Author Topic: Is takeing your dog along on the Line a good idea? (Read 555 times)

Huntrap_MT · « **on:** August 29, 2003, 04:15:28 AM »

I have always kept my poor dog at home when I head out to the line. I never like to do this as I don't get to spend that much more time with her. The reason I feel I have to leave her home is simply cause I worry that when I am not watching her as I run my line, she just may poke her head into cat cubby gaurded with #280, for example. How do dog toten' folks make out with a dog along on the line? Do yo have a purpose for having your dog along? How do you go about keeping a dog safe and keeping her from wandering all about causeing a ruckus? I suppose you would have to kepp her tied up until it came time to dispatch an animal then a guy could turn her loose for distraction making dispatch easier. Please inform me on any thoughts on this subject as it is very important to me! Thanks,

Huntrap

trappnman · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2003, 09:04:46 AM »

There are a lot of trappers that not only take a dog along- but insist on it. For canines- watching a dogs actions and where he goes, what he does points of set locations. Dogs are also used to help locate animals on a drag. It only takes a few times caught in footholds to learn quick- bodygrippers you better be more careful.

WhiteMtnCur · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2003, 02:11:10 PM »

I would never trap coyotes or bobcats without a dog. I have several and they are an invaluable asset to any serious land trapper.

Most dogs learn pretty quick what a set is and how to avoid it. In your case, I would make a cubby with a small trap (you didn't say what kind of dog it is, but a #160 should be good), and let your dog get a conibear snapped on it's nose, you're right there if you need to help take the trap off. Change up the lures and sets trying to catch the dog again. It won't be long before your dog will recognize lure smells and the looks of any set as something to be avoided.

You shouldn't be concerned beyond that. My dogs are to the point wher a well camouflaged 1/16" snare is something they can pick out and duck under. The only time I don't let them get out of the truck is when I stop at a place where I have 3/64" Ram Power snares set. Other than that, I always have at least one with me.

trappnman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2003, 02:14:32 PM »

Think twice about training a dog to avoid conibears by letting him stick his head into one. Then think again.

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #4 on:** August 29, 2003, 02:53:27 PM »

I'm 100% with T-man on this. Now I'll bet you can accomplish the same teaching using a smallish light sprung foot hold in front of the cubby.

Better, to snake proof dogs I use an training collar and a snake in a sack. When the dog shows that it smells the snake it gets a shock. It dosen't take much to get the pooch giving a wide birth to the scent of a snake...substitute your lures for the snake.

WhiteMtnCur · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2003, 03:25:32 PM »

I've caught my dogs in mid-size conibears before, and it doesn't kill them. I used to trap coon with conibears and at times caught my dogs in conibears. Newer Bridger #220's and #160's will not kill 50lb dogs (O'Gorman/Dorn's and Border Collie's). It knocks them down and they won't be able to breathe, but as long as you're there to take them out of the trap they only suffer a sore neck.

I'm not advocating doing this with bigger traps, or with small dogs as I said in my first post. My intention with my first post was to use a trap that will hit the dog on the snout, not behind the ears, in a situation where Huntrap_MT can immediately remove the dog from the trap if he needs to.

I've never been much of a fan of shock collars. They do work, and I use them to train dogs not to pull M-44's. But too many dogs are smart enough to know they only get shocked when they have the collar on, and they'll push the envelope without the collar, and can still have bad habits.

Huntrap_MT · « **Reply #6 on:** August 29, 2003, 05:56:00 PM »

