Trust Your Dog Training Methods
May 7, 2013
Read More »
D.T. the Dog Training Series Releases Video 3: Puppy Retriever Training
May 2, 2013
In the third installment of the D.T. the Dog training videos, D.T. Systems Pro Staff trainer Dan Ihrke goes through the steps of introducing a puppy to retrieving. Dan shows the steps needed to excite a dogs natural instincts to begin the retriever training process. Dan also explains what to avoid when starting this process and the products you will need in training.
Viewers will be able to follow along as D.T. the Dog is trained from a puppy to expert hunting dog, while picking up valuable information and training tips they can apply to their training regimen. Trained by D.T. Systems Pro-Staff member and distinguished dog trainer, Dan Ihrke, D.T. the Dog is a Fox Red Labrador Retriever that will serve as the star of the video series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj6jyT_Z5Zo
Read and join the discussion on D.T. the Dog Training Series Releases Video 3: Puppy Retriever Training at OutdoorHub.com.
Michigan DNR Presents Trapping Safety Class for Dog Owners April 22 in Marquette
April 11, 2013
The Department of Natural Resources will present a class for dog owners to learn about how furbearer traps work and how to safely release pets from traps. The class will be held Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at the Peter White Public Library, located at 217 N. Front St. in Marquette.
Traps set for some animals such as coyotes, bobcats and raccoons can also catch dogs. This class will include hands-on instruction about various trap types and their operation and trap-setting tools to help dog owners learn to safely release their pets in the unlikely event that they step into a trap.
“Over the years I have released a number of dogs from legally set traps with panicked dog owners waiting for my arrival – once I show dog owners how a trap operates they almost always comment that they could have done that themselves if they had only known how traps work,” said DNR wildlife biologist Brian Roell. “With a little education and some hands-on application, dog owners will be able to safely release their pets in 99 percent of situations.”
Read and join the discussion on Michigan DNR Presents Trapping Safety Class for Dog Owners April 22 in Marquette at OutdoorHub.com.
Dog Training: It’s All About the Scent
March 8, 2013
“My dog does great in training, but…”
How many times do we hear these famous words from a person new to the dog training arena. The crew from Soggy Acres Retrievers would love to provide a simple tip that could help! One of the most common reasons for training mishaps is scent control. We’re not talking about the scent control we use for game hunting. We’re talking about the scent control of our training items that we use with our trusty four-legged field champion.
Most people don’t realize just how much scent is on our hands alone. Everything we touch bears our signature scent for animals to smell. If you throw a ball into heavy cover, the dog doesn’t seek out the tennis ball’s scent to find the object: he uses the scent from the hand that launched it there (or the overly-familiar scent of his own slobber from past retrieves).
This does not pose a problem for someone that is working with a future yard ball champion, but will pose a long-term problem for the trainer with a new dog looking to achieve greater things in the field. As a training program progresses, the trainer needs to go from scent introduction to scent discrimination.
To do this, start using scentless gloves, either plastic or latex, when handling training tools. This will allow your future field champion the opportunity to learn that bird, deer, rabbit, and all other animal scents being trained for, don’t come with their owner’s hand scent as well. Your scent will not exist on the animal in the wild that you need him to retrieve, so he needs to begin the process of identifying and seeking out these new scents.
Of course there is also nothing like the real thing! If training for upland or waterfowl, use the actual quarry. If shed hunting, find an area rich with antlers. When using actual quarry is impractical, companies such as Conquest have created applicator sticks containing actual animal scents in compounds made to withstand your sweat and his slobber for extended training sessions. Just apply to your training object and go.
Pass on this knowledge to other perspective trainers! There’s nothing better than a well-trained dog to hunt behind in the field!
Read and join the discussion on Dog Training: It’s All About the Scent at OutdoorHub.com.
D.T. Systems Introduces D.T. the Dog Training Video
March 1, 2013
D.T. Systems is excited to announce a brand new online training video series created for every dog owner. Viewers will be able to follow along as D.T. the Dog is trained from a puppy to expert hunting dog, while picking up valuable information and training tips they can apply to their training regimen. Trained by D.T. Systems Pro-Staff member and distinguished dog trainer, Dan Ihrke, D.T. the Dog is a Fox Red Labrador Retriever that will serve as the star of the video series.
Videos will be released monthly as D.T. grows and learns, touching on some of the most asked training questions with step-by-step training advice given by Dan Ihrke.
