hard handiling dog ?

burntmeadowsbeagles · Post by **burntmeadowsbeagles** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:22 pm

I've got a 15 month old female that I got shes everything I want except I cant get her to handle in the woods shes got so much hunt that she wont let me catch her. Ive tried about everything. If I shock her she puts the burners on and goes the other way. I put her on a long lead in the yard to try to teach her to handle but she listens like 100 bucks at home. anybody got any methods that worked for them Id sure be thankful for the advice. If she didnt flat out smoke a rabbit she woudnt be here hopefully getting rid of her is not an option finding dogs of this caliber is not an easy thing to do so hopefully you guess have some good advice.
thanks in advance

Red Briar Kennels · Post by **Red Briar Kennels** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:04 pm

Depending on how the dog was previously hunted and taking into account how long that you've owned the dog...it might take a little time. There are a couple of different approaches you could take, however, using a 35' check cord (long lead) is the first step we take with all the dogs we have here in training should they need such work. But this is also coupled with some collar work as well. This past year, we took a dog to be started on rabbits, but the dog was so out of control that showing it....or I should say, expecting it to run a rabbit was absolutely out of the question. He was so hyper and high strung and no matter what you did he would not listen. His owner was getting fed up and brought the dog to us to be trained. He too was attempting to use a lead around the house, but just couldn't get the hound to listen. We worked with the dog consistantly, diligently, and faithfully for 1 month. 30 days we worked this hound over and over. Every day out I won each and every battle of wills,..and that's alot of times what we're really dealing with..a simple test of wills. Who's breaking first. Usually the owner in such a situation eventually gives in to frustration and decides to "settle" for a hard handling hound. Not so here. When I ask a dog to come to me...it's all the way to me. I don't take one step towards it. This may seem trivial to some, but I can tell you that if you let some hounds think they have the upper hand they'll act as though they do. Sort of like "give 'em and inch and they'll take a mile" type of thing. The other thing to bear in mind when you're training, especially when you're setting the tone early on is this. Have a means to back up what you say. There has to be a repercussion of their not listening. If you can't back that up, they'll figure it out and run with it as I'm sure you're seeing in the field.

As far as the shock collar goes. I suspect maybe someone was a little rough or inappropriate with the dog at one time or another. You need to "re-work" that dog using the collar on her now in a controlled atmosphere. You can use treats if you like to give rewards...but I never liked that approach and never use it today. I never liked the idea of having to load up my pockets full of hotdogs, cheese or popcorn, or whatever, just to get my dog to listen when I go to the field. Plus it's hard for me to take a client out with their dog and tell them they should be o.k. as long as they have plenty of Scooby snacks with them. I would find that unacceptable personally. I also don't like to make the dog handle out of fear either (although some days you have to wonder why not). I like to make the experience a positive one and hopefully get the dog to come around because he/she genuinely wants to.

A hard hunting dog does come at a price at times as far as handling goes depending on the personality of the dog. But this is an issue that I wouldn't let slide. Every time that dog gets away with something you tack on another day or two of "yard" training. In my opinion strictly, I would forego the running of rabbits until you get his behavior under control. Or at least work with him more at listening to YOU ...than you listening to him. The season is close, in fact some states or are already in....but when I go out to hunt rabbits I like to hunt rabbits...not hounds. Taking the time now might actually save you some time down the road.

For what it's worth (and we don't claim to be the gospel on beagling necessarily) you can feel free to give me a call if you like and I can walk you through some of the steps we take here. I speak alot easier than I type. It's not rocket science...just unrelentless diligence, patience and persistance that seems to get the job done. As far as the unruly hound we had here that I mentioned above. He turned out to be a really nice, hard working, well mannered hound. His owner should be harvesting rabbits with him right here in Ohio later this season. So there is hope. Good luck with your hound.

Steve Cellar
Red Briar Kennels
(419) 207-9069

Hare Hunter · Post by **Hare Hunter** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:18 am

I have a young male here that was basicly the same way. He handled in the yard but just refused to be picked up in the woods. I put a piece of whip cord about 20 feet long on his collar, ( I learned about that here on the net- you gotta love it) anyway it will not get snagged on the brush and it really worked, everytime I called him to me he would stay just out of reach and I would grab the cord and pull him to me using a firm but friendly tone of voice. It took a few times out but he now figures he can't get away and comes right in. I am keeping the cord on him for the remainder of the fall just in case. As stated above if they get away with something just once it will take repeated training sessions to get it back to where you were. Good luck and keep us imformed on your training. Hare

crewchf · Post by **crewchf** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:41 am

We trained ours to come in to us on the beep of the collar or the blow of a whistle when they were puppies!!! If they ain't chasing a rabbit we have no problems getting them back in!!!! They love the liver treats!!! Give em a reason to come and they will!!! Now we have a couple of spots we use that the main rabbit area is a quarter mile or so from where we park the jeep,, when we release them,,,Savannah looks back and gives us the You Know Where We'll Be Look and off they go!!!! They're smart as all get up somtimes....

Crew Chief

CAINCUTTER · Post by **CAINCUTTER** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:10 am

Great Post Steve..... I always enjoy browsing the Red Briar Site and do wish I was a lot closer to Ohio.......Harvey

burntmeadowsbeagles · Post by **burntmeadowsbeagles** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 8:41 pm

thanks for the ideas I like the weed wacker string idea thats pretty good. thanck you steve for your reply and Ill give you a call Im new to this site and I cant beleave how freindly and helpfull you guys all are were I come from an offer like yours doesnt come very often. Ive been working her in the yard but she doesnt have a problem at all handling here at all so Id like to talk to you in person so we could get into the detail. Like you said I can talk better then I can type.
thanks again.