Successful shed dog training

[kglacken]

How many of you have a successful shed dog? I have a pure bred chocolate lab who will be ready for pick up September 5th. I plan to work with him on shed hunting. I think it would be fun to work with him and see if we can get on the same page. I'm curious if anyone has any tips on what has worked for you? I bought some literature on the art of training shed dogs but I like hearing what has worked for other guys. Also, do you hunt sheds successfully around here in the brush and the rain we get that time of year? How old until I take him on his first trip? Just curious what everyone thinks! I'm excited to get started and put in the work with him

[jasnt]

Tagging

[fishwhackin]

I give my 2 labs elk and deer antlers for chew toys and play fetch with antlers from time to time.  I do not train them to find sheds intentionally but must say that they have brought up 3 different blacktail sheds (2 small spikes and a fork) from the adjacent property to my house.  Funny thing is, I've only given them 2 small black tail forks to chew on.  Mostly use mule deer and elk antlers.  Hopefully this is of some help.  I don't think it is that hard to get them to sniff them out?

[westsidehntr]

Tag for future

[Naches Sportsman]

I have never really worked her much on going out and retrieving sheds, but I taught her to find them and let me know where they are by staying next to them. We play find the shed in the off season. Here are a few she found this year.

[ELKBURGER]

That's awesome.....kind of a shed pointer!

[GUscottie]

If you want to look into it, shed soldier dogs (find them on facebook) does a TON of training. They will sell you anything from untrained to fully trained dogs. They are pricey, but their dogs put in some great work. I also know a friend who has trained his own dog, he told me that an important factor in training the dog is getting good sheds that aren't "humanized". He said to find some fresh sheds and keep them away from the house and limit the human exposure and they help the dog find the bone and not the "human" scent.

Good luck!!

[D]

I started working my lab from day one.

[TommyH]

Haven't got him out looking yet but he lives to fetch sheds for us.

[Lost in the mountains]

My German short hair.

[antlerking]

He has racked up a couple hundred over the years and helpped out paying bills. He struggles bringing back the bigger elk sheds but he gets it done. It's hard to take good pics of MOJO he is always going crazy and never stops. The only down fall is the fact that you do not get any ATL pics any more.

[Bonehuntn]

Started by just playing fetch and eventually she just caught the hang of what we we're after when out and about. Can't go wrong with a good lab.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Great showing Bonehuntn and  Antlerking