Some people who run hunt tests will not hunt their dogs until they have finished their Master title. The thinking is that hunting is less structured than hunt testing and the dog can develop bad habits which set the dog back when testing. There is something to be said for this thinking especially when you have a dog like Freighter who loves his birds and has a tendency to break.
However, hunting is also a good time for handler and dog to bond in a relaxed non-competitive environment.
Freighter ran a few Senior tests last summer (2014) and they were pretty much a disaster. Not only did he have a breaking problem, but he would get to a test and totally forget he had a handler. He was too focused on the birds in the field. In his brain, he had not made the connection that the birds and the hunter go together and he needed to pay attention to his handler/hunter or their would be no birds for him. We pulled him from testing, although hubby continued his training.
Freighter had spent some time out hunting, but he had not had that many birds. We decided to get him out to a local pheasant preserve last winter where we were sure there would be birds and hopefully he would make the connection that he needed to depend on his human to get the birds.
Conventional training uses treats or a high value toy to get a dog to pay attention to its handler. It is not uncommon for trainers to recall a dog and give a treat when the dog complies. These methods are great for training obedience, but don’t really work well when a dog is working a field. The birds are always going to trump the treats and toys if you have a birdie dog. In addition, at hunt tests you cannot use any training tools so treats and toys are out.
The ideal while upland hunting is for the dog to stay in close proximity to the hunter and pay attention so that if the hunter changes direction, the dog also changes direction with the hunter. It is no good for a dog to be off on the other side of the field flushing birds because those are birds lost. If the dog stays close and the hunt is successful, the dog catches on pretty quickly that the hunter and the birds go together. It is like any other training, repetition only makes the dog better.
I saw such an improvement in Freighter paying attention to hubby this summer at tests compared to last summer. He actually kept one eye on him and what he was doing. He easily finished his Senior title and even tried a couple of Master tests. I credit their time out hunting together.
Of course there are times when the idea of birds still get the better of Freighter and he forgets to pay attention. But I suspect with more maturity and another hunting season under his belt, this will improve.
It is important to bond with your dog, and by partaking in a fun sport, you can do just that!
I can definitely see how it is great bonding time between handler and dog. I think pretty much any positive training sessions with our dogs are a good time to bond 🙂
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Wow. Such great photos! Bonding is so important and this is such a great way. For the dog it’s mentally and physically stimulating too. Great work, Frieghtor. And your hubby too! 🙂
Bonding is such a great bonus to any kind of training and activity, isn’t it?
Does a hunting dog have to run tests in order to hunt? Or are tests just a tool to help with their training and make them better in the field?
Many hunters never run their dogs in tests. We train for tests as a way to further our dogs’ training and for something to do during the off season. Hunting season is pretty short. We need something to do the rest of the year. 🙂
We think sports together are a wonderful way to bond, but doing them just for fun sometimes is a real good way to have more fun bonding. One just can’t get lazy about things until the dog has all the titles they need.
I don’t have a hunting dog, but with training dogs it’s always better to insert fun. it gets boring if you just do something over and over. Going out and hunting real birds will give him an idea why he needs to pay attention all the time. Let him really enjoy what he is doing:)
Great post! Testing and hunting are two completely different things and a dog that tests well may not be a good hunter, and many good hunting dogs do not test well. It’s hunting that gives them the experience and as you pointed out, bonding with the hunter. Hunting allows you and your dog to learn from one another and understand one another in ways that testing by itself cannot. Those who don’t hunt their dog until it’s received a Senior or Master title, are wasting some of the dog’s best years; it’s like telling kids not to get their first job until they’ve earned their Masters or PhD. Experience and training together always give the best results.
Great comment and I agree!
It makes sense to me. I use treats to reinforce the positive with my dogs, and I find the more I do the same thing, the better they get.
I;m glad Freighter got to go hunting 🙂
I agree with you and they need that time with you in and out of hunt tests. It makes them better dogs and makes them want to please you more. Great post and pictures.