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Just a question for those of you that run big game indicator dogs.
How many of you use tracking collars? Are they needed on a deer dog? If not do you run a shock collar or something else for recall if for some reason they bolt?
I have just got a pup to train up as my first indicator dog and wondering wether tracking collars would be a good investment for down the line.
I used a shock collar in the early days, but only ever used the beep or vibrate option...im unsure why people use tracking collars on indicating unless they are long range indicating dogs...I use mine close range...if she bolts I his or growl at her and it pulls her up.....if you have a gd stop that should be all good..
Hamish
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A tracking collar shouldn’t be needed, the dog is supposed to stay within a few metres of you. Though some dogs have other ideas!
I only use the shock on a shock collar for stockproofing and only if the dog chases a lamb/sheep.
Mine wears a tracking collar always. Give me a place to go look to find her should yhe need arise. She is also conditioned to return when collsr beeps to save whidtling and calling. I found chasing pheasants that if she goes onpoint 300m away invisable in the scrub its nice to know where to head as she will not move.
On an indicating dog not required, unless you want to drop 1500 in the very unlikely event, the dog bolts. Which won't happen if you've put in the effort trg. Training collars are beneficial, I use the beep as a silent recall, vibrate as a warning if she is doing something she shouldn't, only zap if dogs in danger, or if she was ever to chase stock etc.
I'll post what I wrote in a private message to another member the other day as I can't be bothered writing it out again but quick run down on how I've found tt15 paired with a 200i I've recently been running on Bo
Sorry for the late reply. I've been really happy with the investment to be honest Bo wears it most days as we have two dairy farms side by side, mixture of terrain from river flats to Blue Mountains foothills with forestry blocks and some native etc in the gullies over about 900ha and we end up all over the show at times and often Bo will jump off the ute and I may end up a couple Ks away, it only took him two days to learn that the beep means to come back to me and it's hard case sitting at home and seeing him on the GPS at our far farm a couple Ks away and then pushing the beep button and seeing him heading towards home on the screen, usually following the exact tracks I've taken to get home. He was also pushing the limits a bit while hunting as he's just gone twelve months and is at that cheeky teenager stage, he pointed a fallow doe coming up out of the forestry while we were sitting on a ridge and eventually I could see her standing in the tree line looking out into the open where we were hidden behind a matagouri bush about 80yds away, he was rock solid pointing but as soon as the doe stepped into the open he broke and wanted to chase but a quick zap with the stimulation reined him back in before he had even taken a second step, he had done that a couple of times lately but we have been on a few deer since and he has obviously learnt the lesson and hasn't shown any signs of breaking. They are expensive but a great tool. Mine even paid dividends recently as despite living in the sticks we have a large old historic homestead directly across the road from our house that is used as a B&B and there is a couple there from Auckland who recently purchased it, they have decided to play farmer with a few sheep etc in their house paddocks and they are currently lambing. They came to our place all upset a couple days ago saying a dog that "looks like your dog" had been into their sheep and killed two lambs and a ewe that was lambing. I knew Bo wouldn't have some that as he's been around stock from day one and is 120% stockproof. I asked them what time they had seen the dog and they said 10.30am. I was then able to show them on my Garmin unit that at that time Bo was with me, a long way away from their place so there was no way he had done it, I also showed them all my saved tracks from the days Bo has had the collar on and he had never once crossed onto their property. There was a team of guys setup with portable yards tailing lambs at a neighbours place that day and I assume it was one of their dogs that had come and done it, was good to have undeniable proof that Bo was a good boy though! The unit works real well only time I lose communication with the collar is if Bo goes into a shed, but I can still see his last known location and use the birdseye aerial imagery maps on my unit so I can tell he's in that shed, it's been fine through thick forestry and native etc even at a fair way out or over a couple of ridges it hasn't lost communication.
awesome post thanks Ryan.... I recently thought about using one (with great reluctance due to nature of Meg) for non barking...someone else pointed out,collar on means no barkies or it goes zap......I have issue when deer are close and break before Ive seen them,Meg will whine or even bark in frustration...thus thinking collar MAY help....or not and make nervousness worse.she pees in submission enough as it is!!!!
They are worth every penny in my opinion
For all the reasons Ryan outlined
Also if you are hunting with a mat and no dog you can turn a collar onvand stick it in his pack to keep an eye on him
Thanks for the comments guys it appears that the only real negative is the cost which I had presumed it would be. The point of being able to prove your dog wasnt on someone elses property is a good point id never thought of.
