We're going into the best time of year to train - Spring when there's tons of dew on the ground and scenting conditions are great. 1st, it's good to hear the pups are from hunting stock. Let your pups be pups fora while. Spend the early days working on obedience and training around the house. I start mine early, but make it fun for them! Get a tame rabbit and let them chase him around when they're about 3 months old. Do this every other day or so, they should start opening (barking) while chasing him before long. When you see a rabbit in the yard or at the farm, take the pups over to where he was and let them smell him. It'll take them at least afew times of doing this before they start to use their noses. They'll get excited, pop off w/ a few yipes, start happy tailing, etc. Praise them and tell them find him or whatever you want, just make sure they know they're doing good. Don't expect them to run him pretty for a while, it will take time. The more rabbit tracks you feed them, the better. My pups generally have circled their 1st cottontail back to me by 6-7 months but again, I start them a little earlier than most. I have a lot of friends that don't start them until 9+ months old.