Author Topic: Well-behaved Dogs (Read 745 times)

sevendogs · « **on:** October 06, 2003, 01:27:24 AM »

:-) How many of you have a good hunting dog, which is also a well-behaved dog? We teach our dogs so many "do nots" so some of them even do not hunt well. They are better fit to live a sort of vegetable way of life, though. Who wants a dog, which is always anxious to be active, jumps over fences, digs under or climbs over fences to get some freedom to hunt and play? I do, because I let them to play and hunt a lot. With my dogs I learned that "well-behaved" dogs are sometimes not very healthy and most often lazy and lacking of endurance to hunt well dogs. Some of them suffer hidden hereditary health problems. If the dog is not happy, because you have no time or place to exercise him well, you do not not have right conditions to keep a good hunting dog. Such a dog do not survive well in a puppy mill kennel. This is one reason why puppy mill kennels or any other kennels raising dogs for show and pets, even when dogs are well cared off, are degenerating hunting breeds.

rwng · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2003, 11:28:12 AM »

Well I don't know if I qualify to answer, I am new to hunting with dogs. I will say that I can't stand a dog that wont listen. Now I do admit that my dogs are head strong and aren't the "best" behaved dogs. But they do what I say most of the time. I don't think there is any way to take the hunt or energy out of my Kemmers. They must have energizer batteries installed at birth.

matt d · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2003, 01:44:27 PM »

Sevendogs,
I think you are right, dogs must be allowed to hunt and play as much as possible. I also think that a dog should have some manners. I'm not saying giving them a bunch of "don'ts" but give them some "dos." My dog, a Black Mouth Cur, has to have manners or I can't have her around thus not letting her play and hunt nearly as much. I knew I was going to have a real pain in the neck on my hands as soon as I got her. I got to choose from four six week old puppies and three of them were very friendly. I didn't choose those, I chose the one yelping and biting shoe string. I loved the spunk and tenacity but was nervous about my choice because she was going to have to learn to behave in a hurry. I gave her lots of "doos." Do chew on her bone, do sit instead of jump up, do go on little puppy hunts. You get what I'm saying. Ya, she gets told no but not in the way people are used to seeing dogs be treated. I can't believe how much a person can get out of a dog if you trully believe the only thing they want to do is please you. If they don't know if they are pleasing you they will move on to something else. My puppy is one year old now and she is well mannered untill my girlfriend or someone else that has no freaking clue about dogs gets her "mo" going. Dogs are easier to train than girlfriends so I will just have to accept an imperfect world for now. The one area a really could have done better in is the barking thing. I told her to stop barking in the wrong fashion and she didn't bark at the first few pigs she met. She lets loose now but I confused her. I am interested to hear what you have to say about my technique since I am new to the dog training thing.

sevendogs · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2003, 12:11:18 AM »

Quote from: matt d

Sevendogs,
I think you are right, dogs must be allowed to hunt and play as much as possible. I also think that a dog should have some manners. I'm not saying giving them a bunch of "don'ts" but give them some "dos." My dog, a Black Mouth Cur, has to have manners or I can't have her around thus not letting her play and hunt nearly as much. I knew I was going to have a real pain in the neck on my hands as soon as I got her. I got to choose from four six week old puppies and three of them were very friendly. I didn't choose those, I chose the one yelping and biting shoe string. I loved the spunk and tenacity but was nervous about my choice because she was going to have to learn to behave in a hurry. I gave her lots of "doos." Do chew on her bone, do sit instead of jump up, do go on little puppy hunts. You get what I'm saying. Ya, she gets told no but not in the way people are used to seeing dogs be treated. I can't believe how much a person can get out of a dog if you trully believe the only thing they want to do is please you. If they don't know if they are pleasing you they will move on to something else. My puppy is one year old now and she is well mannered untill my girlfriend or someone else that has no freaking clue about dogs gets her "mo" going. Dogs are easier to train than girlfriends so I will just have to accept an imperfect world for now. The one area a really could have done better in is the barking thing. I told her to stop barking in the wrong fashion and she didn't bark at the first few pigs she met. She lets loose now but I confused her. I am interested to hear what you have to say about my technique since I am new to the dog training thing.

I am not a dog training expert, but I like natural performance in the dog. I believe that eceryone must teach his dog (or dogs) basic obedience like meaning of NO and come up when called, etc. Sometimes, when living in a city or other kind of crowded places means "life or death". I like your taste when choosing a puppy, becuase this is what I do. I learned that some difficult puppies grow up very intelligent dogs and they can take initiative to act without commands and directions in case of danger threatening the master. I mean danger in a form of a human intruder or a big animal like bear or wild boar, when hunting. Besides, difficult dogs with initiative in their character are most interesting to live with and watch them when they are with other dogs, people and, of course, in the hunting process.

howdy doody · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2003, 02:15:42 PM »

From my own laymans point of view I favor Golden Retrievers. I have had 3 and I have found they are the most easiest for me, a non trainer to actually train. It seems they just want to please you 24/7. The ones I have had have been excellent around children and the house. They love to do field work too. Although they are active, they are not high strung.
The downside is that many have hip problems and need to be vet checked if buying a puppy and they don't have a really long life span either. I have had one that lived to 14 years and I have heard 12 years is about average. :cry: