Hunting Dog Training – Things You Should Know
Posted on 16. Oct, 2011 by admin in Advance Trainings
A dog is often an essential part of the game for hunters. A dog will often be the one to retrieve a kill and it can assist in other ways as well. It is therefore necessary to ensure that your dog is well trained if you wish to involve it in hunting.
The first thing you should know is that not all dog breeds are designed as hunting dogs. If you like to hunt and don’t have a dog already then you should do some research as to what will be the most suitable breed of dog for the hunting you want to do.
Hunting can be demanding for the dog so it is important to select a dog that is up for the task. Besides, it is not fair on the dog to expect it to hunt with you if it is not going to perform well. It will be stressful (and even harmful) to the dog and you will be frustrated as well.
How do I select the right breed?
As we have said, only certain breeds of dog are suitable for hunting. There are specific breeds which have been developed (some over centuries) to be ideal for this type of work. The best breeds are spaniels, retrievers and pointers. Each of these breeds have particular qualities and characteristics which make them ideal for different types of hunting. They also have the necessary temperaments which enable them to cope with hunting conditions.
Some of the qualities which distinguish a good hunting breed are a high fitness level and a keen sense of smell (for tracking). Some of the best breeds with these characteristics are bloodhounds, beagles, dachshunds and labradors.
Choosing the the right dog for you
A suitable dog for hunting will require a lot of training. For that reason the best decision you could make would be to choose a puppy (of one of the breeds mentioned above. Select a puppy you feel some connection with. Remember, this will be your friend as well as your work dog and you will be sharing some interesting situations together. The right training to create a bond between you, as well as the dog doing what you want it to do, will add greatly to the enjoyment of your hunting experiences.
The basic tasks of hunting dog training
The six basic tasks that a hunting dog needs to master are:
- Retrieving
- Quartering
- Shaking
- Marking
- Steadying
- Following your hand signals
These should be the focus of your hunting training.
Dealing with gun fire
Many dogs are sensitive to the sound of guns firing. Part of the training should be to get the dog used to it. There are specific ways to do this that a good training program should be able to teach you.
Scent and tracking
Tracking through following a scent is also an important skill to train your dog on. Train him on the scent of the type of animal you are wanting to follow.
There is a lot involved in training a dog well for hunting. However, if you do love to hunt there is nothing more rewarding than having a fine animal by your side as your companion. helper and friend.
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