Anyone here have a link or advice for training a pup to hunt for sheds? I have a new Lab that my son & I are wanting to train and I'm looking for some pointers.
There are videos on YouTube.
Wait...you have a Lab, but you are looking for some POINTERS? :laughing:
I have trained my German Shepherd for sheds, it takes repetition, and a"catch phrase" for the shed antler, that triggers him to begin searching. Start small on the hiding, and increase the distance each week.
Good Luck.
How young is your pup and do you only want to use him/her for shed hunting?
My lab is a duck/goose dog first, upland dog second (if he could talk he'd say it was the other way around!), and will hunt sheds this time of year. It didn't take him long to figure out the shed game, but the foundation was there; obedience, collar conditioning, and the ability to hunt on command.
PM me if you want and we can discuss some basics.
There is a guy in Iowa who trains dogs for shed hunting. Maybe do a google search and call him and ask a few questions. That is where I would start if I was going to train a dog. Always helps to ask people who know what they are doing.. Good luck. I wish I could train my Golden and German Shepard but they are too bull headed.
Tom Dokken is the man for this information. He has books and videos.
My father and I have been to a few of his seminars.
I was raised on the old ways of dog training because that's how my dad was taught. Tom incorporates old and new together in a wonderful training style.
https://www.everythingsheddog.com/