Hunting dogs: The options are few but very different: better a puppy coming directly from your home, better a weaned puppy, an adult dog already trained or an elderly hound? There is no absolute right decision, but there is the right decision for you. Let's see how to take it without regretting it.
Hunting dogs. When you realize that a hound is missing in your pack, the search begins and most of the time choosing the right animal is a bit like going back to the lottery: an almost impossible press. This is because all possibilities are not rationally taken into consideration. If you are wondering what they are here they are.
A brood of hounds
Anyone who has a female available can take this option into consideration, as long as some very important considerations have been made first. The most important are all related to the bitch and her genetic background. Abandon sentimentality and look reality in the face: the potential of the female must be taken into consideration as objectively as possible.
If this has obvious defects it is good to put aside the purpose, but if our dog is not only capable in the field, but also has illustrious ancestors, that of reproduction at home is a very interesting solution. Also remember that a good male is essential to reproduce a female: those you have at home are not always the right answer, however cheap. In some cases it would be good to invest by focusing on a five-star model.
HUNTING DOGS
Homemade brood: the pros
- Passage to the brood of excellent genes, well known and experienced in the field.
- The charm of following one's own brood from the beginning with the creation of an emotional bond that will be important during the hunt.
Homemade brood: the cons
- The commitment it requires from the hunter from a litter of puppies.
- The distance of the mare for several months from the hunting activity.
- The costs are also huge to find the right male with which to reproduce the female.
- Surplus puppies difficult to manage.
Weaned puppies
Buying a puppy already started and weaned from a breeder or a private individual can prove to be an interesting solution, especially if you do not have the possibility or the will of a home breeding. If you are reflecting on this possibility, the advice is to bet everything on the genealogy of the animal in order not to run into sad surprises.
The puppy of the house: the pros
The possibility of personally training your puppy without having followed the animal from birth. In this way you will be able to shape the hound according to your needs, creating a relationship and a bond of trust and mutual esteem.
It is possible to win a capable dog at an economic cost if you focus more on the hunting qualities of the animal than on the morphological ones.
The puppy of the house: the cons
It takes months before the puppy can be used while hunting. This will need to be trained and not everyone is capable of doing it.
The unknown factor represented by the animal that growing up could present some gaps such as to make it invalid as hound. In fact, even a particularly experienced eye has great difficulty in recognizing all the details of an animal that is only 90 days old.
Adult and trained dogs
This is the quickest and safest solution to bet on.
Un hunting dog adult, well trained, it is a subject immediately ready to hunt; this greatly reduces the unknowns and wasted time in choosing your pack leader hound.
Those who are thinking about this solution will have to focus on the characteristics of the animal before proceeding with the purchase. In fact, being an adult dog it is quite easy to notice the excellence or any gaps.
Ready hunting dogs: the pros
- They can be used immediately.
- It is easy to choose the best endowed specimen.
Ready-to-hunt dogs: the cons
- This is a rather expensive option: a complete animal in all stages of hunting can cost almost as much as a car. It is therefore not a choice for all budgets.
The senior dog is for rent
To conclude, here are two other solutions that should not be underestimated. The old dog For example, it is an economical and rather intelligent possibility if you need a hound right away and you do not intend to spend too much money or too much effort. He will have a few years of hunting available, but you can immediately put him in the group and he will give all his experience to the young puppies you own. Renting a dog is another solution that should not be underestimated, especially if you find yourself temporarily without a hound. In fact, there are several owners who, after having trained their pet, make it available to those in need. If you are thinking that this is a suitable solution for you, remember that it is important not to become attached to the animal, a hunting year passes soon and the following year the dog will have to return to its rightful owner.