“We are very excited to be unveiling D.T. the Dog and this series of training videos,” said D.T. Systems Director of Marketing Brian Lasely. “The information Dan shares during this video series will help turn anyone into a proficient dog trainer. We are excited to follow D.T.’s progress as he learns new skills every month working with Dan and using D.T. Systems products.”
“This is a great opportunity to showcase D.T. Systems dog training products and the steps that need to be taken to have a top notch hunting companion,” said D.T. Systems Pro-Staff Member Dan Ihrke. “D.T. the Dog is an exceptional dog and is perfect to represent D.T. Systems and proper dog training.”
Viewers can watch the first in the series of D.T. the Dog videos here and follow along with the monthly installments by signing up for the monthly newsletter here. The video series can also be seen on the D.T. Systems website and Facebook page.
Video 1: Finding the Right Dog
In this video Dan Ihrke discusses what steps need to be taken in order to find the right type of dog and personality traits you want to fit your needs. Dan also discusses why D.T. the Dog was chosen to represent D.T. Systems products.
Read and join the discussion on D.T. Systems Introduces D.T. the Dog Training Video at OutdoorHub.com.
D.T. Systems Online Dog Training Video Series Announced
February 28, 2013
D.T. Systems is excited to announce a brand new online training video series created for every dog owner. Viewers will be able to follow along as D.T. the Dog is trained from a puppy to expert hunting dog, while picking up valuable information and training tips they can apply to their training regimen. Trained by D.T. Systems Pro-Staff member and distinguished dog trainer, Dan Ihrke, D.T. the Dog is a Fox Red Labrador Retriever that will serve as the star of the video series.
Videos will be released monthly as D.T. grows and learns, touching on some of the most asked training questions with step-by-step training advice given by Dan Ihrke.
“We are very excited to be unveiling D.T. the Dog and this series of training videos,” said D.T. Systems Director of Marketing Brian Lasley. “The information Dan shares during this video series will help turn anyone into a proficient dog trainer. We are excited to follow D.T.’s progress as he learns new skills every month working with Dan and using D.T. Systems products.”
“This is a great opportunity to showcase D.T. Systems dog training products and the steps that need to be taken to have a top notch hunting companion,” said D.T. Systems Pro-Staff Member Dan Ihrke. “D.T. the Dog is an exceptional dog and is perfect to represent D.T. Systems and proper dog training.
Viewers can watch the first in the series of D.T. the Dog videos here and follow along with the monthly installments by signing up for the monthly newsletter here. The video series can also be seen on the D.T. Systems website and Facebook page.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zf3DW1EAFk
Read and join the discussion on D.T. Systems Online Dog Training Video Series Announced at OutdoorHub.com.
Retriever Rehab
February 15, 2013
It was a nightmare scenario for a hunting dog owner. The local festival fireworks display sent cannon-like reports thundering through the small town, loud enough to shake houses and knock picture off walls. It was also loud enough to scare dogs, including a tolling retriever named Kenai near and dear to my family’s heart.
Since that night, any loud sound has the dog scared out of her mind. It didn’t take long to find out that this included gun shots. Until this point, the young dog was doing quite well with her retrieves and she loved hunting. Now the house of cards had crumbled. She didn’t like loud noises. Would she associate retrieving with hunting and loud noises? Would she ever go hunting again?
I had an idea where to go for help. Tom Dokken, maker of the Deadfowl training aid and noted retriever trainer and dog expert, is an old friend. His book, Tom Dokken’s Retriever Training, was the basis of how I had trained the dog from the start. If anyone would know what to do with a suddenly gun-shy dog, Tom would.
“Oh man, you’ve got a problem there,” Dokken said. “It’s going to take time and patience because you’ve got to rehab your retriever to not only not be scared of the loud sounds again, but to also associate them with something she enjoys. This is going to be a tough one.”
Our first step was working with the noise. At Dokken’s suggestion, when Kenai was eating, I started clapping behind her. This progressed to banging pots and pans together behind her. She never flinched.
“The key,” Dokken said, “is to get the dog to hear the sound and become happy. Feeding time is a good place to start. You want to build her up so that she doesn’t even notice the noises.”
It didn’t take as long as I thought it would. The only issue we encountered during this time was explaining to the kids what we were doing. Our daughter, who’s two, didn’t quite understand that it was OK for daddy to bang pots and pans together, but not her. It might have actually helped with the dog’s rehab, but I had a few extra headaches and the kid’s cat is now jittery.
Let the dog be gently reassured that guns and loud noises equates to fun.
