The Portuguese Water Dog, as the name suggests, is native to Portugal. In its native land it is called the Cao de Agua, which means “dog of water”. They were developed from working dogs in the Iberian Peninsula. Excellent swimmers, the dogs worked alongside Portuguese fisherman for hundreds of years doing numerous jobs. They were so valuable they were considered part of the crew. The lion trim had a specific purpose. The fishermen would shave the rear and muzzle to aid in swimming and working in the water. Long hair was left to help keep vital organs warmer and protect the dog from injury on the main body neck and head. The dogs worked herding and catching fish, retrieving broken nets or anything that fell into the water, carrying messages from one ship to the other or from ship to shore and even guarded the boats in foreign ports. The dogs were so popular even non-commercial fishermen could rent one for their fishing trips. As time went on technology replaced the dogs jobs and by the 1930s the breeds numbers dropped considerably. It was not until a wealthy, Portuguese man named Vasco Bensaude started a breeding program in an attempt to save the breed did their numbers raise once again. The first pair of Portuguese Water Dogs was imported to the USA in 1958. In 1972 the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America was formed. In 1983 the breed was first recognized by the AKC. Some of the Portuguese Water Dog’s talents are obedience, water trials, agility, therapy dog and assistance dog.  The Portuguese Water Dog is also a fine hunting retriever. Needless to say these dogs were closely guarded.

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* What kind of dog should you use?   In fact, almost any dog that will tree squirrels will do.  There have been  cow dogs that did the job, a terrier, and even a registered Springer Spaniel.   A coon dog must run in the late fall, in all kinds of territory, and often in and out of water.
* How do I train a dog to run raccoon?  Training a coon dog is sometimes quite time-consuming.  Usually teaming a young dog with one already trained is the best way.  Some may use a “lead coon” or lay a commercial scent trail.  Another productive way of getting a dog started on chasing coon is getting your dog on a hot track.  For example, one crosses the road or someone is having problems with raccoon on their property.
* Where should I hunt?  A raccoon’s diet is quite diversified and includes such things as: acorns, field corn, frogs, and fish.  Sweet corn is one food that they really like and seem to know just when it is ready.  Hunt the areas where raccoon are known to be feeding.
* When do I coon hunt?  One thing about coon hunting is that it is done at night.  A real advantage to this is that coon hunting normally doesn’t interfere with your day work.  Best of all, you are able to see the wonder of God’s creation at night.  There is a real feeling of solitude.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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A good hunting dog is more than man’s best friend, especially if that dog hunts pheasants. The quality of the pheasant hunting dog will make your pheasant hunting trip one of joy or misery, depending on the dog. But usually the pheasant hunting dog is invaluable for those who enjoy hunting pheasants and upland game birds.

There are many types of bird hunting dogs, such as Labradors, German Short-Hairs, Retrievers, and Spaniels. With a soft mouth and a strong desire to please, these dogs are capable of forming bonds that go beyond the dog-master relationship of most domesticated dogs. The pheasant hunting dog can be any of these breeds of hunting dogs, depending on what type of dog the hunter desires.

Any pheasant hunting dog also is capable of hunting ducks, turkeys, or dove. Choosing a trained hunting and gun dog is not a quickly-made decision, or rather, it should not be, unless it is something that a person grows up with and has some training in the field. Otherwise, it may be best to borrow the hunting dogs when hunting at a pheasant hunting lodge; these dogs are already trained and will make your trip a success. Regardless if the dogs are yours or are borrowed, once the pheasants are close by the tension of the hunting dogs will begin to increase. The scent begins to be picked up by one dog and once the bird is located–the dog will lock firmly in place. If the mate is close by, she also will lock in position simply to honor her mate’s point, even if she has not been able to pick up on the scent herself. After that, the hunt is up to you.

The breed of a pheasant hunting dog is a personal preference, depending on what characteristics are important to you-but the basic commands should be taught to all dogs, especially all hunting dogs. Once that pheasant breaks away and takes off-a dog who takes off and does not understand what it means to stop or come back, may provide an interesting day of hunting indeed, and not in a good way! Teach your hunting dog obedience. Once that is done, teach it again and again. Make it second nature to you and the dog until they almost can read your mind and respond just as quick.

Once the obedience has become second nature, take the dog to a pheasant reserve as opposed to hunting  wild birds out in a field of waist high grass. There are several thoughts on this-with the main one being once that dog hunts in the same area, again and again, it will not be as apt to go off and explore new grounds and territory, instead of exploring on his own for pheasants.

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Numerous  game birds are taken each year with the aid of highly trained hunting and gun dogs.  Hunting is pure pleasure when a well trained gun dog is used.

Gun dogs should be trained in realistic settings that completely imitate  the type of environment they will hunt in.  Hunting dogs should be trained with live birds such as Quail, Chukkar and Pheasants  to further replicate a true hunting environment. Parks and groves are sometimes used  by some trainers.  We recommend consulting with your trainer about what type of environment and conditions your dog will be trained under.

Training facilities are an important decision on how your dog will be treated and taken care of.  Will your dog be kept in a heated and cooled indoor kennel, or will he be kept in a plastic crate out side? Will your dog have his own individual kennel with, his own individual kennel run, or will he have to share?

Exercise is important for hunting and gun dogs, this part of the training program must also be covered before enlisting any dog trainers’ services.  Many quality training facilities are equipped with misters to keep your dog cool and areas to exercise in that keep their acclimation to the outdoors in sync.

