what kind of dog do you use to hunt sheds?

[phoebecreek]

My husband LOVES horn hunting and would like to get a pup for this purpose. What kind of dog have you had success with. We currently have a 12 year old lab. He is too old to hunt much any more. What techniques hae you found to be the best? We have an opportunity to get a golden lab in a few weeks, but we wondered if another breed would be better for hunting sheds? Any advice will be apreciated.Thanks. One last thing, have you found males or females to be better hinters or does it really matter?

 

[WBPruett]

phoebecreek,

For training techniques, checkout this website for info on training shed dogs http://www.deersheddog.com/

Most people have success with Labs, I am going to try a Mountain Cur. The Mountain Cur breed is the dog that the pioneers brought with them when they settled the southern states. They are an all round hunting dog.

I have a pup that I picked up two weeks ago. I am going to training him as a pup and not let him get turned on to live game.

The male - female question is open to different discussions. My pup is a male because I will take him out of state to shed hunt so I just didn't want to have female that I couldn't turn out when I want.

I don't like the idea of fixing a dog, others have no problem doing that, but not me.

Most of the people I have talked to all have Labs except a guy in Maine. He has a lot of snow and has a rat terrior. Do a search on shed dogs in this forum and you will find some post with good info.

I am going to use food rewards to train Major when he knows his name. I will post a picture of my pup so you can see a Mountain Cur. They resemble a Lab except for the bob tail. I hope this info helps.

 

[deershed]

Here's a pic of my future shed dog-yeah right!! She'd trip over a shed before she ever finds one.LOL She's only sniffing this one cause I tossed it down in front of her.
http://img18.photobucket.com/albums/v55/de...h_Shed_2004.jpg

 

[sittin duck]

go to the Maine forum and check out mainetrapper- he's had a couple recent posts about his dog. He just got another rat terrier and also has a hound. He's found some real nice sheds since last August.