Re: Reading your Dog(s)

[Varminator]

I feel that this is the most important thing to concentrate on. Yes the Garmin tells you where he's at, But what is he doing over there? A seasoned Houndsman ALREADY has a good idea when the pup left the road. What is some things to look for when walking or roading that pup.
Also how do you encourage or discourage. I use my voice and Tri-Tronic now that it has a tone (but have used other techniques). I remember reading a ENGLISH breeders comment "that hounds don't mind unless it is to their Benefit". That's why it is so important to work with it as much as possible.
Be careful when calling or scolding, you can over break to a point the dog is useless.
The voice changes on the dog are very important!! It can not only let you know how the track is progressing from start to finish but what and if he should be running that track. A chop mouth dog is a little harder for me, and might take a couple hunts to understand what he/she is saying.
I started baking the cake, now boys put the Icing on it!!

[Varminator]

READING your Dog (S) , Damn it! I've lost 2 post already and about out of here!!!!

i know many have written so much for the younger and/or someone thinking of trying cat hunting and I can feel their pain already!! I was asked to write things that might help them.
I'll comment on this post and after that it's someone else job. I feel my obligation to them is over and I wish them the BEST!! ....

[al baldwin]

Evening Brad, I have never been as gifted as some say they are at reading a dog every time they bark. As you know I have trained a few, so must be reading a little. Since I have owned ecollars with a toner, I have started pups with an old dog, if that pup leaves the road noising,after the old dog has passed over a scent, I give them a little time them whistle & then tone to get them distracted and heading back to join the pack. Seldom does it take any more than that.
Brad I have hunted with some good hunters, in the beginning I believed every thing they told me, however as I experienced more on my own, I decided every hunter has to find his own style, and learn to trust his instincts,( WITH CAUTION ) ecollars are a great tool in the correct hands, in the wrong hands they can spell disaster for a young or older hound. I don/t understand how one can be confident when correcting a dog for over running a track, unless you are looking at the dogs and the track has been overran by a large amount. Most of the times when I see a cat track overran by the time I could shock,the dog would be headed back to the pack.
There may indeed be houndmen who can read every bark quick enough, to correct as some have stated, if so, I say more power to you, believe you are in a very small group. I have never hunted with a houndman, I considered to be that good.
There is an old saying, Your beat teacher is your last mistake! True at times.
Brad, hesitated to comment on your post because some would be offended by my opinions , but it is just my opinion and don/t mean squat, young hunters can take it or leave it. Al

[Varminator]

Al, Did you see where I said "EVERY TIME" or are you speaking of others. It surprises me you saying that, with the kind of dog you like to hunt. Here's a few you should and others may recognize? And I won't even add the different types off the Box. Like BBBBBIG BBBBBBBBEAR LOL
Cold Track, frustration, warming up, jump,locate,tree,bay,lost,hurt and tattle tale.

[al baldwin]

Brad was not referring to anything you had written, just saying what has worked for me. Al

[1bludawg]

I've always found that guys who know their dogs the best have raised them from pups.They not only know what their dog is telling them by its voice but can tell you what the dog will do in certain situations BEFORE they happen! Of course you can learn a dogs behavior (if dog was bought ) over time but maybe not as well as if you had raised him from a pup.

[Varminator]

Thanks, Al and Robin, YOUNG HUNTERS , pay attention!! Al has "The ear", but he's being modest. EVERYONE has missed judged their ears a time or two!!
Besides watching your young dog (pup no more), what tells are you looking for that helps you determine its a bobcat without seeing the track? What tells you Coyote? etc... When possible I love to road the dogs,It's my Big Screen!! Time in the Brush is the answer to most, "But" that's not the answers to my questions that may help "Speed up" the young ones schooled on BGH! ....LMFAO....

[mark]

Varminator, you are giving some good mind stimulating advice. What i want to know is what does a guy do when his power saw ears catch up to him and his eyes water all the time? Cant hear and cant see. Oh ya, and cant remember either? You know like load up 8 dogs and only have 7 when you get home? I know you know what im talking about so give me some advice. Al, im sure you have some to throw out here.

[Varminator]

MARK ,At your age some people are Has bins and some people Never Where! As for me, the Older I get!, the better I Was!
Your not "HELPING!" with this shake and bake crash course, Lets Get 'er DONE!! I want to go back to FOX NEWS after I find that lost Dog!

[Old dog]

mark life is awesome when you start getting senile. a lot less stress, cant hear when you're dog falls behind,[not that my dog falls behind] and you think every track is a jumped cat! brad can tell you more about it than me though.

[mark]

Sound advice guys,thanks! I think im just going to get me one good silent dog,that way i wont be missing anything. I wont have to worry about reading my dog anymore just put some strong glasses on and wait for the tree symbol to show up on Garmin. I will only have to be able to count to one when its time to go home so no more dogs left behind! I think im on to something. Lmfao!!!!!!!!

[#LHB#]

For the people in the southeast, what do you look for in your running walkers? And is there any difference in reading your running walker verses tree stock?

[1bludawg]

After driving 50 miles to go hunting i was preparing to put the collars on my dogs ,when i reached into the back seat to get my collars i realized i had left them at home.I was not happy but after reading Marks post on forgetting his dog i feel,not so old ! There is no substitute for experience but a good houndman who will share his knowledge can sure shorten the trip between rookie and pro ,if you'll listen!

[al baldwin]

After driving 50 miles to go hunting i was preparing to put the collars on my dogs ,when i reached into the back seat to get my collars i realized i had left them at home.I was not happy but after reading Marks post on forgetting his dog i feel,not so old ! There is no substitute for experience but a good houndman who will share his knowledge can sure shorten the trip between rookie and pro ,if you'll listen!

Forgot my beepers years ago, drove 50 plus miles, decided to hunt anyway, got a track going, huge storm blew in, got rig very stuck, walked about 15 miles, lucky to get dogs the next day. Some times pays to use better judgement.
I had two excellent mentors, Clarence Berg, the most calm hunter I ever hunted with. Dogs go over a big ridge with no vehicle access, he timed them, 45 to 60 minutes dogs not back in hearing, we walked over there, dogs running a hot race and shut off, 30 minutes if no locate, we walked in. That is true, he caught lots of game, his dogs ran both cat & coyote. Tom Barnett, dogs hit a track chalk boots on and stay as close to them as possible & best be in good shape if you were going to hang with him.
Mark have no magic cure for the ears & eyes fading. Good post Brad bring back lots good memories.Al

[Dads dogboy]

LHB, do not feel left out just yet, Scrubrunner, Mr. Rod, Perk, or myself will get back to you. We all can legally be in the woods so not on as much right now as the OR guys.

Most SE Houndsmen can definitely "Read" many things from the tone, tenor, and pitch of each Hounds bark and tell you what that Hound is doing, or maybe as previously stated what it "Might" do.

OOPs wife is fussing at me to put this thing down as we have Company....be back later.....I hope!