Training dogs to find sheds

[firemcw]

I have a new labrador shes twelve weeks now and I wanted to start some formal training with her. We have already been fetching sheds that i throw for her. Any advise would be much appreciated.

 

[antlrcolectr]

There's an article in one of the recent North American Whitetail magazines about training antler dogs. I'll see if i can find it.

You might start a reward system when she brings one back. And plenty of praise.

I've also heard where the dog was trained to lay down beside the shed, but that just wouldn't make sense in my country. I'd never find either of them in some of my places.

I'll look for the article to see what issue it was in.

AC

edit: see if this link works...NAW Shed Dog Article

 

[firemcw]

thanks for the advise i think I've read that article its a good one I just wish it went more in depth

 

[antlrcolectr]

I got your email, by the looks of some of those sheds in your pic, I need to be going out with YOU looking for sheds.

I'm sure we can work an outing or two into the schedule.

Did you try searching "shed antler dog training" at Yahoo or Google?

AC

 

[firemcw]

yeah I did i found one site where a guy would send you some information for like 14.95, not sure if it would be worth it or not.

 

[treepigs]

gerald carson training...wisconsin i think...i just googled this Gerald Carlson Specialty Dog Training 1136 Point Basse Ave. Nekoosa, WI 54457
heard he was the BEST at shed training

 

[shedhunternb]

Nice looking pup. I'm sure you will have no trouble training her to find sheds.

 

[firemcw]

Thanks shedunternb, shes doing really well fetching sheds so far if I could just keep her attention. We will go out and I can launch a little spike antler and she makes 50 yard retrieves at only twelve weeks but if she sees a butterfly or anything then we have to stop but I guess thats normal.

 

[antlrcolectr]

You also might try planting some and a few days later after your scent is gone, seeing what she does & if she retrieves them.... Or if she noses them and keeps hunting.

Seeings how deer don't launch their sheds...know what I'm getting at? Just don't want her getting used to you always being the reason she finds one & retreives it.

AC

 

[fossilman]

Yes,the best way is to hide them around your place or some land around there,let your dog hunt them out....
I have a "Jack Russell" that I'm going to train too.........

 

[firemcw]

yeah your right at her young age im trying to instill the retriever in her but it is a double edge sword because like you said she may be used to just watching them hit the groung and fetching them

 

[Shane]

Here are a few articles I've been using as reference in our training/learning efforts. The main thing I try to keep in mind, from my past experience with upland bird dogs, is to keep training sessions short and fun. Finding bones should ideally be your pups favorite thing to do.

Shed hunting dog article 1...

Shed hunting dog article 2...

Shed hunting dog article 3...

 

[treepigs]

http://www.antlerdogs.com/

 

[tychios]

Hi All, I've been using gerald carlson's (sheddog.com) system to train my dog for sheds and it is a simple and efective training method, she found her first shed on dec 10 an old one(last year) and routinely finds planted ones that have been out in the fields for over 2 weeks, my dog is so wired to fetch a ball that she brings me the antler then I throw the ball for a reward, way more fun than treats for her.
Itchin to find fresh ones!