To add some updated information for those who are playing TBC, the amount of experience required to level your pet is significantly lower than 25% (or 5 bars) of your character's current level, AND that it is possible to have a 19 Hunter with Runic Darkblade + 1 Level 19 Pet of your choosing.
The Runic Darkblade Quest Chain gives 15600xp quests alone, if you pre explore the zones in Hillsbrad before you hit level 19 and you make sure your character is dead while you kill the mobs required to complete the quests, you will gain no added experience from doing the questline.
15600 experience put me JUST over 16 bars, and from that point, it took me just under 3 bars of experience to get my pet to 19. I would recommend when your pet is getting close to leveling to 19 that you kill level 14 mobs so you gain as little experience needed as possible to have your pet hit 19.
Rest assured my fellow Hunters, you can have your cake and eat it too!
The Runic Darkblade Quest Chain gives 15600xp quests alone, if you pre explore the zones in Hillsbrad before you hit level 19 and you make sure your character is dead while you kill the mobs required to complete the quests, you will gain no added experience from doing the questline.
15600 experience put me JUST over 16 bars, and from that point, it took me just under 3 bars of experience to get my pet to 19. I would recommend when your pet is getting close to leveling to 19 that you kill level 14 mobs so you gain as little experience needed as possible to have your pet hit 19.
Rest assured my fellow Hunters, you can have your cake and eat it too!