Handling dogs off horses

[Powder River Walker]

I was going to start to hunt my young dog off a horse. I was going to get one of my old ropes and put her on it for the first couple of times so she knows to stay with me and not go hunt until we get to where we are going. I was just wondering how everyone eles trains their young dogs. she will be by her self I don't have any good old dogs to help train her.

[Mike Leonard]

Forget that rope that's for bird dogs and it might get you bucked off. LOL!

Just get out there where you are away from distractions, put you e-collar on the dog and mount up and take off. If the dog doesn't stay pretty close just tap it a little and use your whistle or call it if your voice can stand all that hollering.

Once the dog comes back in and appears to be zoning along with the horse, slightly change directions and see if the dog is zoning again with the horse or if it just continues on. If it does, blow the whistle and tap it and say this way! Ride on for a ways and then make a direction change again and repeat the process until you know the dog has a bond with you and the horse and even though not just following it is still not running off or just doing it's own thing.

I think you will be surprized how quickly even a young dog will begin to work along with you when you are mounted on a horse or mule. It seems very natural to them and they enjoy it.

As far as the dog getting out and striking a track while you are riding that will depend entirely on the dog itself and also it's level of expereince. Some very good lion dogs never do make the grade as strike dogs while horseback hunting. I have seen dogs that have caught dozens of lions when they have been jerked out of a dog box and put down a fresh lion track that never made the grade and were little more than me too dogs while free cast lion hunting. Certain dogs however will begin to show the knack for getting out husteling while not going too far and looking in the right places to strike a track. With exposure and success these dogs will turn into a strike dog for you.

Remember with this type hunting: do not ride too fast. A flat footed walking horse plodding along travels about 3.3 to 3.5 MPH. that is plenty fast and at times too fast. You may have to slow or stop to make sure your dogs are throughly working an area for tracks.

Like old George Goswick use to say if you are not striking tracks and you know lions are about slow them animals down. If you still don't get off and lead them or just set there awhile.

Many of you horse and mule hunters will recall a time when you broke for lunch and the dogs milled around having some time there and came up with a track. so don't hurry it is not a race to see how much ground you can cover it is covering the ground you are on.

Good luck and have fun!

[Big Horn Posse]

Good post Mike.

I would like to add that when I free cast my dogs both on foot and horseback I would tell them to "get back" going in or coming out. They would then stay with me and know I didn't want them to go out and hunt. When I was ready to cast them out I would tell them "go hunt em up" then they knew it was time to hunt. Makes it so much easier when you are heading in and out of an area you specifically want to hunt. Takes a little ground work to get them knowing what you want, but a little tap of the shock collar helps them figure it out. Personally, I rather hunt free casting than drive around all day with my head out the window.

[Brady Davis]

Agreed, excellent post Mike. I know we do most of our hunting on mules and horses and I sure wouldn't have it any other way. Yesterday we went out and didn't hit 1 track, lost 1 dog for a bit and at the end of the day we had an awesome mule ride, saw some good country and did a little mule training in the process. To me, hunting on mules/horses is just so much more fun and more nostalgic.

[Big Mike]

Like Mike said just take them and go they pick it up real quick. Only thing i can add is you might start with short rides and in places or times you dont have to worry about trash as much and get the dog to handle. I start my dogs at about 6-7 months on short rides. They pick it up real quick. I even try to lose them a little so they can learn to trail the mules. Young dogs dont like to be alone and they come hunting you real quick. I never have to look for lost dogs because they all will trail my mule back to the truck. Thats saves me more time looking for dogs. I had to leave one overnight in the last 5 or 6 years

[Powder River Walker]

Well I took my dog out horse back today. I was going to go to a place that I knew wouldn't have any coon or lion tracks. But the way it worked out i had to ride along the river, so I didn't take the advice and I put the pup on a rope. one reason i did this is because I don't have an e-coller. It worked out well I had a pup on a 20' rope and a young horse. I wouldn't tell just anyone to do this, you really have to know how to handle the slack in the rope and how to remain focused on the horse. But I would have to say it was one of the best times I have had with my hound. Can't wait to take her on a lion hunt horse back.

[pegleg]

with a pup especially by itself a rope really isn't required. that pup won't get lost more then once and the sooner the better, they all learn to back trail themselves and hunt you up. there really isn't any use for a hound that can't trail itself or a horse. I am glad you had a good day and hope it leads to many others hunting on horse back.

[Powder River Walker]

Yea I noticed that she was staying with me but I was riding along the high way and for her to get lost is one thing. I have had many border collies get lost and have found them. but I didn't want her to get to the road. I think next time I will let her go free.