There are several different types of Hunting Dogs.  All can be classified in the following, puppies, started dogs, and finished or broke dogs and Field Trial Dogs.  Gun Dogs can be purchased anywhere along their training.  When choosing a gun dog it is important that you choose wisely.  Your new gun dog must be an excellent hunting partner for the species you are hunting as well as a faithful family friend that can fit into your  homelife.

It is important that the hunting dog breeder you choose breed from Quality Field champion lines.  Gun dogs from these lines can be expected to hunt upland game birds as well as be capable of competing in field trials at Local, Regional and National levels.

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If you are into the challenging adventure of bear hunting, you must know your hunting dogs. These hunting dogs vary in breed and type. The basic hunting breeds are hounds, water dogs, and terriers. Whatever their breed or type, hunting dogs have been bred over the years to assist their owners in bringing home food for the family.

Different breeds of dogs have different sets of skills. For example, in bear-hunting dogs, stamina is an important factor but not the primary skill. It is highly important, yes, but the ability to pick up a scent and stay with it is more important in this case. In addition, the ability to see exceptionally well plays an important part in making good bear-hunting dogs.

Hounds are popular bear-hunting dogs because of their superior stamina and sight & scent abilities. The Rhodesian Ridgeback (also known as the African Lion Hound) hunts large game such as bear, deer, elk, and moose. Other breeds used as hunting dogs for bears are the Plott hounds and the Walker hounds.

If you want to use bear traps, know that these traps and the use of bear hunting dogs has become controversial in certain areas with strong animal protectionists. Trappers and hunters, not suprisingly, view this form of political control by such groups as a personal attack on their historical and traditional way of life. They say this is unnecessary chipping away at their individual rights.

These trappers and hunters argue that their method is a safe and effective way of killing bears. This is more so because large numbers of bears can threaten society and human populations. Nonetheless, The Maine bill, Legislative Document 1635, bans recreational bear trapping in Maine. However, it allows the animals to be trapped for scientific research, animal damage control or public safety even though the traps are the same as what hunters use. This ban would remove the use of three types of bear hunting; by baits, hunting hounds, or traps.

If you want to go bear hunting, there are some popular areas such as Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, and North Carolina. These offers professional guides and outfitters for the black bear, brown bear, and the grizzly bear. Professional outfitters can be a money saving option for you, especially if you are hunting big game. Check them out if you decide to go bear hunting in these areas.

Note that bear hunting licenses are required and some states require tags. A 5-day hunt usually cost around $1,250 for you and your hunting dogs.

Bear hunting is indeed a very lucrative business. Just look at Colorado . Hunting business are worth an estimated $180 million annually and rising.

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Hunting dogs are certainly the best possible ally of the hunter, as they sniff and scavenge for prey in the deepest and darkest brush of the woods. There are many different hunting dog types that you can take on your next trip; it should be directly related to the type of hunting you are planning on.

The most common main category of hunting dogs is the hound. Hounds are actually divided into two categories: the sighthound and the scent hound. As their names imply, each sub-category of dog type refers to a certain skill that the dog tends to be more proficient in. Sighthounds, like the Whippet, are adapted to hunting because of their visual acumen. They practice a method that is known as coursing, referring to the notion of spotting the prey from a long distance and following it in a quick pursuit. Scent hounds, like the Coonhound, work by scent rather than sight. They tend to pick up on a trace of the prey from the ground and follow that scent, hopefully to the prey. Scent hounds often work in packs and are regarded as having some of the most sensitive noses of all other dog types.

The next classification of dogs used for hunting is the gun dog. These dogs are used mostly by short range hunters using shotguns. There are three sub-categories of gun dogs: flushing spaniels, pointing breeds and retrievers. Again, their names are reflective of the particular skill that the dog has to offer the hunter. The retrievers, once known as water spaniels, are great for finding and getting shot or killed game for the hunter. If the hunter kills a duck, the retriever heads over to pick it up and brings it back to the hunter. The pointing breed, such as an English setter, tend to “point out” the prey by pointing at upland birds or other upland animals being hunted. The pointing breed of dogs sometimes also help flush the prey out from their hiding spot. The flushing spaniels, such as the English Cocker spaniel, are used to locate and spring the prey for the hunter. They are trained to remain close to the hunter, ensuring an easy kill.

Still another popular type of hunting dog is the terrier. Terriers are used to hunt mammals, for the most part. These animals, such as the Lakeland terrier, are used to locate the actual den of the animal and spring or capture the animal. Some terriers are bred to kill the animal at the animal’s den. A large number of terriers are used to hunt what are known as “pest species”. The pest species refer to groundhogs, hunted by the Jack Russel terriers, or the badger or fox, hunted by the Fell terrier. The legality of some of these hunts is in question, so you may want to check your local regulations before you set upon and hunt a fox.

There are many particulars that make using hunting dogs a popular option for hunting. Whether you choose a sighthound or a scent hound, you can be assured that your companion hound will be working for you at finding your prey. Using a gun dog can not only provide great companionship, but it can bring prey right to your doorstep and literally take the hunt out of hunting. Terriers not only make a vigorous hunting companion, but they also make for a nice domesticated animal. Make sure that you consider the hunting dog type before you go out on the hunt so that you can bring the best possible breed with you and land the best possible kill for this hunting season.

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