Re: Trapline Dog Question
[Re: PA_K-9_Trapper]
#6232545
05/03/18 05:35 PM
05/03/18 05:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,096 SEPA
Lugnut
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,096
SEPA
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Teach them basic obedience; sit, stay and come. Those commands are to be obeyed instantly, at all times, no matter what else is going on.
Eh...wot?
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Re: Trapline Dog Question
[Re: John Houben]
#6233359
05/04/18 04:19 PM
05/04/18 04:19 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 366 Virginia
VAwolfer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 366
Virginia
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I have trained quite a few trapline dogs over the years and like to "pre-condition" the new dog before they are exposed to a lot of traps in the field. When the pup is about 4-5 months I make a dirt-hole in the yard when the dog is not around to see me do it. I use a Soft Catch trap at the set. Later I let the dog out of the kennel and say nothing to it when it gets near the set. When the dog gets caught it gets pretty excited. I calmly take the dog out of the trap and lightly scold it while releasing it by saying "TRAP." The dog is no worse for wear. I use a similar technique, described by John Wick in his coon dog training book, for pre-conditioning on deer by hanging a deer gland on the electric fence and letting the dog "find" it.
Everything which has been said above about obedience training is absolutely true, but I use these methods because I want the dog to avoid traps and deer whether I am there to guide them or not. When den hunting or walking to sets I free cast the dogs and don't want to be watching them all the time.
Most dogs will get caught once at home as a pup and then once or twice more on the trapline. Most dogs I have trained never get caught again after their first year. When you have an older dog that is well broke it often goes even quicker as the younger dog will sometimes take cues from the older dogs behavior. Makes you wonder how often this happens when several coyotes visit a trap location.
Some may not like the sound of these methods, but it works very well. The dog is not harmed any and I have seen much more abuse dished out to dogs by people who don't know how to properly use a training collar. This is VERY Wise Advise. When I got my Airedale for trap line use a few years ago this man was the first call I made. Mr. Houben gave me the very same advise. Training your dog for the trapline can and should be a fun experience. I can truly say that my Airedale knows when it is trapping season, and he absolutely loves to go with me on the line. They learn and catch on to what you are doing quickly, they learn 1+1=2 (lure + set = trap), and overtime your dog will develop a discipline on your trapline. My Airedale (Ruger) goes with me everyday, I have a quad cab pickup and the back half is his. The ONLY time he has ever ABOUT got caught recently would be when he dives in on a coyote and I have another set very close by. He has inadvertently ALMOST stepped in a few of my double sets. However outside of that he steers clear... To give you at least one answer to your original question, my advise would be take him or her with you ALWAYS, make him or her apart of your team and trapping program. "Life is Better with a Trapline Dog" (new bumper sticker...LOL) M Lewis
A SMART man learns by his mistakes, but a WISE man learns by the mistakes of others.
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Re: Trapline Dog Question
[Re: John Houben]
#6233458
05/04/18 06:59 PM
05/04/18 06:59 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,885 Mn
nightlife
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,885
Mn
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I have trained quite a few trapline dogs over the years and like to "pre-condition" the new dog before they are exposed to a lot of traps in the field. When the pup is about 4-5 months I make a dirt-hole in the yard when the dog is not around to see me do it. I use a Soft Catch trap at the set. Later I let the dog out of the kennel and say nothing to it when it gets near the set. When the dog gets caught it gets pretty excited. I calmly take the dog out of the trap and lightly scold it while releasing it by saying "TRAP." The dog is no worse for wear. I use a similar technique, described by John Wick in his coon dog training book, for pre-conditioning on deer by hanging a deer gland on the electric fence and letting the dog "find" it.
Everything which has been said above about obedience training is absolutely true, but I use these methods because I want the dog to avoid traps and deer whether I am there to guide them or not. When den hunting or walking to sets I free cast the dogs and don't want to be watching them all the time.
Most dogs will get caught once at home as a pup and then once or twice more on the trapline. Most dogs I have trained never get caught again after their first year. When you have an older dog that is well broke it often goes even quicker as the younger dog will sometimes take cues from the older dogs behavior. Makes you wonder how often this happens when several coyotes visit a trap location.
Some may not like the sound of these methods, but it works very well. The dog is not harmed any and I have seen much more abuse dished out to dogs by people who don't know how to properly use a training collar. I do much the same but also vary the types of sets that I expose the dog to l, while you can not cover all that they might get it to most dogs will learn to be cautious when they smell a trap and I am sure they can no matter how well someone might have worked on their seant control Most of my dogs would spot other people’s sets even when they were blended in well they would go into point mode and show where it was while mine they watched me make other trappers were smelled out is all I can think of because the always knew they were there
�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.� ― Robert A. Heinlein
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Re: Trapline Dog Question
[Re: Saddletramp]
#6233892
05/05/18 12:22 PM
05/05/18 12:22 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,885 Mn
nightlife
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,885
Mn
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The down side of the pointer is,if it goes on point, and you can't see him,he'll stay on point until the bird moves. I had a pointer (gsp) for 15 yrs. Best dog I've ever had! Not talking about a pointer any dog will point things at times though my last dog is was a German wirehair but befor her I had many different mutts and pure breed dogs And all but one made good trapline dogs and her she was a good dog just not trustworthy on the line she wanted to rush in and fight everything and just could not be broke off doing so The very best trapline dog I had was a a purebred walker coon hound i swear that dog knew there was a trap there as soon as he got within 50 feet and up wind of one at that and then point his nose at it and give out this sort of low moan and not move till I came up to him and it did not matter if it was my trap or someone elses he knew right where it was and he was scary smart show him something once and he never forget only downside he had was he hated porkies and would kill everyone he came near but at least he almost never got stuck and then never more then 2 or 3 and then he would just sit there and wait for you to pull them out. All of my dog were taught to stop as soon as they smelled a trap and wait some were just better at it then others God I miss that dog
Last edited by nightlife; 05/05/18 12:45 PM.
�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.� ― Robert A. Heinlein
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Re: Trapline Dog Question
[Re: PA_K-9_Trapper]
#6234083
05/05/18 07:22 PM
05/05/18 07:22 PM
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4,108 Bonner County, Idaho
Wild_Idaho
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 4,108
Bonner County, Idaho
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Wild Idaho, he looks just like mine. Does yours like the water, because mine loves splashing around when I take him beaver trapping. Yeah he does not mind water at all. Whether it's retrieving redheads and honkers out of the river in January or tagging along with me on water trapping excursions.
Real name Eric The sharpest hammer in the box of crayons.
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Re: Trapline Dog Question
[Re: PA_K-9_Trapper]
#6234623
05/06/18 03:48 PM
05/06/18 03:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,824 N.W. Iowa
Tactical.20
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,824
N.W. Iowa
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Ya snares are hard for them to spot, mine still hits them, she stops and looks at me like, ooopps, help here please! Lol
Last edited by Tactical.20; 05/06/18 03:48 PM.
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