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 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.

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!

Wild Idaho, he looks just like mine. Does yours like the water, because mine loves splashing around when I take him beaver trapping.