So I got a new pup a few weeks ago, a terrier shepard cross. I would like to take him along on my line but would like to know how to keep him out of my traps and such. Still working on basics for now as he is only 4 1/2 months old, but would like to get some ideas on what I should and should not do. I realize that not all dogs are alike and some dogs are naturals but I'm assume my pup is not so my question is how did you train your dog to assist you on your canine lines?

been awhile since I took a dog with me. long while in fact. had a bluetick. I tried telling him no but he was determined to sniff and work empty sets. till I let him get in one. one was enough for that dog. have seen several dogs I had to release multiple times in the same season. some dogs just wont stay out.

good luck with your pup. thinking I may get me a dog here in a few months. havnt had one in a while.

My dog I've had on the trapline for two full years now. First year it was twice, and the second year, she had one refresher course! Don't hurt them, but they think it does! I have verbally reminded her a couple times, but they know better, till it's too late! lol

How do you live without a dog, Danny? lol

Teach them what no means before they hit the trap line. If need be reinforce no with electronic wax cleaners. Ive had my dog on the line two years now and knock on wood she hasn't been pinched! But its all bets off when she sees a catch! Shes still gaining her courage! Personally i'm happy with her baying ,lol she even bays rats in conis. Honestly I think they start understanding what a trap is capable of over time

Just keep him on a leash for a while, I only have to say ahhhh! And my Dorn dog knows that I'm not sposed to do that , she stops.teaching then no helps a lot, females seem to want to please you , a male might try to be the boss

Exactly! My stopping sound is a loud ehhhhh! That means stop rightnow, and both my dogs know that sound!

The frist thing is that your dog must know when you say no and to set and stay this will make everything else much easier.

Just made couple of set with a weak 1 1/2 for him to get caught during the summer last year. He did get caught three times in the yard and that was it. He did got caught during the season one more time and that was it.
Just I a refreshing course, the kids made a set in the yard couple of weeks ago and he didn't mess with it.
At the beginning, it is better go keep it on the leash when you check your traps, or dog would try to attack anything. Teach him to stay back with the leash and when he act ok , you can let him go without leash.

That Blue Heeler I got is good. I'm now 100% drags on my coyote traps, no problem. He even has found traps in the woods where pigs have pull out that would have more then likely lost. one of the best things I ever put on my line. Great at finding coyote posts to plus hates them wild pigs. Jump on the back of a bobcat one time cause he though it was about to get me. Little guy has no fear. I put videos of him a lot on Face Book chasing down drags. Done got to be a well known dog around here. Money couldn't buy him.

Thanks everyone, this pretty much parallels what I was thinking but sometimes someone has a good trick or two that can make all the difference between a good dog and a great dog. Once we get the basics down then I'll show him what a trap is all about. We've started small by trapping a few pocket gophers and he shows good potential but don't want to do something that will discourage him. Working on confidence training and other basics for now. He loves riding in the truck and going for walks in the woods so that is a plus as well. My problem is not so much the dog but me. The last two dogs I had where Jack Russells and training them was incredibly fast and easy. This guy is smart but stubborn (male thing) and I find I have higher expectations since having my jacks. I would have gotten another but they are difficult to find around here and when you do find them, very expensive. My new pup will be about twice the size of a jack and hopefully since he is part terrier and english sheperd, both breeds have caricatures that I'm looking for plus he was local and reasonably priced. Regardless of how he turns out, he has already proven to be an excellent companion and its enjoyable to watch him grow and develop. A good friend once told me that the more time you spend with them when they are young, the less time you have to deal with them as adults. He was talking about kids but I think the same holds true for dogs as well.

All good advice. Like stated above doesn't matter what word you use as long as they learn that the word you said means danger. If the dog is strong willed and stubborn it may require a little electric reminder like Tony mentioned. Last trap I let my dog out of was a K9 extreme on a walk thru set, and he hit it running full tilt. Didn't work the set just went through the chute and hit the spot. Now my word is "careful" and I can yell it off the 4 wheeler while he is running ahead and he will levitate 2 feet off the ground and touch down 4 foot to one side of where his original path was. He knows when I say careful it's serious lol.

scout that's good advice your dog is your friend friendship is hard to establish if its not with you! My dog goes every were with me. Even if its something as simple as going to the gas station. Smart dogs quickly understand whats expected of them and when. My dog loves going fishing with me she knows its play time Only two places shes not allowed to be in front of my poles and the road. We as trappers get better by infusing our selves with nature the same thing applys to your dog. I know eventually my dog will get pinched but I pray she has enough trust in my by that time to just allow me to slip the trap off with no hassels

i have one of those dogs who kind of has a mind of her own especially if she picks up on something - but on the other hand, she is always very worried about making a mistake [she's a rescued dog who was being beaten, among other things...] anyhow - so no going out on a trapline BUT if we are going exploring in the woods, scouting so to speak - I got her on a 27 ft reel, and it is very interesting to see how she reacts to area's where there is coyote activity, and it's always amazing to see how she will react when she comes across something, be it a scent or some digging...

I always let her follow a scent she picks up, and it almost always ends with a pile of bones, or some scattered remains.... she would make one good hunting dog if I could only trust her to not keep running !!

Every now and then she brings me to a natural dirt hole, and it always interests me how she responds, how she paws the area, how she'll walk around and check things out, wondering what is going on down in that hole.

I often wonder if the coyotes and foxes exhibit the same kind of behavior as my dog Loki does......

Where I am going with this is I think dogs are very valuable when it comes to trapping because they can show you things you might not otherwise notice.
The trick - as already mentioned - is having one that listens

Also as already mentioned, there's no better friend in the world, my dog is living proof of that.

Thanks for the replys everyone. Will be interesting to see how things go with him. I'm thinking he will be used for scouting at first and see how he performs. If he shows promise then will take the next step. Thanks again!

Teach dog the meaning of no, use a leash if you want to control it completely

The number 1 command any dog should be taught to obey without fail is “ whoa”. If they’ll whoa you can get your hands on them. That should suffice.

If you come to the FTA convention in Virginia John Huben will be doing a demo on this very subject with a power point if you want to start a trap a trapline dog this is one demo you want to watch.

I would love to attend but unfortunatly not possible.

I would love to attend but unfortunatly not possible.