscle again. He was back to his normal self. Next the front legs went from one moment to the next. Pedigree genetic defect ripple effect. His Dad was a full pedigree corgi. From time to time, he cries in his sleep and has whole conversations with himself in his dream story. I do not for a moment believe that he suffers any pain at all. Of course, he is on medication for the arthritis and although much younger, I recognise the symptoms you describe. So if you want him to have less action in his dream, add some Valerian Flower Remedy to his water or a couple of drops below his inner lip. I am sure your vet could prescribe you some painkilling remedy or if you are more comfortable, tranquilisers or dog sleeping tablet. You do not want to put him to sleep when he is still enjoying life. He is having fun and heck with his legs (his opinion, not mine), if he is still playing. He is happy and that is all that matters. If he were suffering, non responsive, not enjoying his toilet walking, I think you are right to ask the vet to come over, but I do not believe your friend is ready to leave you yet. If he were human, you would not even ask that question at this stage. So well done, what an amazing accomplishment to the both of you. You must be so proud and prepare yourself because it will hit hard when the day arrives that he is ready to ask you to say your goodbyes. Enjoy each moment you have with him now 100%. He obviously has a limited life span, but if he can pass over the natural way, that would be even better. Peacefully and in your presence. Good luck and my heartfelt support. It will be a heavy day when that day arrives.

Answer 3

Ive been teaching my puppy some coon hunitng tricks and he is a year old now. Hes ready, im just waiting till season. If the dog wont follow other trails and will stay focused, he has the potential to be a good dog. It depends on what you are hunting on if he will get hurt. I only hunt coons and me dogs do get sratched and bitten, but they keep going like nothing happened because they love to go with me. If you are hunting birds, he should be fine with not getting hurt unless the bird isnt dead and it slaps him with a wing! It sounds like your dog is similar to my pup, but mine is only half Boxer. He is a big Boxer, probly 75 pounds and is very lean and muscular. He has went off trail and chased a few squirrels during training, but if you yelled at him, he knew what he did and to not do it again. As for running them with expierienced dogs, i think it will help them get a better understanding of tricks animals can pull and stay on course more because they like to be with the others dogs usually.
Good luck with your new partner.

Answer 4

He's ready, just get him out there in the fields & woods. They have a natural instinct to hunt, but you have to get them out.* There is very little training required except for taking them out to hunt.*I get mine out at 4 to 6 months old.* { No problem.*} Take him out by himself so he can hunt independently, then allow him to go out with the others.*

Answer 5

If you can let him loose and he wont run off then go for it. Just beware many hunting dogs are lost on their first trip, they spot game and will follow it sometimes for miles and miles.