Hunting along with a dog is a rather controversial sport these days. There are some dogs better at it than other, some dogs are better “at” a specific type of hunting than others, which is one reason  why hunting with a dog is a popular sport among hunting enthusiasts. There aren’t any specific groups registered in the American Kennel Club ( AKC ) for hunting in and of itself, other than the hounds which are known to have an ancestral background in their lineage in the hunting domain.

These traits vary from dog to dog: some have a very developed scenting ability while others have very good stamina and so on. Some of the most famous hounds would be the: Beagle, Norwegian Elkhound, American Foxhound, Black And Tan Coonhound and others as well. The widely known AKC Sporting Group is a rather large group of hunting dogs for those hunters that enjoy hunting along with a dog in a woody or watery environment. Some of the dogs that belong to this group would be the: American Water Spaniel, Golden Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer and others as well.

The exciting aspect about the above mentioned dogs is that each breed has its own natural behavior. Hunting along with one of these dogs will surely improve your hunting efficiency but choosing the most appropriate type of dog is crucial as some dogs excel at fox hunting for example while other are best to be used for squirrel hunting. The terriers were originally developed for hunting small games and killing vermin, and if you plan on hunting squirrels for example, a working terrier is the best way to do it. The hunting dogs are most recommended for any type of hunting as they will prove their efficiency if properly trained.

The main disadvantage regarding hunting dogs is that the training procedure is rather complex and might not show up the expected results when hunting for the first time with the dog. Regarding the aspect of training a hunting dog, it is also a matter of time because training a dog properly for hunting purposes can take up to one year and in some cases you will have only one chance to do it because some mistakes are irreversible. One  example of an irreversible mistake would be the lack of early socialization. We recommend that you do a little bit of research before choosing your hunting dog (keeping in mind the type of game you are going to use the dog for), and start the training from an early age;  things should go smoothly.

All things considered, hunting along with a dog has its advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of using a dog is that if the dog was properly trained from an early age, the chances of catching more animals is higher as this dogs will do some of the work for you. The main disadvantage would be that the entire training process takes some time and every dog is different in its own way so there is no such thing as a standard training procedure applicable for all breeds.
Hunting with a dog can be a very exciting and entertaining experience but training a dog for hunting takes a lot of time and practice in order to do it properly.

Share This

Wolves are very territorial, and guard their territories from other wolves, coyotes, and domestic dogs. They are probably most aggressive toward strange wolves and dogs when wolf pups are small, at den and rendezvous sites, during the breeding season in January and February, and when they are protecting a fresh kill. Packs use rendezvous sites from mid June to late September, after the pups are big enough to leave their den. Adult wolves are very defensive of pups at rendezvous sites and will attack other predators, including dogs, that get too close to the rendezvous site or the pups. Hound dogs used for hunting bear, coyotes, bobcat, and raccoons are perhaps at greatest risk of being attacked by wolves. Dogs used for bird hunting are less likely to be attacked. Wolves normally avoid people and are less likely to approach dogs that are in visual or auditory range of humans.

Hounds often hunt some distance from hunters, and their baying sound may also present a challenge to the territorial wolves. Highest risk of wolves harming dogs seems to occur in July through September, and a moderately high risk occurs in December. These periods signal the summer rendezvous period, and the approach of the winter breeding season.

To reduce conflict with wolves, avoidance of wolves by hunters with dogs is the best way to minimize conflict, but because wolves are so wide spread, total avoidance may not be possible. Although wolves do have large territories, they do concentrate a lot of activity in specific areas, such as the rendezvous sites. One of the keys for minimizing wolf problems with dogs is to avoid areas with concentrated wolf use.

Move 2 or 3 miles from any rendezvous site, if possible, before releasing dogs. Avoid releasing dogs at baits recently visited by wolves. When looking for bear sign at a bait, make sure to also look for wolf tracks. Be familiar with your own dog’s tracks, so that you can distinguish it from any wolf tracks. If a specific bait site is receiving a lot of wolf use, discontinue using it until wolves have left, and concentrate on an alternative bait site.

Share This

You can buy special equipment that will make the task of training hunting dogs easier. These may include:

* Electronic collars which are designed to punish the dog when they behave inappropriately. (Most trainers, however, feel these collars are cruel and excessive and prefer better and more humane methods.)
* Retrieving dummies which are designed to be roughly the shape and weight of the animal to be retrieved.
* Long leashes.
* Whistles to which the dog can be trained to respond.
* Dog treats for reward purposes.

Teaching the Dog to Track

One of the best ways to teach your dog to track is by using blood that may be purchased from the butcher. Leave a trail of blood for your dog to follow with a treat at the end. Start with short tracks and gradually make them longer. Supervise your dog at first and then let your dog track unsupervised while you observe from a distance.

Teach the Dog to Point and Retrieve

Teaching the dog to point or retrieve is a fairly complicated and lengthy process. You may need to seek special training courses or materials in order to learn the best way of training your dog to point and retrieve.

One method of teaching a dog to retrieve usually starts at the “wrong” end, getting the dog to spit out the retrieved item. Put something like a wooden dowel in your dog’s mouth and praise him and reward him when he spits it out. Gradually work backwards to the stage where the dog retrieves the item.

Dogs that are bred specifically for pointing will naturally start to point when they have reached the right age. Praise your dog

Share This

If you want to hunt with a dog, then training is important. Whatever type of dog you are hunting with (whether they are coons, bird hunting dogs or other types of hunting dogs); if your dog is not trained properly it will not act in an appropriate manner to help you to locate or to retrieve the object of your hunt.While training hunting dogs, there are a number of factors that you should keep in mind to help guarantee you have the right dog for the right purpose.

Picking the Right Breed
Before you start training, you need to find a dog. Picking the best hunting dogs is your first step towards having a well-trained hunting companion. Look for dogs that have a good sense of smell, are easy to train and are conditioned for the outdoors. There are a large number of dogs that may be used in hunting. Some of the most popular types of hunting dogs include:

* Basset Hound
* Beagle
* Chesapeake Bay Retriever
* English Cocker Spaniel
* English Coonhound
* English Foxhound
* English Setter
* Field Spaniel;
* German Pointer (long and short-haired)
* Golden Retriever
* Greenland Dog
* Irish Red and White Setter
* Labrador
* Mountain Cur
* Otterhound
* Pointer
* Portuguese Water Dog
* Russian Spaniel
* Welsh Corgi
* Welsh Terrier

Different breeds are better for different types of hunting activities. For example, coon dogs (or coonhounds) are good for hunting raccoons. Retrievers are bred mostly for retrieving birds or other prey and giving them to the hunter without damage. When looking at breeds of dogs, find out which dogs will best suit the type of hunting you do.

Keeping Dog Conditioned to Climate
When training a hunting dog, you also need to pay attention to the type of climate in which the dog will be working. Make sure that the animal becomes accustomed to the climate and conditions in which you will be hunting. For example, if you will be hunting in cold conditions, ensure your dog is accustomed to the cold. If your dog will be spending time in the water, make sure they become accustomed to the water. Additionally you will need to fazed by gunfire when you are out hunting.

Share This