Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada
Posts: 12

Looking for a little advice on training a pup for lion......

Lion season starts in early Sept. where I live, and I'm looking to get my 7 month old pup to chase these cats. Probably won't have snow until Dec or so, so any early training will have to be dry / wet ground in the coastal pacific northwest.

This english x walker came from lines that successfully hunt bear, lion and stubbie in Washington State, so, I'm hoping she's hardwired for lion and hunting. She's seen two caged coon drags already, and did well on them hoisted in tree. I'm looking to catch another for a timed release / chase to tree in a clearcut next.

I have an airedale I plan on including in the races AFTER the hound pup learns to run a track. I want the pup to be the strike dog and learn to work a cold track, and the 'dale who is very gamey will be the grit at the tree. My 'dale runs deer, so I don't want him leading the race and teaching her to run trash. Libby, the pup has not seen trash as of yet. I've had her along with my 'dale on many hikes in the bush since she was 10 weeks old, with the 'dale is always on the lead. If not for the leash, he'd be running trash and she'd a been running along right behind him.
Libby is not leashed on the hikes and is starting to gain confidence in exploring on her own up ahead on the trail. She does come back regularly to check in however, then beetles back out for more exploring.

Libby is well socialized, and and has lived with my 'dale indoors since she was 10 weeks old. She learns much from my 'dale and I've noticed she has the propensity to become a "me too" dog. She's picked up on some of the 'dales bad habits like barking when I or the Mrs. either leaves / comes home, and barking at people out on the road walking by the yard. This is another reason I don't want her running with the dale on a scent until I know she's straight, 'cause I know she'll pick up on, and do anything he does.....


So it'll be me training the pup on lion. I don't know anyone else around running lion with hounds, so I'll be doing it alone. There are a few guys within a days drive of me, but I've not met any of them. I'm not interested in running bear, just lion. There are no lynx or bobcat here either, just cougar.
What training method do you suggest?
All I can think of is a few more caged coons and waiting for snow to start her on a hot lion track and walking her in on it until she gets the idea. I've got a trashbreaker and tracking collars.

Thanks.

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Registered: Jun 2006
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 93

who was the individual you purchased this pup from in wash. state ? where do you live ? you only have cougars where you are at ? interesting.... what makes you think all you have is cougars ? just curious...

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Registered: May 2006
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 1344

I think that without the help of an older check dog, you are best to wait until it snows, then lace up your boots, pack a lunch and start walking her out of tracks.... I imagine if you have the big ones, the little short tailed ones are there also..

Up until it snows I would just work her on trainers.. Not coon but of the feral variety.. You can buy a some lion scent to put on them also... Don't know how much it helps but I can't imagine it hurting any..

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~Melanie Hampton~
OutWest Big Game Hounds

You've only got 3 choices in life, give in, give up, or give it all you got.

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Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada
Posts: 12

Hey Melanie,
Thanks for the tips. That's pretty much what I've been thinking too. Ferrals are a good idea....I'll look into catching a few.

Cougar,
Nope, no stubbies or lynx here. I'm on Vancouver Island in BC. We have the highest population density per sq mile of lion anywhere in Canada, but no other kitties live here.
No porkies, skunk, coyote, grizz either. Wolves, lion and blackies only as far as the large predators goes.

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Registered: Oct 2006
Location: Wi
Posts: 91

This is the right way to do it. You will have a better hound when you are done.Might take awhile longer but if the dog has it in them the become solid at a younger age.
Charlie

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Registered: Sep 2006
Location: Utah
Posts: 176

Find a track and turn the dog loose..... no need to follow tracks.... that's what telemetry collars are for. See if the dog will do it.... then go from there. Good luck.

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702-686-5035

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Registered: Oct 2003
Location: W.N.Y.
Posts: 57

Maybe this is too obvious but can't help wondering why you're waiting to limber up that shocking collar? If I were you, I'd put some posts out to find someone with experienced dogs near you that would let you tag along. GOOD LUCK!!

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Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Vancouver Island BC Canada
Posts: 12

Yes, I know the best bet is to run the pup with an older straight dog, or, buy another older straight, lion running hound, but, my wife might have something to say about that!

The plan to begin breaking my airedale from deer and to introduce the pup to the scent of deer, is to hang two tarsal glands from a road-killed deer, which I just got, and to wire them from an electric fence wire which will be dangling from a tree branch. The trick I'm told is to not let the dog see you rig this, so when they approach the scent on the wind and touch their nose to it........el shocko! They get to learn deer come with a sting. Two shocks for the inquisitive stubborn dogs is all it's supposed to take. Apparently, they don't come back for a third shock.

It can be taken a step further by building a short in height electric fence circle about 12 ft in diameter beneath the dangling tarsal glands. The idea is to put a dish of dog chow under the glands, starve the dog of food for 2 days so they're good and hungry. After a while, they'll be so hungry that they'll try and slither in to eat and once the perimeter electric wire is touched.....el shocko!
They get to learn that deer can sting from a distance too.
This is from one of Wick's books.

I'll get this rigged up in the next few days.....

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