How to Start A Coonhound Puppy to Hunt Raccoons

As a coonhound breeder and avid sportswoman, I am often asked by my puppy buyers when and how they should start their puppies out in coonhunting. This short article should help you get started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Well bred coonhound puppy
• Bottled coon scent or a road kill raccoon.

1. Wait for your puppy to get to at least 12 weeks of age.
   
   We like to start training our coonhound puppies when they are 12 weeks old but any beginning coonhound should start out with these steps.
2. If you have a bottle of raccoon scent (try Jay's Sporting Goods store or maybe an online spot like Bill Boatman's), apply to a 'drag' of some sort. We use a retrieving dummy. It's cylindrical in shape and is made of canvas.
   You could use something as simple as an old rag.
   
   If you find a road killed raccoon and aren't squimish, skin it and use that as your scent drag. It's much more effective but it MUST BE FRESHLY KILLED. I never kill raccoon for this, only use those who I find on the road.
3. Let your puppy play with the scented dummy or coon hide. Reward the puppy for showing any interest.
4. Put up the dummy/hide before the puppy loses interest. This is referred to as 'putting them away hot'.
5. Once you've done this a couple times over the course of the next 2-3 days or so, keep the puppy in the house and take your drag or hide (attached to rope) and drag it around your (preferably fenced) yard. Lay the hide/drag on the ground but not totally in clear view.
6. Bring puppy out and place them on the ground near where you started your dragging. Reward them cheerfully for showing interest in the scent they find there. Encourage them to find it. I use the command "find the squeak toy". LOL Use some phrase that will clue the puppy as to what your wanting.
7. Let them play with the hide/drag once they find it but again remember to 'put them away hot'.
8. Do this for a couple weeks but don't overdo it. Usually 10 minutes a day or every other day is sufficient. You don't want to bore the puppy with your new game.
9. I'll be adding more articles on coonhound puppy training so keep checking back! Comments and suggestions welcomed.
10. If you found this helpful, please rate my article with 5 stars. I'll love you forever for the extra effort. Thanks! :)

Tips & Warnings

• Working your puppy on a drag in your yard first thing in the morning or after a rain is best as wet ground/grass helps the puppy's scent glands work more effectively.
• While training, try to add obstacles as the puppy advances such as small logs, etc or take them out to the woods with varied terrain.
• At this same age, you should be getting your puppy used to walking in water such as mud puddles, etc. Yeah, every puppy owner's dream but when hunting, they will need to have no fear of the water. Most coonhounds enjoy the water. They even have water races for them at some sponsored hunting events.
• If your puppy does not act interested, don't fear. Just give it a week and try again. Never, ever force it. Some puppies mature later than others. I give our puppies temperament tests which also include tests for desire to follow scent. Ask your breeder if they do the same if you haven't yet purchased your puppy.