Thread: What is the correct distance

Originally Posted by Tussock

So ranging out of sight, will you be using verbal commands?

depends yes and no , you dont need commands to cast a dog left and right it just will if trained to, Then a heel command on way back past if thats what you want

i think to many deer stalkers are dismissing bird hunting techniques , when a pointer or flushing dog is hunting birds a WELL trained one will cast from left to right with no commands it will also stop to point or a flushing dog will flush a bird off its nose and sit with out moving with no commands ,

Originally Posted by Kaimaicockher

depends yes and no , you dont need commands to cast a dog left and right it just will if trained to, Then a heel command on way back past if thats what you want

i think to many deer stalkers are dismissing bird hunting techniques , when a pointer or flushing dog is hunting birds a WELL trained one will cast from left to right with no commands it will also stop to point or a flushing dog will flush a bird off its nose and sit with out moving with no commands ,

I think too many deer hunters, especially ones with HPR breeds, don't understand how mutually beneficial the two are

That Herb thing, the oldman had a pointer that would touch his knee with his muzzle if there was something about. The rule was if he did that stop and really start looking, there was a deer there you just gotta find it. Ignore and spooked deer.

Originally Posted by Tussock

I don't doubt it. But there is a HUGE difference between a deer and a bird.

But how a dog should work them isn't

I reckon I'd shy away from using dogs out of eye shot, maybe you're NZ deer need to come equipped with hearing aids but ours have pretty handy hearing ha

I know a few bird doggers, one with a brit actually so is it worth going out with him and learning a bit from that? I agree with bits and pieces of what everyone is saying. I still am not convinced either way though on close or mid ranged. I spose the main thing now is I dont want to a) make the dog deaf and b) make it gun shy

Keep it close. Spend time with the bird dog guys to get the dog steady, then just take one step forward to have the muzzle in front of dog when shooting. Gun shy is a man made condition, and one easily avoided

Originally Posted by Tussock

Im confused, are you being facetious or are you actually suggesting you are going to use verbal commands and deer are just going to ignore it?

i'm pulling ya chain.

Originally Posted by Pointer

Keep it close. Spend time with the bird dog guys to get the dog steady, then just take one step forward to have the muzzle in front of dog when shooting. Gun shy is a man made condition, and one easily avoided

+1 especially when the dog is learning its craft.

For deer keep it close rules, in fact is the only rule.

I know a guy that is happy to let his dog hunt 100m away because he knows what he is doing and he knows he will sit and stay if it comes on to any thing of interest.

Is that in the bush malhunting? If so, how does he know where his dog is at a 100m range?

I bush hunt with my dog at heel, which is about his last rib next to my leg... definitely a rough shooters heel as opposed to a no-slip... I'm happy for him to duck under and over things but expect him to come back to heel.

More bush edge stuff but he is also happy for him to hunt a bit of distance in the bush but it does come down to visibility on that one like you say. He has a very good hunting dog so trusts him 100% to do his job as trained.

Originally Posted by Malhunting

trusts him 100% to do his job as trained.

The ultimate goal for us all!

No one has mentioned the element of knowing and keeping in touch with your dog, except Wirehunt.
I think you must be able to read your dog and create a symbiotic relationship. I like the dog to be in contact with me, and that means quite close. I aslo like to see the dog looking back and communicating with me, and looking for ques from me.

Out of touch, means out of mind. Equals problems.

About trust. I've owned hundreds of dogs, and have never trusted one of them.

Originally Posted by Tahr

never trusted one of them.

Why not Tahr?

I would have thought the whole point of owning, training and running a dog would be to reach the the point when you do trust them to do thier job and all it entails.