Training your pup

I agree, I remember hearing everyone saying..."don't let that 6 month old pup get bit by a coon, it'll ruin him for sure".... with hounds I have seen this happen... however, it seems with Deckers that if a coon or whatever gets them, they are out for revenge big time.... Our King dog got jumped by a coon when he was 5 months old... he killed it, and to this day still holds a grudge toward coon... Creedence the same thing, only he was older...

Clyde

I have noticed that grudge holding also, Decker's do seem to harbor ill feeling for whatever hurts them. Once something like that happens they don't seem to ever forget. Tim

My Dad had a rat terrier...."Stubby", and he got into a porcupine when he was young. He hated porcupines forever and would tie into one whenever he found one. I don't know how many times we pulled quills out of his mouth. They never forget.Clint

When Henry arrived at age three, we were loaded with stray cats and skunks. He already had ingrained hate for cats, which lasted lifelong. A neighbor had a very run down chicken operation for egg production. Filthy as it was, skunks made a geat living on eggs and dead chickens. Henry would pile in and kill those, very abundant skunks, at first. With his inch ling hair, that was not good. After a couple of years, he would just rush toward anything, as usual, but if it was a skunk, he would growl and woof a couple of times, but not attack. I really appreciated that.

After he killed a porcupine and was asleep four days after quill (over 700)removal, I certainly dreaded another porcupine. They are very rare on our western side of Oregon, so little chance of a reocurrance. Several years later on an east side river float trip, we got to a place to camp when it was nearly dark. About 300 yards upstream, I spotted a huge porcupine. I mentally recorded this, but neglected to tie up Henry when we pulled out for the night. After it was too dark, I heard him baying upstream on the ridge. Although I knew he had that porcupine and cringed, he woofed a few times, kind of like he did with skunks and came in without any quills. Believe me, I bragged on that "Very Good Dog" about then. We were about 200 miles and three days from a vet. Milton

I guess that once in a great while an old dog learns a new trick.

"After a couple of years, he would just rush toward anything, as usual, but if it was a skunk, he would growl and woof a couple of times, but not attack. I really appreciated that".

That's funny Milton, my Sparky does the same thing with cats. When he was young he loved chasing cats. One night I left him out and there was a feral cat on the porch. He took out after it into the night, pretty soon I heard him screaming like something had him. Back he came with all his might and ran in the door. I was afraid he was really hurt, maybe the cat got him in the eyes or something. He was OK, I think the cat got sick of running, turned and nailed him a good one on his nose. Sparky is 15 years old now and to this day he still hates cats and will chase them growling and barking like he's really going to tear them apart but as soon as the cat stops and turns, he's done. All the older cats around here know that, so they'll just run a little then turn on him. Like you I appreciate him not killing them because my wife likes her cats. Tim

At the time we got Henry, we didn't have a cat. Strays were everywhere and just like your Sparky, our little 12 pound terrier would give chase until they stopped. A huge black tom, was the worst tresspasser. He was eating Sassy's food or being a pest all the time. When Henry jumped him for the first time, he loped off and stopped. When he looked back to see Henry, he put it in overdrive, but still lost about an inch of tail. Henry really thought big tom cats were a great challenge. He would corner them, then wade in. About the third time he came out, with their teeth and all four clawed feet imbedded, bones would pop and the piss would really fly. They were goners about that quick. Towser would tackle most anything, also but he would faint, circle, and wait for the perfect opening. Never got hurt. Henry would just wade in and kill a cat or coon, then he might or might not be hurt. Milton

About a year after Henry got here, I found that huge black tom dead. Badly mauled by Henry, but I wasn't there to sick him on, that time.

I always hunted Big Nick with my coon hound, he was the kill dog. I couldn't even count the number of coon he sent to coon heaven. In all those battles if you wanted to call them that, he never got one scratch, was never bitten or had one drop of blood hit the ground. I've had coon hounds twice his size come always looking like they ran into a buzz saw, but old Nick was just to fast and fearless. He was 16 years and 9 month old when he pasted last year. Tim

You know guys... I have to say you have really made my days... this is the kind of talk I dreamed of, to have on this message board...

I will never forget the first coon that got hold of Creedence... It was a big old boar and I had Creedence, Rainy, King and Bo... King and Bo were 5 months old, Rainy was about 9 months, and Creedence was about 2 years... and to my knowledge none of them had ever seen a coon...

Well, they were baying and grabbing, really giving that boar a work out, when I realized the pups were all pulling on one end and the other end was on Creedence, and he was going nuts and couldn't get his mouth on the coon.... I thought oh shit, its got him by the throught and I went in and stepped on the coon and only then did I realize that the coon had bitten hold of Creedences collar...

It was the funniest thing to see Creedence biting at the air trying to get hold of that coon, but it wasn't happening... well, little pursuading with my foot and the coon let go... and well the rest is history.... or at least that coon was....

Clyde

There are lots of dogs in the world with hunt that can kill things with great skill. The thing to remember is, these dogs, Henry, Towser, and Nick were outstanding hunters, but, when the hunt was over, they were great friends and pets. All the hunt in the world is useless to me if I can't stand to be around the dog when I'm not hunting! In my book, this is the difference between a Decker and some of the other hunting breeds. This is the thing we all need to remember as we work to continue these Decker Hunting Terriers. They are to be outstanding hunters that are pleasant to be around after the hunt!

Ellis Decker

Some great stories and some good tips thanks