There are many exciting activities to be enjoyed if you own a dog and have an active, outdoor lifestyle. Running, hiking, swimming, diving, and other sports are excellent kinds of exercise and entertainment for both dogs and their owners.
Another activity that both of them can love is hunting. Dogs can be trained to be useful tools on hunting expeditions. Hunting dogs, often known as gun dogs, locate and revive games for hunters. In fact, a lot of hunting breeds were created particularly to search, flush out, or retrieve games.
However, it doesn’t mean that your dog will always know what to do when out on a hunt. You’ll need to train your dog before you and your dog friend go on a hunt of the game. Dogs need to get habituated to loud noises like gunshots in addition to helping you locate and capture the prey you’re seeking.
You’ll also need to pack the appropriate hunting supplies to keep your dog comfortable and secure while hunting. There is a wide variety of gear for the training of hunting dogs, as well as numerous dog training techniques. Here is a quick explanation about gun dogs, instructions, and supplies.
Master Basic Commands to Hunting Dog
Dogs are social animals that follow a hierarchy in groups. You’re enhancing their innate abilities by acting as the pack leader when training your dog. Your dog will like training if you implement positive reinforcement to keep them confident and satisfied. Therefore, ensure your dog has mastered basic obedience before entering the field. It’s crucial to maintain consistency and carry out activities repeatedly until they have learned the orders, as practice makes perfect.
Come – Attach one end of a 25-foot dog check cord to your dog’s collar. Steadily walk away 10 steps while holding the other end in your hand. Say, “come” Repeat the instruction if the dog doesn’t move, then pull the cord in your direction. As soon as they obey your orders, give them a treat. Gradually, letting go of the collar will teach your dog to obey commands even at huge distances as their listening and response skills improve.
Sit – Say “sit” to the dog while pressing down with one hand and holding a dog treat with another hand. Give your dog treats when it listens and sits.
Heel – Collar your dog and walk on your left side. This is a good practice to strengthen your authority as the pack leader. When your dog speeds up and moves ahead of you, call out “heel” while pulling on the leash to get their attention. Then, praise them for coming back by giving them a treat.
Let Them Run
A young puppy may find the outdoors and hunting areas frightening. You’ll eventually often use regions for intensive training and hunting. Permit your dog to adjust to the surroundings for a while. It should be able to move around and look for game animals, terrain features, and meadow doves. Repeat these activities as your dog becomes more assured. The excitement enhances its predatory instincts and gains self-assurance and athletic ability.
Follow your dog everywhere. It might easily get lost or in trouble. Locator collars can be used during these lessons. Eventually, you’ll also require a check cord for these excursions into the field.
Getting them Used to Hurdles
Your dog should experience a diversity of floors. Try putting down a grating, taking them to a turf area, and lining their crate with artificial grass to encourage them to run, jump, and stroll on these things while getting goodies.
Your dog should be exposed to dog agility training to learn effective hunting techniques as soon as possible. The best way to get ready to climb rocks or difficult terrain is to practice going up and down different apparatus at your local dog agility course or park.
Teaching your dog to navigate through tunnels and holes is a crucial step in hurdle training. Teach your hunting friend to get in and out of these on command.
Prepare your dog for gunshots
When training hunting dogs, you’ll need to put some effort into assuring that the sound of gunfire indicates the reward of retrieving the game. Have a friend stand 90 yards away with a starter pistol and blank bullets so your dog can be exposed to a gunshot in a safe atmosphere.
Encourage your dog to chase a ball. Watch your puppy’s reaction when you signal your friend to shoot one round. Have your friend approach them closer by 15-yard steps if they don’t seem alarmed by the noise and continue to play. If your dog seems scared, ask your friend to try it again until your dog is used to the sounds.
Introduce the First Prey
Start this practice in a place that is free of all distractions. For the first session, use a cold, dead pigeon. The dead bird won’t fly about and frighten the dog. You can let him hold it, but don’t allow him to shake it or swallow it. If he starts acting in that way, gently stop him. Hard mouth and harsh gaming will result if inappropriate behavior is tolerated.
You should buy dummies, training wings, check cords, whistles, and a variety of other dog training gear as your training improves.
Test Hunting Skills
Check your dog’s ability to train as a hunting dog before setting out on a hunt. Hunt tests can help you determine how well your dog will work outdoors. In fact, field tests provide more skilled dogs a chance to show their hunting expertise. The games also emphasize the special abilities of several breeds, such as Pointers, Retrievers, and Spaniels.
Invest in Hunting Dog Training Gears
Manufacturers make numerous items for the training of hunting dog gear. Training is more successful with certain tools and equipment. The function of each depends on the type of hunting you engage in and the particular skills required of your dog.
Dummies – Your dog learns not to harm the bodies when retrieving them by practicing with dummy prey.
Whistles – Dog whistles are helpful for calling your dog from far away and getting their attention.
Clickers – They encourage good behavior and allow you to talk with your dog without shouting.
Command collar – It’s an effective tool for training commands. Only the dog can hear the sound that it makes.
GPS collar – It will make it easier for you to locate your dog.
And many more…
Best breed of hunting dogs
The perfect all-purpose hunting dog does not exist. Even said, some breeds are more suitable for particular types of hunting, such as:
Setters
Retrievers
Pudelpointer
Spaniels for birds hunting
American Foxhound for deer hunting
