Walk with Wick / Tree Dog encyclopedia.

[Roy Sparks]

Is this a worthwhile training aid book ? Comments please.

[R.M.]

My sister-in-law bought the book for me as a gift. I read it cover to cover, and thought it was very good! I still have it and plan on brushing up on a few chapters (or just one chapter) before I start working with my new pup.

I don't think there is much specific regarding Big game training since Wick is more a Coon guy. But all of the obedience stuff was a good resource for me.

He also has a very opinionated trash breaking philosophy and E-collar philosophy. I totally agree with his E-collar philosophy, but I haven't taken the time to test his trash breaking methods.

[Daniel Tremblay]

I honestly thing it is a great tool to aide a guy is training. Between that book and this website there isnt much more you will need.

[pegleg]

honestly a very well thought out book with a good deal of experience behind it. no voodoo bullshit training methods. I don't have much patience with many of those "hound only" training philosophies. Hounds are just dogs no more no less. they tend to be stubborn and prey driven, both needed traits for their job. anyone with hound hunting experience and common sense will quickly recognize the experience and logic behind most of his training methods. As for newer hunters they would do well to take his methods on faith until their experience matches the experience and knowledge in the book.
I didn't read the book until I had spent many years of trial and error learning the best methods of bringing the best out of a young hound with the least amount of frustration. It is one of the first books I recommend to new hunters or anyone interested in improving their skills and knowledge. No one knows everything there is to know about anyone subject and as soon as you think you do you will no longer improve. if you follow all of the methods in his book successfully your hound will be a very pleasant hound at the least and if it has the needed ingredients probably a real fine hunting dog.
Year

[Bigfoot]

[Roy Sparks]

Thank you to all you gentlemen for your input. As I like to learn I believe after what I have learnt from you about these two books they will be an asset to improve my knowlege and really worthwhile having in my book collection. Obe Corey's books , thats a dream of mine at this moment as well as any of those rare copies of the old houndsmens tales and adventures. Simply put , at this point in time I could not afford to buy them at the advertised prices , however I aim to obtain as many of them as I can.

Are there any other recent books on training out there ?

Thanks for all the help - Roy.

[Dads dogboy]

Mr. Roy,

Pegleg and Bigfoot (both REAL DEAL Houndsmen) are right on the money with what they wrote about Mr. Wicks books. His experience with the E-collar is second to none!

If you go to the Tri-Tronics web page you will find links to the colums that Mr. Wicks writes for Tri-Tronics. These colums give even more detail on the proper use for the E-Collar.

As to Mr. Wick's philosophy about having Trash broke Hounds, we feel he and Mr. Ben Hardoway both are correct. Mr. Ben's quote that I like the best is "I would rather knock my hounds of the correct game a dozen times, than allow them to riot once".

Hope all is well on the Dark Continent!

C. John Clay
Dads dogboy

[pegleg]

Vicki Lamb has hound training book out that is informative and based on newer methods many taken from bird dog training and adapted. not the encyclopedia that the wick works are but she doesn't have the years of experience John does. Still a worthwhile purchase as it is a slightly different look at the process. I believe if she continues to train and write she will fill in the few missing pieces. still one of the very best written hound training manuals available.

CJ, truly glad to see you posting again and sharing your and your fathers knowledge.

[JayF]

very good books straight forward training. i have spoke with two veteran hunters that felt they got good info from him.

[Roy Sparks]

Its great to hear all this positive info on these books and I look forward to learning stuff I dont know. I'm sure there'll be a bunch of good points I can apply to my new strategy here.

Got a bunch of nice young hounds here I want to try some stuff with I have not done for many years so I'm sure I'll be learning some new tricks from Mr. Wick .

Thanks gentlemen - Roy.

[pegleg]

one of the real values to John Wicks book is it explains in detail the why's of things you may already be doing and the true understanding helps the application even more. the other is he explains steps you may not use in a way that you can judge their validity yourself and feel comfortable in trying them for the first time.

[Roy Sparks]

Thats sound advice and makes a lot of sense , thanks pegleg.

[techno]

I really enjoyed the first Wick book. I take the American Cooner and look forward to reading Wicks article in the mag. Vickie Lamb also has a training article she writes. I really enjoy reading her articles as well.

[kordog]

ive applied alot of his methods to many hounds all with great success.he is a man that is not afraid to talk about his failures so that we may learn from them . most men have to much pride for that .also with alot of woods time ,and common sense makes for great application to get the most out of a hound without all the nonsense that alot of houndsmen put up with their hounds. i only have volume one . volume 2 has come out ,and i would like to read that as well. my rating is two thumbs up on volume one.

[livetohunt]

I have read both of Walk with Wick books a few times now and learn more every time I read them. I think if your new to running hounds they are one of the best tools out there. And if your a veteran of this great sport you might just learn a few new tricks and even if you dont they are great reads and more then worth the time. As for the Tree Dog book I have not read it yet but plan to get a copy soon.