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Best Dog for the Job

I don't think you can go wrong with a Lab. They can be stubborn at times and don't like being treated harshly. But they are typically good house dogs and great companions and versatile.
 
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Homebrew454 said:
Nice looking dog. Start with basic obedience. Get him whistle trained to return and stop, best thing I ever did for my GSP.

I would start with a long check cord and tracking in an open area. Keep in mind that it's attention span is pretty short right now, but it will pick up things like a sponge. Try to make training fun.

Also, check out standing stone kennels on YouTube. A lot of bird hunting and training info there. They specialize in GSP training. Above all be patient as GSP can be stubborn.

As far as tracking goes, I can't be much help. I'm looking into it as well for my Malinois.

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I had already found them and started following them on youtube. Thanks. Do you like the clicker training he uses? is this done in addition to the whistle?
 
CooterBrown said:
I had already found them and started following them on youtube. Thanks. Do you like the clicker training he uses? is this done in addition to the whistle?
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I didn't use the clicker. It seems to work for him so it can't hurt. My GSP would range 100 yards out in fields I would use the whistle to get her to come back. I trained her using a long pull rope in combination with the whistle to teach her it meant come back. For me 1 whistle meant stop. 2 short to come back.

She had a great nose. 25 mph on ATV trails and come to a sudden stop. Grouse always within a foot or two of her nose.

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CooterBrown said:
anyone familiar with this guy DogBone Hunter?
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I'm not real familiar with him but he sells a hide drag kit. Most veteran trackers will tell you to get away from hide or liver drags relatively early on in training. It's so much scent contact with the ground, it's not realistic to what they'll experience on an actual track.

Lots of random dogs can find dead deer. A trained dog can stick to the old cold scent of a single wounded deer at 12 to 24+ hours, even when there's plenty of more fresh deer scent that would distract inexperienced dogs. That's what you're working towards.
 
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I’d take a well trained dog that is also a reliable best friend over the “perfect breed” for the given tasks. You’ve gotta live with them every day. It’s kinda like Coworkers: I’d rather work all day with people I get along and get the job done than with than complete jerks who are the best in the business.
 
Jammintree said:
I’d take a well trained dog that is also a reliable best friend over the “perfect breed” for the given tasks. You’ve gotta live with them every day. It’s kinda like Coworkers: I’d rather work all day with people I get along and get the job done than with than complete jerks who are the best in the business.
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That's what I ended up deciding too. Ended up just rescuing one and hoping the rescue is correct in predicting lab/Australian shepherd mix which were 2 on my list. Regardless, he's already proving to be an exceptional family dog and I'm confident I can get the most out of him with dedicated training.

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@CooterBrown we're doing clicker training and I'd recommend it. "charge the clicker" first. Took this little 12 week old 1 day to start to get the hang of it.
 
hokiehunter373 said:
That's what I ended up deciding too. Ended up just rescuing one and hoping the rescue is correct in predicting lab/Australian shepherd mix which were 2 on my list. Regardless, he's already proving to be an exceptional family dog and I'm confident I can get the most out of him with dedicated training.

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@CooterBrown we're doing clicker training and I'd recommend it. "charge the clicker" first. Took this little 12 week old 1 day to start to get the hang of it.
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He’s gorgeous, congratulations!
 
The German wirehaired dachshund is considered to be the best deer tracking breed. Dachshunds are in the bloodhound family. These little dogs can track cold trails very well and are a very managable dog.

Labrador retrievers are also very popular tracking dogs. They are head smart and can think their way thru a tracking job.
 
Jammintree said:
I’d take a well trained dog that is also a reliable best friend over the “perfect breed” for the given tasks. You’ve gotta live with them every day. It’s kinda like Coworkers: I’d rather work all day with people I get along and get the job done than with than complete jerks who are the best in the business.
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Nailed it. You have to feed and live with a dog every day. Realistically, most people will "use" a dog for hunting/tracking/etc 10 days a year or less.
 
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