Reuben
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Nov 2011
Location: Freeport,TX
Posts: 1977 |
Re: Mr Donald--
quote: Originally posted by OLD TIMER
I know that there are hounds that have a better nose than others.
But I also think that some are trained so they don't learn how to use their nose was the point I was trying to make.
Say like a 20 something young lady that thinks shes as good as Ms Clark in basketball--They have all the same equipment, heck they may even look like twins, but there's just that something Ms Clark has that makes her better at "her game." The same is true in hounds, they all have the same equipment, but some are better at their game. And training can get them better and maybe to their best of their abilty--but some just have that special something. The night I seen that first hand was when my young Mikie took a track out across an iced over harvest corn field and Cheta II couldn't run with him. Now Cheta had a heck of a nose and I seen her open and move a track while the other 3 in the cast didn't know a coon had been there. After a 1/4 mile they finally joined in and they did tree it. Mikie was young and I was thinking that maybe this didn't have a ringtail. But when he located and started counting them off, that was the night that proved to me that they all can not smell the track the same.
I'll have to say I agree on what you said about some dogs are trained to run hot tracks while others take them as they come…
I sometimes hunt with a friend that has some of the same dogs I hunt because I've given him pups…the reason why I don't hunt with him much is because his hunting style is nothing like mine…he hunts how he wants with minimal consideration for his dogs…we as hog hunters cast, rig or road the dogs…his style doesn't take the wind into consideration…he doesn't pay attention to his dogs when roading and sometimes moves too fast which doesn't allow his dogs much time to be thorough when hunting…so his dogs are more interested in keeping up than working a colder track when roading…because of his style I stay back on my 4 wheeler and watch his dogs up ahead…if its a hot track they will take it, if not a hot track they will leave it and follow my friend…my dogs will take all the tracks they can handle…because when they act like a hog is around I stop and let them work it out…sometimes they give it a try but will be back if they cannot line it out…but many times they can work out what his dogs won’t even attempt to start…same thing with winding…mine will wind and go to hogs when his wont even react to the wind currents unless the smell is strong…some of my dogs have outstanding winding ability…I watch my dogs very close and make sure they are given the opportunity to work to the best of their abilities…sometimes I stop and get off the Wheeler and maneuver into position for the dogs to better work the wind if I can't do it with the Wheeler…its all about training the dogs to use their nose and hunting ability to their highest potential…
I strongly believe his dogs lack of nose is more because of hunting style and not the nose…
In my friends defense he works for someone and he also has a side business that keeps him busy…so he tends to be in a hurry to work a hunt into a busy schedule…
Back around 1983, a college professor in Tennessee or Mississippi came up with a solution that he said a dog could not resist…that they would react to the smell…
He tested many pups under a week old and various other ages of pups…it worked so well he was going to put in for a Patent…his testing included bloodhounds which tested the same as all the other breeds…but only one breed consistently had a better nose at this young age…I’m pretty sure it was the English Pointer…
Whether dogs have the same nose power or not I cannot say one way or the other…but I do believe the trigger switches to engage a response to what they smell is different from each other even if it's the same breed or bloodline…
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Training dogs is not so much about quantity, it's more about timing, and the right situations...After that it's up to the dog....A hunting dog is born...
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