Hillbilly, Coonhunted for 15 years. It's easier to train two houndpups than one. They feed off each others courage. Older dog is the best way to go, but if you don't have older dog i suggest two or more pups. They're braver when together. Don't get one chewed up at too young a age or it may set them back for a while. I use my electic varmit caller to call up fox and bobcat for my beagles. I know what their running that way. Used to let my blutick pups run loose until the started running rabbits around the house. Teased them with a live coon and started taking them hunting with older dogs. Never tried to break them off rabbits, but after they learned to hate coons, they never ran rabbits again.