Training young pups!?!?!?!?

[shooter921]

I need some help, well not me a friend of mine does. He just got a few beagle pups and he is worried about them taking off when he goes hunting. Is there any specail thing anyones does to train there dogs to come to a whistle or command???

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Time to get those reels back in the water, and catch some BIG fish!

[Mtnman198]

shooter,
I would advise your friend to establish a relation with his dogs before going afield with them.Teach the dog to fetch on command,use a scented dummy and hide it then use a command to put the dogs on its track you created while dragging it to its hiding spot.Its important to use a command that the dogs will relate to a scent track.When you use your choosen command word in the field the dogs will know you have a hot track for them.Also it may help to take the dogs to a well populated area and let them run without you actually shooting over them,then get a hold of a rabbit or two and tease the dogs with it like tugge of war,and get them riled up over it.With having a relationship with the dogs they will trust you and want to please you therefore staying out in front of you and checking up on you frequently.
remember you are there boss,they should listen to you when and where ever you may be,this will transfer into the field when its time.
Good luck!

[LabGuy]

Beagles are not my speciality, but I know that they are bred to trail game. They are notorious for taking off after rabbit, deer, etc.

Since this is what they were bred for, your friend is going to have quite a challenge training his dog to leave a scent trail on command. Not that it can't be done, but it will be a tough thing to do.

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Cliff Cushard
Cushard's Kennel

[BEAGLEMAN]

Shooter921,
I agree with Mtnman198, I would also try to keep the pup as close to you as possible at first. When it does wander off to explore try to remain in sight while it works that will help it gain confidence that it will find you when it comes back. If it does take to tracking deer I have had pretty good success using a pad attached to the collar soaked with deer urine. I leave it on for several days before I go hunting and it has helped my dogs (I have had a real problem with some of my dogs and deer).


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[Huntress]

I would recommend to your friend to do some basic obedience training with his pups. It will help build the bond with them that he needs in the field. A fifteen minute session with each pup a day will be a good start. It may sound like a lot, but it will make them better dogs at home and in the field. Good Luck! :)

Best Regards,
Huntress

[This message has been edited by Huntress (edited 01-22-2001).]

[Jumpshootin']

Well, when he gets them out hunting they're going to eventually take off on him. They're hounds. The best thing that your buddy can do is check out some of the beagle sites on the web and get together with some experienced beaglers in his area. Let his pups start with experienced dogs. Hopefully beagles that are deer and trash broke.
Hounds run, and anyone who has ever hunted them knows that there are times when you will run yourself blue in the face trying to catch them at the end of the day. You don't always get all of your beagles in at the end of the day either. There have been times too numerous to recall that I've went back the next morning and there they are still running rabbits in the swamp, and I've spent half of that day rounding them up.
I start training my pups(beagles, labs, or feists)to come to a whistle when they are 8 weeks old. Take a referees type whistle and little pieces of a hot dog. Give three toots on the whistle and immmeadiately put a piece of the hot dog in front of it's nose. Do this a few times and quit. Start again a couple hours later. But after the hitting the whistle and giving the pup the first piece, move about 5 feet away and do it. This will make the pup come to you. He'll associate the whistle with a treat real fast. After that, just start increasing the distance. I've had 8 week old pups come to me from across the yard on the first day. When they're grown and a half mile from you in a swamp, they'll be able to hear that whistle blast. It'll tell them exactly where you are, and that you want them to come in. But if there on game, forget it. You probably won't be able to pull a beagle off of game. If you have one that will, get rid of it.




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Take a Kid Hunting!