Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: THEBUGLER on May 03, 2011, 09:33:10 PM

Title: Shed antler dogs
Post by: THEBUGLER on May 03, 2011, 09:33:10 PM: I just posted this in the "SHED" section, but I hoped maybe that someone here might be of some help also. Just got a 8 week old black lab pup and Im gearing up to train him to find shed horns........Any tips?
Title: Re: Shed antler dogs
Post by: Bigtine96 on May 03, 2011, 09:56:03 PM: I like finding them myself, Its starting to bug me seeing all these guys out in the woods yelling at their dogs to get back. just my :twocents: I know others will disagree
Title: Re: Shed antler dogs
Post by: oldleclercrd on May 03, 2011, 09:58:29 PM: Are black labs the best for shed hunting? I kinda like German shepherds better but I wonder if they are good shed hunters. They seem to be smart dogs.
Title: Re: Shed antler dogs
Post by: Hornseeker on May 04, 2011, 06:51:51 AM: Labs and just about any dog can be incredible shed hunters. I know a guy in N. Idaho that kicks ass and takes names with his big black lab on moose sheds... this dog will dig 2 feet down through spring snow to get a moose antler!!

I'm training my springer to help me with sheds right now. He's 14 weeks now and I started when he was 7 weeks. Get a good fresh brown, smaller antler. You will want a little assortment of antlers eventually, whites and such, but start with a fresh brown as I think they likely have the most distinctive smell.

Just play with the pup with that antler and call it "shed" or "horn" or "antler" or whatever you choose. Everytime you play with the pup with it, use those words. toss it a few feet after they get riled up about it and tell them to "get the horn" or "find the horn"...

If you just keep doing this day in and day out the dog will know what horns are.... Then you put the horn out in the back yard and go out with the pup and say "find the horn"...walk along till they stumble upon it. When they find it, encourage them to pick it up and bring it to ya. Praise them for all you are worth if they do. If not, pick it up yourself...excitedly....

Over time (6 months or so) you should be able to tell them to "find the horn" and they'll go find it in the yard or whatever. I know this will work because with my past lab I could say, "go find a stick" and she'd go find me a stick to throw for her. I could also say, "wheres your dummy" and she'd go nuts looking for it. And, when we went hiking or hunting, Id say, "wheres the birds" and she'd hunt her ass off for a bit, then I'd have to tell her again.

I have zero doubt that my springer pup will find sheds.

I like finding them myself too Big Tine, but I also love to hike with my dog/s and if they can find me more horns.... sweet. And you wont here me calling to my dog... I dont hang around with crowds of other people when I'm hunting or shedding...
Title: Re: Shed antler dogs
Post by: ladyelkslayer on May 04, 2011, 01:51:22 PM: Quote from: oldleclericrd on May 03, 2011, 09:58:29 PM
Are black labs the best for shed hunting? I kinda like German shepherds better but I wonder if they are good shed hunters. They seem to be smart dogs.

I think most people just go with the labs because most have a good endurance to last on an all day hike. If you put your time in to train the dog, I think any dog would work. Just all depends on how much time and patience one is willing to put into it :twocents:
Title: Re: Shed antler dogs
Post by: THEBUGLER on May 05, 2011, 05:14:42 PM: Thanks for the tips! :)