Bells on dogs

[Powder River Walker]

I have a hound that she trails and doesn't say much untill she knows for a fact that it is hot then she bays only a couple of times until she trees then she bays a few times. While modern technology gives us great things like tracking collars, I was wondering about putting a bell on her, to help locate her and to maybe jump a cat out of the bush.
is this a good idea?

[waylon]

I dont know about the jumping a cat out of a bush, but i ordered 4 swiss dog bells off amazon yesterday to help me know where my dogs are before they strike or when they are just keeping quiet. I hunted with a buddy who used them a month ago and it really made it more fun cause we knew where his dogs were all the time, he uses different bells on each dog ( 3 dogs) and you could tell each dog by the different tones each bell made. He said he puts them on in the mourning before he hunts them and they dont bug the dog after 30min or so

[Powder River Walker]

That sounds great I think I will get some for my dogs, and maybe my kids .

[Big Horn Posse]

I always had bells on my dogs. I had different sizes on each dog so I know which dog was which by the sound of the bell. A few of my dogs were not very vocal until the track was moving good. This helped me know where they were and I do think it helps keep the wolves away. Just my opinion.

[cobalt]

The only thing I found that I didn't like about bells was that the dogs had trouble honoring other dogs on a lose.

[Caincando1]

I've always been curious about using bells. We coyote hunt in Minnesota and nobody that I know uses bells. I'm wondering how far you can hear them. I'm also wondering what they look like and how they are attached.

[Melanie Hampton]

They carry for quite a ways.. I don't know the distance.. I have used them in thick brush so I am sure that would be different then, say, somewhere more open.. And I've heard the Swiss bells carry the farthest..

I have just gone to the local feed stores and bought the small ones for goats.. Yes they all sound the same, but I can tell my dogs apart by what is coming out of the bells Jane's bell goes non-stop, Brisco's slower but steady and Jack sets his off the least...

I just zip tie them onto the tracking collar.. Haven't lost one yet..

[waylon]

I just got back from wal-mart and bought the ones that go on a fishing pole got 2 for 2.09 rigged them so they will stay on the collar, maybe that will get me by until mine come in the mail, but from what most folks say there almost all positive and little negative using them and for $2.00 how can it hurt??

[Liz ODell]

I use bells on mine when I'm hunting smaller spots and need to keep track of where they are at. I have gone through a TON of those copper goat and turkey bells, they last for a month or so in the brushy stuff before the bell falls off the 'dinger' - well gets pulled through. Sometimes the zip ties break but I use the heavy ones and 2 of them. I have had a couple of the swiss bells mounted on old collars I sewed up and they have lasted for years. So I guess I should take my own advice and not buy the 'cheap' (3 to 5$) ones anymore just buy some more swiss bells (10 to 15$) and sew straps for them.

[Powder River Walker]

Well I went ahead a ordered some. I can't see what it will hurt when I have just one pup I am working with. I think that the garmin and the bell will complement each other. If nothing eles I will put them on the wife's sheep to keep the coyotes out.

[B-N-Trees]

I like bells. They work when everything else fails. Although having said that choose bells that clean out easily. Snow and mud can pack in the housing and render the bell useless.

[guy54]

I use bells. I especially like them at night coon hunting. They seem to carry quit a ways on a still night. I also use them when lion hunting. It really is a peaceful and soothing sort of thing when riding a mule off the mountain and knowing that all the dogs are with you just by listening to the bells.

[waylon]

Well i just got home after my test drive with the bells and i really liked them until they both came off. I will be glad when the swiss ones get here those 2 dollar ones were real nice and it was kinda strange how much ground my dogs were really covering that before i kinda thought they were just milling around, lost one after an hour and the other when the dogs were fighting a coon at the edge of a pond, oh well it was worth it to know i will keep using them from now on

[buckshot]

I never put them on the hounds, I only put them on the bassets.......I figured since the bassets were smaller, they could use a little protection warding off the yotes.

[Stubby]

I've used bells until I had a nice young redbone killed by a lion while wearing a bell.
Read of plenty of dogs killed while wearing bells so I've come to the conclusion they are no help in that regard.
They do help you keep track of your dog but they will also do a good job of making sure you never see hide nor hair of any other game while out in the bush also.