Tips and secrets on hunting


Hunting Dogs: Essential Training Equipment and Information

Producing a "finished" hunting dog, onebuilt-in megaphones that allow the sound
that will perform the tasks of pointingto be heard more easily and direct the
out game or retrieving game, is not ablaring sound away from the hunter(s).
simple matter. In some cases, it canThey are usually well worth the extra
take several hunting seasons andcost.
specialized training equipment toSome trainers will use a friend or "bird
achieve the desired results.boys" who position themselves some
It would be ludicrous to begin trainingdistance from the trainer and toss the
a dog to perform hunting skills withoutbumpers high into the air to simulate a
first teaching it basic obedience. Yourfalling bird. For those who train
dog must be able to sit, stay, remainwithout assistance, bird launchers are a
quite and come on demand before movingbig help. These launchers come in
into the more complex areas of the hunt.single or multiple bird capacity;
The success of the hunt, as well as thehowever, they are usually bulky and can
safety of the dog and its handler, isbe expensive.
directly correlated to the dog'sElectric dog training collars are
performance and self control. Foreffective but controversial. These
example, an unruly dog that barks atcollars have a small electronic device
incoming geese will not only spoil theattached that administers a remote
hunt, but will not be invited backcontrolled mild electric shock to the
again. Further, a dog that bolts out ofdog. The control is hand held by the
a blind too quickly can jeopardize atrainer. These pieces of equipment
shot and even cause a shooting accident.allow an immediate correction when the
Control is most essential.dog fails to respond to the more
When the hunter is ready to beginconventional command. The level of
training his dog for the hunt, there isshock involved has been compared to the
a variety of equipment that will provestatic shock one receives from a carpet
valuable. Probably the first and mostor from touching a car door handle in
essential item is a piece of 3/8-inchcold weather. Actually, the electric
polypropylene rope of about 30 feet incollar could be considered a humane
length. The rope allows the handler toalternative to the aggressive tactics or
maintain control of his dog duringbrute force used by some trainers.
exercises and eliminates the chance ofOne of the best ways to embark on
having to chase the dog and correct himtraining your hunting dog is learn from
for straying.the experts. Training tips and
Most dogs have a natural fear of loudguidelines are now available on tapes
noises, especially gunfire. Therefore,that show the student step by step
the trainer will have to involve atraining procedures. These
training pistol or firearm in hisinstructional tapes should be on every
training program. A handgun isnovice trainer's list of essential
preferable; a shotgun is too large andtraining equipment.
difficult to handle while holding theWhen you're training your dog in the
lead line and juggling other trainingwilds you should be prepared to care for
devices. When training the retriever,him if he is injured. Therefore, the
training "bumpers" or dummies arefinal thing on our list of essentials is
utilized to teach the dog to fetch.a First Aid Kit. Many of the items
These aides come in various colors andyou'll need for your dog are also
sizes. White bumpers are generally usedappropriate for use on humans, so the
for "marking" drills where the dog iskit can be mutually beneficial to both
being taught to retrieve by sight andyou and your dog. Fill the kit with
colored bumpers are used for "runningsuch items as: sterile bandages, topical
blinds" where the dog is sent blindlysolutions, tape, scissors, tweezers,
into an area to retrieve a downed birdantibiotic ointments such as Neosporin,
that fell out of sight.ibuprofen (safe for both humans and
The retriever should be trained tocanines) and possibly a veterinarian
respond to the sound of a whistle. Theprescribed anti-inflammatory such as
voice of the dog's handler will notDeramaxx or Rimadly. A well stocked
always be loud enough or distinct enoughFirst Aid Kit has prevented many a
to alert the dog to give up the searchpleasant hunting trip from becoming a
and return to the handler's side. Somenightmare.
of the more elaborate whistles come with



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