Tips for Hunting With Your Dog

Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, dog owners used to hunt for game with their trusty canines. Okay, wait, the galaxy is the same but it HAS been a long time. Hunting with dogs is getting less common these days but the tradition still lives on in some communities. So, to help you ace these hunting trips with your dog, let’s take you through some killer tips. See what we did there?

5 Tips for When You’re Out Hunting With Your Dog

These tips will not only help you bond with your pup but also allow you both to have a more enjoyable and safe time. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into them:

Getting Your Pooch Comfortable With Gun Sounds

A hunting gun holds the power to spook even the bravest of humans. So, it comes as no surprise that untrained dogs are quite scared of gunshots. There are many ways to train them to get accustomed to the noise. 

We, however, recommend that you play fetch with your canine and shoot a shot when the pup is at least 100 yards away. With time, you can reduce this distance, and soon your pooch will not even flinch when a gun is shot right beside it. We also recommend that you reward it for positive reinforcement every time you reduce the distance of the shot fired.

Obedience & Specific Training

Talking about rewards and positive reinforcements, you can use that for basic obedience training as well. It is important that your canine sits, stands, halts, and runs at your command. 

Obedience training should be followed by specific training where your dog learns to retrieve at your command. Along with initial training, you should also run a quick drill of these basic commands each time you go hunting. 

Healthcare Measures

When you’re out hunting with your dog, the road can take you to plenty of new places with their own strains of contagions and diseases. So, make sure that all your dog’s vaccinations are in order. 

We also recommend that you apply ointments for ticks and fleas before treading the hunter’s path. This, along with basic medicines, food supplies, treats, and a first aid kit should be securely packed in your bag in case of any unforeseen injuries.

Safety Measures

Talking about packing, you should also carry a water bottle and not allow your pooch to drink directly through a stream as god knows what kind of parasites that contains! We also recommend that you carry a hunting knife, along with a buoyant vest in case your track has some sort of a water body. You should also adorn your canine with an orange vest. A neon shade of orange has high visibility and will allow other hunters on the track to spot your paw pal. 

Talking about visibility, if you’re planning to go hunting during the night, you should also keep night gear like these night vision goggles. Gear, like this, will not only help you see better but also allow you to take photos and cement your memories. 

Enjoy & Bond With Your Dog

This one’s quite obvious but hunters, in the chaos of the hunt, tend to forget that one of the aims of the trip is to enjoy and bond with their furry friend. It’s unreal how fast our four-legged friends grow. Soon, it’ll be all old and will not be able to accompany you on your hunts. So, you must enjoy the time that you have with it to the max. 

So, now that you are equipped with these hunting tips, you’re all set to go catch some game with your dog. Just make sure that your pooch is well trained and its safety isn’t compromised. You can even buy a hunting toy to help with this training and keep it occupied on the trip.