:shock: Woa! I don't think I would put my prized game dog through any teachings from a coni! My dog is highly prized by me to keep the loneliness at bay up here and she keeps me fed with fresh meat when I need it. No, I just couldn't risk cracked teeth, scarring her congi, or even causing cracks in her nose/skull. If I had a smaller coni that had extremly weak springs, maybe. What if I taught her about all the sets, would she than slow up to much and not hunt as aggressively as I need her too? Would she turn a little paranoid when she should be covering alot of ground under my gun? I hear you guys, but at the same time I still have a little wonderment going on. I am not worried at all about my dog getting into a foothold set, but I do think I will ty her up in the back of the pickup when I am running coni cubbies, I would just feel better that way. I will start taking her along with me trapping. It does sound like a dog can be quit an asset in trapping. Do any of you let your dog pin down a trapped animal or just just circle around it for distraction? Like I say I don't want to take risks with my dog as she is more that just a pet as she realy keeps food costs down for me and is like owning my own personal butcher shop for only the price of some kibble. I have had a her in a beaver snare once and she did not get to exited as I know most dogs don't. One final question: What should I have my dog do for me when on the line?

trappnman · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2003, 01:51:55 AM »

Second hand info, but from the sources:

1) run your dog down trails- make blind sets where she walks.

2) notice where she urinates- make post sets there

3) trail animals on drags

4) have fun

steven49er · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2003, 03:17:06 AM »

Some friends of mine that run bobcats with hounds use a system to train their dogs to avoid bucket type cubbies. Here's what they do. They take and make a bucket set with conibear and all and put something inside the dog cant resist. The trap is rigged so it cant go off. Then they take an electric fencer and rig it to the trap. They allow the dog to run around until it trys to stick its head in. They tell me that one good shock is all it takes. The newer fencers are pretty powerful. Sounds a little harsh but it is better than a dead dog.

Jacktheknife · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2004, 06:14:42 AM »

A dog on the line? Sure!
Now let me qualify that remark, I have a new hound, Sandymay.
And last year I let her go with me to check my line. It took about 5 weeks before she realized what we were up to, She found out real fast what a trap was. Only once did she get caught, she said she would rather ride in the back of my truck and bark at everything rather than bury those dern traps out in the woods all day, but when we really began to catch some Coon in the later winter, it became interesting for her.
She would help me run the line, and since she didn't have to carry anything she would run the line a set or two ahead of me.
I would be re-baiting a set or making a new one and hear up ahead: 'Bark Bark Bark Got a coon up here boss.'
Then later on; "Bark Bark Bark Got another one!'
It was becoming fun for her.

One day while I was plucking a dead chicken to sort of dress up a set,
I heard Scream!!!!!!! Scream!!!!!!!!!!!! CAT! CAT!
KiLL HIM SHOOT HIM STOP HIM DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!!!!!!! Scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought Hmmm sounds like I have a Cat up ahead.

And I did. Now the Cats leg hide was torn a bit from the traumatic experiance of Sandymay finding her first Bobcat,
but it was fun and the fur buyer did not discount the hide.
Sandymay will be a good Coon-Cat Hound,
and this is part of her training.

I wouldn't take a pack of hounds with me to run my line, and when my hounds were all alive would leave them at home.
But one dog or hound is good company, can help find critters,
its not good to have them pee on your line, but it works out.

Knife

coyotero · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2004, 06:50:21 PM »

I always take my dog along,she is 13 years old this year.When I first took her I made a dirthole for her and set a Victor #1 longspring with a weak spring for her.I moved over and poked in another set.She promptly banged into the Victor,there was much crying,I took the trap off,she headed towards the same set,I said No!!.That was the last time I caught her in a leghold trap.I can count on snaring her at least once per season.I don't take her around conibear sets.She is a good companion.One time I setup where she peed and did a big kickback.I ended up catching an old male coyote that I had educated.Maggie and I have shared many trapline sandwichs over the years.

mntrapper28 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2004, 08:53:40 AM »

i don't think i could ever take either one of my dogs on the line, for one, they like to chase deer. i have noticed that both of them are deathly afraid of my traps, if i'm out in the garage tinkerin with traps they will not come near me. i had a 160 snap on my hand and wrist and man did it hurt, i would have a hard time putting my pups through that.

here's a question i have for people with dogs. do you think our domestic dogs are smarter than say a coyote or fox, i dont' trap much for them so i'm curious if a yote or fox smarten up and learn to avoid traps after being exposed to them once or twice.