Trash Breaking Question

[DirtAddict]

Well, it's the heat of summer here in California and with that pig hunting really slows down. To keep the dogs exercised I road them in the evening several times a week.

There are no large animals like deer, cows, etc. where I go, but there are squirrels, rabbits, etc. running around sometimes. The dogs aren't using their nose to hunt these critters, but sighting them when they run. I have zero tolerance for trashing on larger game, but it would seem like natural instinct for the dogs to chase these smaller animals, especially when they are darting around. In addition, these races don't last long at all since the animals crawl in a hole or under a fence, etc., so should I care?

Question for ya...with big game dogs how much do you trash break on small animals, if at all? Should I be shocking them off or just let them run it out? I am not putting my dogs on pigs right now, and I am concerned that using the collar will diminish their drive when I don't have the right game to run them so as to reinforce the desired behavior. I am especially nervous about using the collar on my younger dog that doesn't have a lot of pigs under his belt.

How do you all out there handle your dogs when these little critters run around in front of them during the off-season?

[livetohunt]

Well not sure what right or wrong only what I do and when Im roading my dogs if they even think about running after a Rabbit or a Squirrel I put a stop to it asap. When Im roading my dogs thats all I want them doing is roading nothing else NOTHING. The way I look at it is like this its just to dang hot for them to get after something and my dogs are used on coon, bear and bobcat thats it. Where I coon hunt is loaded with Rabbits last thing I want them doing is running after them when Im out coon hunting and if I let them run them while roading they will take to it and think its ok when out coon hunting. Same with fox I will not let my dogs run fox cause I sure dont want to have a great bear race and walk into a hole to find a fox in a tree. But what ever you like is up too you, your the one that feeds them they only need to make you happy no one else happy hunting.

[South Texan]

How do you all out there handle your dogs when these little critters run around in front of them during the off-season?[/quote]

I'm like livetohunt, I won't tolerate it. Say your dogs really take a liking to running these little critters. Maybe go to liking it better than hog hunting. Next time you go hog hunting what are they going to be looking for? These little critters or a hog. When my dogs or on the ground, I want them to be thinking about one thing and one thing only, the game I'm hunting for and nothing else.

You say your scared of slowing down the drive of your young dog using the e-collar. Just be careful which number you shock him on, taking you have a variable control e-collar. Start on number one and work up till you get his attention after that maybe all you will have to do is give him a buzz. A lot of people get mad at their young dog and burn him up on number 6, WRONG.

Every dog has a different sensitivity level to the shocking collar. You just have to learn what each dogs sensitivity level is, working up from 1 to 6. I hardly ever shock a dog on 5 or 6 unless he is real hard headed and just want quit. These are just my thoughts and they might not work for you. Good luck with your dogs. Robbie

[livetohunt]

Many times it only takes once for a dog to know and remember what that e collar is all about. If you follow every shock with a tone or tone then shock most dogs will learn that just the tone alone means "hey block head stop doing this or that". I can hit the tone only on my dogs and they will ship up fast. If you work with them and teach them what that tone is all about you can turn a trash race off very fast with just a tone. Now not all dogs are the same and there are some out there that you might have to hit on high every time out, but I wouldnt keep a dog that was like that. Thats just me to each his own good luck and happy hunting.

[Warner5]

I would try a little verbal correcting first. Sometimes I will see my young dogs watch a rabbit or squirrel run across the road, if any of them wants to give chase I will toot my horn or holler at them, they know they are doing wrong, a few times and the lesson is learned. To much correcting and your dogs might start to check on everything, i have seen dogs that got reluctant to leave the road without the handlers permission. Once this starts hunting can be very frustrating(why are my dogs checking?). Breaking our dogs of unwanted game without taking away from their gamey nature is a tough one. For me anyway. I hope this helped. have a good weekend. John.

[bob baldwin jr]

Warner 5 : absolutely correct ,I do believe there is such a thing as being TOO obedient .

[Warner5]

Thankyou Bob. A confident, gamey dog on a good track is a joy to hear and see in action. But the same dog on a bad track is a no good sob. Its a balancing act. Have a good weekend. John.

[DirtAddict]

Thanks I agree with all of you it is definitely a balancing act. I have a dog that seems stubborn but the more I get to know him he does loose confidence if I correct too harshly.

Generally I think I have been using the collar as a short cut to old fashioned training. After seeing some signs that my dog is loosing confidence/independence, I have been trying to change by approach and instead have been spending a fair bit of time teaching to come just using the tone then giving lots of praise when he does come back. If after a bit he still doesn't come back, I start out really light on the shock, then tone again and then call him back. I guess what I am saying is that I am learning to be more patient with my dogs. I find they are more confident and independent when I don't jump on them too harshly right from the get-go.

I know this approach doesn't fly with everyone, but I'd rather be careful and not risk ruining a dog, which I think you can do with an e-collar. After all, it is not like they are running toward a highway or doing something else that would require immediate compliance. In this situation I can give them a little more time to learn what I expect.

Good point also is that off-game is just that...off-game. Regardless of how big or small. I will start to correct them using tone and voice, then only if I have to get their attention maybe just very light shock, and accept that they are not going to listen to me right away. With repetition I believe they will get it eventually and be much less likely to go after the critters when on a big-game hunt.

Thanks for the input!