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you can not see our dog. If you can't see him, you can't know or at least reasonably interpret what the dog is doing. Misdirected jolts will really screw him up. On this morning, I snugged a Tri-tronics Model 200 live collar high on Mac's neck. Mac is a far-from-perfect English Setter I have hopes straightening out during the summer months. In Wisconsin deer are a nuisance/hazard for anyone who owns hunting dogs. The time to break a dog off deer isn't while the bird season is open. But in season or out, where I live you can't avoid encountering deer. So during the off-season training, as insurance I run my bird dogs with live shock collars attached so I can stop a chase or discourage interest before one gets underway. By the season's opener I don't have to burden a dog with that training device. I turned Mac loose through the exercise yard gate and followed him into the hardwoods, laced with logging and maple syrup roads and dotted with spruce, cedar and hemlock swamp stands. He moved along fine in his easy loping, woodcock-weave pattern, responding to changes of direction. Around a rocky seep hole, he sort of rooted around, then threw up his head and bolted. He was into the swamp and out of sight before I reacted. Although I hadn't seen it, it had to be a deer. But I held back and didn't bump the button. Now, if you slant to risk guessing wrong with your dog go ahead. But remember it is also likely that if you can't see your dog, the bolt from the blue you dispense isn't going to find its may through or over substantial obstacles anyway. But if he should be doing something right but you do something wrong and the electricity punishes him you'll wind up with a hesitant, confused or worthless dog. So I contented myself with moving on slowly and calling for Mac. Shortly I could hear him coming. He didn't look or act guilty when he emerged from the thick wet stuff. Maybe he cased a wild hare or a pileated woodpecker. I don't know. But I congratulated myself on doing the right thing. By the time I might have decided to "hit him" with the collar he probably on his way back to finding me. He is good about keeping track. Popping him as he was coming in could make him consider he was doing something wrong. We moved on through the woods and around the ponds without incident. Because I don't really sweat even a grouse and woodcock dog that momentarily or for short periods gets out of sight, I'm not tempted to call my bird dogs in and send them an electric messages to "make sure they heard me." If you are, cut it out. It's not the right way to do it. If you can't keep track of your dog's progress by the sound he makes in the cover, or he ranges wide in more open venues outfit him with a beeper collar. As it sounds off you can keep track of him. If he is hunting where he ought to be, do the right thing by keeping your mouth shut and your whistle in your pocket while he's doing his thing right. When I broke out into the clearing where the young spruce, planted for Christmas trees, aren't as high as the grass Mac had already circled it and was working a poplar rimmed pothole. As we moved back toward one of the ponds, Mac coursed along side a raspberry tangled spoil bank with the wind coming up from the south. As he swung towards an access trail, he picked up scent in the wind. It was a perfect set-up. I knew what he had winded. He was in clear sight 150 yards from me. A couple of the other dogs had previously rolled on that dead skunk carcass. As Mac moved in on it I called him. But the rich aroma has too compelling. He never broke stride. I gave him a second opportunity. By now he was almost to where I knew the skunk lay. I third verbal "Hey!" and the electronic message went out at the same time, just a flick of the soft charge button. A sensitive dog, Mac flinched ever so slightly, swung off course and headed toward me. All it took has a fourth "Hey!" shout to reinforce it; he kept coming, checked in across my front and proceeded on when he was told what a "Gooood man" he was. Figuratively, we got a covey of birds with one shot. Mac was reminded to pay attention, even in the face of temptation, when hollered at. He associated the shock with the odor of skunk. He may or may not need more reinforcement in his next skunk encounter. But we're in the ball game now. The shock wasn't severe and he shook it off to go about his business. When he checked in and moved across my front, he was praised. He'll remember that as the right thing to do Hopefully, to avoid the unpleasantness, next time he'll respond to the first "Hey?" When the opportunity has right, I did the right thing, in the right way, with the right instrument. Mac would have been all over that skunk were it not for the electronic collar. A number of precedents would have been set. There is a great deal more to proper timing and doing what's right. You've had or will have some experiences of your own that, if you puzzle out, will guide you in your dog training efforts. But, you get the idea. |
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