54 HUNTING DOGS. 



wouldn't advise tryino- to train a lionnd with a 

 cur unless he is an old 'coon dog. Tr^- and get 

 your dog on a 'coon right in the start, and do 

 not let him fight too much the first time, unless 

 he is an extra fighter. Do not let 3^our dog 

 stay out hunting when the other dogs have treed 

 a 'coon; make him come in and bark up the 

 tree. Always climb the tree for your dog and 

 get w^hat he has, no matter if it takes until day- 

 light. 



When I own young dogs, J always train 

 them m3self. I never permit a stranger to 

 handle them. It is all right for strangers to 

 handle the old dogs once they are trained but 

 the hunter who wishes to have good dogs should 

 train them himself or have a man avUo 

 thoroughly understands the proper way to use 

 young dogs. It is a very easy matter to spoil a 

 dog when you do not know exactly how to pro- 

 ceed. 



On the question of the proper age at which 

 to begin training a hound, a successful Min- 

 nesota trainer takes issue with those who ad- 

 vise taking the pup to field at eight or ten 

 months of age. He writes in part : ''I disagTee 

 with those who advise the early initiation of 

 the pup. Any kind of fairly well bred pup will 

 run, not only at 10 months, but at 5, 6 or 7 

 months, but the point to consider is, will a dog 



