By Coby W.

Many coon hunters overlook the importance of having a coon dog that handles good. What usually happens is we get to focused on the hunting ability instead. Have you bought a new coon dog or tried one out and it nearly pulled you down because no one took the time to properly leash train it? If you are patient and persistent you can easily correct this problem and have your coon hound handling like a champ in no time. Follow along as I will detail a few techniques I use to leash train my coon hounds.

First, if you can start when the coon dog is still a puppy you will have an easier time training it. I like to start leash training puppies at about 3 months old. The first thing I will do is try to get them used to being on a leash. I do this by putting a leash on them and letting them drag it around the yard for a little bit. Just do this for a few minutes then take it off and repeat again the next day.

Once I have got the coon dog used to being on a leash I will try to lead them around. Start off slowly by just letting them walk around and just follow them while holding the leash loosely. If the hound is hardheaded and trying to pull a lot I will tie the leash to a fence or tree and let them fight it. The puppy will eventually grow tired of fighting the leash. I will then try to walk them around again. If the puppy insists on pulling I will give them a gentle tug and say "heal".

If you happen to purchase an older coon dog that hasn't learned to walk properly on a leash it may be a little harder for you to correct. With some older coon hounds you may have to be more persistent and aggressive with your training methods. As I always say it depends on the personality of your hound and you must know your coon dog. Make sure that when you are training your coon dog that you use a command such as "heal" so the coon hound can associate the training with the correct action.

What I will do is find a good switch and when the coon hound starts pulling I will give them a light pop with the switch and say "heal". Most coon dogs will quickly learn what you are wanting them to do after only a few pops. My preference is to have my hounds walk on the left side or behind me. With enough effort I have even been able to train coon hounds to walk by my side with out a leash. You can do the same if you follow the techniques I have outlined and stay patient while training your coon hounds.

Coby W. is an experienced coon hunter with over ten years experience with training coon hounds. Visit his coon hounds site now for more info.

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