topdog
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1120 |
Dog barking
Most young dogs when first started in the woods still have the puppy mentality...they think they can't keep up so as soon as the older dogs take off they start to bark thinking they'll be left behind. If she is willing to go, turn her loose alone ahead of the other dogs and watch what she does...most times they won't dog bark because there aren't any dogs ahead of them to bark at. If they simply run 20-30 yards and stop and look back, then they are waiting for another dog to follow. I don't take any young dogs to the woods before they can follow their own drag track, locate the tree and sit there and bark until I go to get them. Once they get that in their head, they seldom will worry about being left behind because they already know they can track to the end or that they can track themselves back so no fear of getting lost.
If you have the basics already in place, then I would still always turn the pup loose first and let the others follow a few minutes later. Most of the time, they will quit their babbling once they realize they can keep up and once they start to realize that they are "hunting" and not just out for a joy ride...it takes repetitions. At that age, there isn't a lot that they "should" know, it's all about learning the ropes.
If using an e-collar to break babbling it should be done during the day with dogs turned loose just like they would be at night. You don't want to risk a quick strike and then shock them thinking they're babbling.
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Tom Solberg
T-Top Redbones
Unrealistic expectations are a roadblock to success, judge your dogs by what they are ready to give not by what you wish they'd do.
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