Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted April 7, 2008 About ten years ago our golden retriever passed away and my boy and I decided to take on the project of training a dog to find antlers. Well advised or not, we chose a bluetic hound thinking that in the event that she (Molly) found a shed we could train her to howl letting us know that she had indeed found one. We started training right away, maybe she was 10 weeks old. We used the clicker method, we would drag her across an antler, as she put her nose up to the antler in any way, click on the clicker, give her a treat and then go on to the next antler. After she caught on to that idea, we taught her to howl after she sniffed the antler which we were able to accomplish. We were told to us plastic gloves which we did. Anyway, to make a long story short on the training. Molly does really good in a controlled invironment, she will sniff out antlers left and right. Out in the woods, she is hopeless....... We put alot of time in trying to train her. We used some of the technique used by search and rescue trainers. But here are some of my personal observations about the project: I was not prepared for the time needed to properly train a dog. I was not prepared for the mentality of a hound dog,(Molly) example, hound dogs don't fetch, they don't automatically jump in the back of the truck, once you help them into the truck they won't stay in the truck, and once they make up their mind to go after something, they are gone....... I have never been in more trouble with the local police more than I did after getting Molly.(HHOOOOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLL) Fresh dropped antlers of course have more "scent" than a chalkie. I learned how important a "scent cone" or "zone" is to a dog. Molly is a beautiful dog and very loveable and if it weren't for my 10 year old I would sell her in a heartbeat or give her away..... Every year the last week of school, I set up an antler hunting simulation for my kids at school and they get to watch Molly find "hidden" antlers, the kids love her, but she isn't the answer to finding sheds out in the woods. If I were to try this all over again, I would go back to the retriever, or austrailian shepherd or something of that nature mainly because of dog personality, I don't understand the hounds enough to try that again. Last observation, hounds and staying married can be a conflict of intrest....... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted April 7, 2008 Just put a leash on Grong and follow him around. Just don't let the other dogs sniff his butt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted April 8, 2008 Dang redneck! I am feeling your pain! All around.... I am a GSP fan cuz they have a great nose and a great disposition as well....IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
