Thread: Considering an Indicator Dog for Bush Hunting: Seeking Advice and Opinions

Hey everyone, I hope you're doing well. I've been thinking about getting an indicator dog for bush hunting and wanted to know a bit more about the whole process before making the commitment. I try to get out hunting about once every six weeks, but I've heard that for an indicator dog to be any good, it needs to be out and about regularly. I'm not sure if I'm going frequently enough. Any advice, comments, or opinions from those with experience would be really appreciated!

Do you have the house,section and homelife for a dog to be happy n busy for next twelve years??? Do you have time to take it for walks at least once a week??? Do you have access to dog friendly hunting grounds?? Can you afford the feed and occasional vet visit??? Too easy to have a house pet to just tag along. Getting them to be any good at hunting takes time,patience and lots of hunting.

To be honest of your only getting out once every 6 weeks I wouldn't try to train up a indicating dog. You'll most likely just end up with a pet you don't actually take hunting at all as it's more hassle than it's worth.

any dog is a commitment and you need to make it - what about going away on holiday or even for a weekend - so lateral thinking some of you dog owners would know if this would work -dual ownership - now I know from being a sherherd a new dog about a week and would be working for me - so if two hunters had a dog week in week out I wonder if it would work for both - I dont see why not - six weeks between actually getting the dog out is a long time and could equal bored dog - the big problems I hear about vizlas and GSP are about bored ill trained dogs - any way my two cents worth - but only every six weeks my answer would be no to a dog - if out on a farm may be different the dog would get a lot more out and about but in town nah--I would love a dog again but have to say no I cant make the commitment needed so totally unfair on dog

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

any dog is a commitment and you need to make it - what about going away on holiday or even for a weekend - so lateral thinking some of you dog owners would know if this would work -dual ownership - now I know from being a sherherd a new dog about a week and would be working for me - so if two hunters had a dog week in week out I wonder if it would work for both - I dont see why not - six weeks between actually getting the dog out is a long time and could equal bored dog - the big problems I hear about vizlas and GSP are about bored ill trained dogs - any way my two cents worth - but only every six weeks my answer would be no to a dog - if out on a farm may be different the dog would get a lot more out and about but in town nah--I would love a dog again but have to say no I cant make the commitment needed so totally unfair on dog

Barry I am currently part of a dog sharing arrangement, I have been the default occaisonal babysitter for a dog for the last few years, and in May his owners went overseas (coming back in Oct) so at the moment I have him for half the week and some mutual friends of ours and the owners have him for the rest of the time. It actually works so well that I am starting to think about getting another one when this ones owners get back. We have all the perks of having a dog but since he lives in two houses we only have half the commitment.
I will admit that part of why it works, is that this dog is a very well behaved and smart dog, (labXhuntaway) docile with everything except rabbits and possums and can learn a new command in about 5 minutes. So maybe it is a successful sample group of one, the 1 out of 10 that is successful, but my 2c is that it is a good way to go.

The only difference I have noticed between this dog and a full time dog is that he suddenly knows new commands that I haven't taught him. This is usually noticed when a treat comes out of the cupboard and he goes through his routine before you even tell him to do anything. But when I started teaching him to jump electric fences I started with the command 'jump over', turns out he had just been taught 'roll over' and thought he already knew what to do!.

I am actually surprised more people don't do the dog share thing. I always thought it would be a good thing for retirees and younger working folk to team up on, so the dog and the retiree have company during the day without the running costs of the dog and depending on the arrangement they don't have to commit to too much excercising either, and the working person gets free doggy daycare during work hours, a win-win.

well longshot thats positive -I had to laugh at the point about other commands for christ sake dont say ; drop the big log now ; ya never know what the buggers been taught - no just put it out there for consideration always been told I was a lateral thinker

Sounds like its not for you mate, and dogs need a walk atleast once a day IMO

If you want to have a dog around as a companion, then by all means go for it, knowing full well it is a major commitment as said above. I have a border collie/heading dog and she is firstly me mate and secondly a working dog. She comes with me everywhere, and loves fishing and hunting. I dont get out that often, but if i ask her wheres the deer, or the tahr, or the pig, or the ducks, or the possum shes an amazing indicator dog and knows the difference. Never doubt the dogs nose!

Dogs need regular exercise and indicator dogs need regular work or they go off the boil, six weeks is too long between jobs. It would take a while each hunt to get back in the groove unless it had exceptional natural drive. Have hunted with a few breeds over the years, they all have their foibles.

I put in the full 12 months on the blueprint with my dog in central Auckland. It requires daily training and discipline in handling. It is not a family friendly program - all my mates have had disagreement with their spouses- so you need to be more flexible than the program suggests. It's a great start but I'd do a modified shorter version with the experience next time round.

Training - I found places locally to do the training; one of them is now a Ryman Healthcare build. But it's possible even here. We hunt about once a month for a few days. He was pretty much onto it from day 1 and has taught me to be a better hunter. He would be an infinitely better indicating dog with a more experienced hunter getting out more regularly. But he's equally at home 99.7% of the time as a much loved member of the family.

It's a big commitment as Barry the Hunter said. Daily walks, proper nutrition, care and maitenance. You need to find a good boarding kennel operation that understands real dogs. It is 100% worth it if you put the work in. I enjoy watching him work!

Don't be fooled by the You Tubers who post all their successful hunts. Everyone has their fail days with a great dog too. I blame me for all of ours.

As said (and most likely not what to hear) a dog is somewhat of a long term commitment.
As an example we have a pointer (did have 3) and live in town.
The need a good off lead run in a safe place every night to save wear and tear on the section and house.
Every night I take them to a local area for an hours run off lead (sometime a bit of training), in the last year I have missed 10 nights walks total.
Our hunting season is 4 months and if I get out one day every weekend thats a total of 12 days actual hunting.
My dog(s) is really a hunting companion/company rather than a hunting dog but thats fine with me. We do OK and have a great time together
A well behaved house dog you can take hunting is easier to achieve than a full blown hunting machine.

It is possible but takes a lot of work and more importantly EXPOSURE to animals is whats is needed.
OH and i accept training a bird dog is different than a deer dog but they are both dogs.

If you do get a pooch..............enjoy it, relax and don't try to train it into a machine.
Lastly (this was posted on an overseas forum I belong to and its the best advice for any hunting dog I have heard)

Takarat buy your self a nice thermal handheld and call it seeker - easier to train to - feed it batterys every now and then much easier

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

Takarat buy your self a nice thermal handheld and call it seeker - easier to train to - feed it batterys every now and then much easier

How effective are thermals in thick bush?

they are effective just need to practice with it -they will get better and better and smaller

Thank you all for your opinions and advice—I really appreciate it. I acknowledge that getting a dog is a big responsibility, and I’m taking that into serious consideration. The dog would also serve as a companion for my adventures, but I’m still wondering if this is an idea worth pursuing in terms of hunting given my circumstances. Any additional thoughts or experiences are welcome!