Extending the Range of Your Dog (or increasing independence)

[DirtAddict]

I understand that there are dogs that hunt naturally long range, medium range and short range. A lot depends on breed and their lines.

However I believe there can be some variation in range in any one particular hunting dog. That is, a short range dog, if trained correctly, can hunt on the long range of short, if you get my meaning.

It is generally easier to train a dog to hunt shorter rather than longer. My question is what training techniques do you know of to extend the range of a hunting dog. My dog is shorter range and does not like to go too long out of sight of me (averages about 50 yards away as we move through the woods). Maybe the dog is either nervous to be left behind (I've never done that) or would rather hike with me over hunting for me (obviously not a good trait in a hunting dog).

Before I jump to conclusions about her natural abilities, I want to look at the dynamic I have with the dog. I need some suggestions on how to increase the dog's independence in the field. Should I limit her time with the family i.e. leave her alone in her Kennel more and only pull her out to hunt or train? Put her on more game in the field and as that is happening step back to let her work it more on her own? Hunt her with a longer range dog? Any suggestions?

The dog I own is a Catahoula/Blue Heeler cross and about 16 months old.

[idahoutlaw]

first what are you hunting.
i had the same deal going with a coon dog when hunting when she get more then a 50 yards away i would know shes trailing a coon she would go as far away as the coon would go. after a few dozen coons she now goes out far if she does not find any close. so i would think it will just take time and more game in the tree. this is been my experience.

[DirtAddict]

This dog is trained for pig. On a hot trail she will go faster and travel out of sight of me. But not past 2-3 hundred yards before hesitating I would estimate.

I just think she is too attached to me.

[tmalone]

i have the same problem with a walker coyote hound , but once she hits a hot track or another dog opens she is gone for the day, she can run a track good and will bay and fight hard, ill be listening!!!!!! good question

[coadycurbow]

In my opinion, you just need to keep her in the woods as much as you can. Show her as many hogs as possible. I think MOST of a dog's range is hard wired in them. She will probably never be a get out of the country type dog, but the more game she is on, she will probably get deeper and deeper.

[wac and stack]

every dog is different, but one of the things that i have done as of late, i let my dogs go. what i mean by that is when I'am walking or riding to find something i just let my dogs do what they want, as long as i think it is good. I don't holler and scream for them to come back if i can't see them. i just let them hunt. now the big thing about this is your dogs need to know what you want to hunt and not what they want ( deer, elk skunks). you need to get to know your dogs and what they will do. This is a hard deal to do. every dog is different but it will come with time. if your dog will only hunt out to 50 yards you might as well be walking alone. i have seen some dogs that will make 1/2 to one mile loops, if they don't hit something they will comeback and check on you every so often. dogs like that are hard to come by. good luck!!!

[DirtAddict]

Thanks Guys. Will try your suggestions out and see how it goes.

[kirpa]

One thing what is popular around here is to go in to the woods and make a fire and sit tight. Young dog is loose and it can play around you but sooner or later it get's furstrated and starts to make longer loops around you. This style can be so boring and you may have lung cancer after the smokes you will have but finaly your dog will be long range dog.
Main problem with short range dogs is that they need to know where it's master is or maybe it's some kind of a fear that it get left behind. When young dog knows exacly where you are it starts to believe it's self. This may take a few or dozen times but if the dog got even a little bit long range in there it will pop out.

[pegleg]

I don't have a large amount of experience with hog dogs. I do have a decent amount of experience with dogs and have worked with a lot of heelers. your dog is doing what she thinks you want. so if you want the dog to work hogs put it on smaller hogs with a bay dog . I wouldn't recommend a catch dog right now. encourage the dog and as it performs better back up progressively farther and become more vocal in your praise until the dog is working well far enough away that it can't actually hear you. at anytime it may dawn on the dog what it is you want. a heelers intelligence will surprise you. I don't know how far you want the dog to hunt out for hogs but if you can communicate that you want it to find hogs and are happy with it when it does it will probably range out pretty good. one thing to remember it's not a hound and isn't genetically programmed to hunt like one so the training methods used on hound and hound X's wont be likely to work. you can however TRAIN the dog to perform a wide range of jobs much easier then some hounds are taught anything. a cross like yours could possibly be a very gamey dog and work well on the back of the hog it wont be a ear grabber. I've owned cowdogs that could be dependably sent miles away to perform a job and return or go to the truck when done. so you've picked a different way to doajob but it should work out after a fashion. good luck