With the dog on the road to recovery, we moved things outside. We got the dog doing some basic retrieves with a tennis ball–just throwing it and having fun. We then added in clapping while she ran to the ball. From there we would clap loudly and then throw the ball. Over the course of a few weeks, this went very well. We progressed to louder noises and added in using her training bumper and a few runs into a pond for water retrieves. Those didn’t go as well, but it’s a start.
“You have to build the dog’s confidence back up,” Dokken said. “Use a lot of positive reinforcement. You’re going to be part trainer, part therapist. If it doesn’t go as smooth as you’d like at first, always keep your enthusiasm up. The dog can sense that.”
In keeping things going in a positive direction, we also added in some upland hunting activities. The dog loves chasing rabbits and grouse in the thick woods. Like with the other activities, we started her with no noises and then added in some claps, bangs, thumps, and whatever else we could make noise with before we finally started shooting guns.
When we started shooting guns around her, we actually started by not shooting them anywhere near her. One thing we avoided was having her in her crate. Originally, she went into the crate and was comfortable and safe. This could have been a great place for her to be when we started shooting guns around her. However, she was in her crate during the fireworks. It took us a month to get her to go back into the crate as it was. This was definitely not the place to have her during our rehab sessions.
We still have a long way to go, but I think she’s headed in the right direction. Will she ever be a stable hunting retriever again? I think so. If there are setbacks along the way, Dokken said it is OK to go back some, but try to not let things fall apart all the way. The dog wants to work. It’s genetic. We just have to overcome that one thing blocking them mentally from doing what they love.
If you get into a similar situation, there is hope. Start with small steps and build your dog’s confidence back up slowly. Trying to go too fast can make matters worse, Dokken said. A slow, steady rehab program can cure a lot of issues, both big and small. I’m hoping to have my dog back out on a few hunts this coming fall. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Read and join the discussion on Retriever Rehab at OutdoorHub.com.
Brian Lasley Joins D.T. Systems as Director of Marketing
February 12, 2013
D.T. Systems is proud to announce the hiring of Brian Lasley as director of marketing.
Lasley will lead the planning and execution of consumer and trade marketing programs for D.T. Systems. He joins D.T. Systems with a strong background in marketing, earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Bryan School of Business.
Lasley also has many years prior Marketing, Product Development, and Brand Management experience in the industry having worked in Marketing positions with Beretta USA and the Remington Arms Company. He most recently served as Marketing Manager of the Long Guns division at Beretta USA.
“We are pleased to have Brian join the D.T. Systems team. His time in the industry, marketing experience, and vast knowledge of the new product development process make him a valuable asset as we continue to grow our company” said Bryant Kim, D.T. Systems CEO.
Read and join the discussion on Brian Lasley Joins D.T. Systems as Director of Marketing at OutdoorHub.com.
Old Dog, New Tricks?
January 31, 2013
A question that comes up often is, “can you teach an old dog new tricks?” With that people want to know whether their dog that has never hunted can be taught to hit the field in search for the owner’s chosen quarry. The answer is simple–YES.
Just because your hound has not been in the field doesn’t mean you should preclude your four-legged buddy from accompanying you. With that said, a lot of work needs to be done first. Like any trained response you have to first do the training. Just because a dog comes from hunting lines doesnt mean it will hunt for you. Yes, the optimal word in that sentence is you! Well-bred hunting dogs are genetically disposed to have prey drive. Retrievers also have the insatiable drive to retrieve, pointers point etc. What the human end of the team needs to ensure is that our four-legged buddy doesn’t go out self-employed, or hunting for his/her own interests.
Obedience is the foundation of any good dog, and is a must for hunting dogs. A dog needs to understand that they need to listen and obey their partner in the field at all times. A good recall, sit command, and heel are needed prior to hitting the hunting landscape. Most think their hounds are great because they sit and come in their yard. The biggest thing needed from that point is to take your dog to areas that aren’t so familiar. Taking your future field partner to a park, into town and eventually into a hunting atmosphere are areas where the trainer can reinforce their commands and expectations for their future hunting pupil.
Once we have our commands down, an electric training collar is also a great aide in making sure our commands and demands are met. Taking a dog in a place with distractions is a major test of any training program. Using an e-collar to reinforce commands before hitting the field greatly assists the dog’s understanding for all situations. The easy way to think about it is that the e-collar is like a pager. When the four-legged hunting hound of fury gets so encompassed with the hunt that they forget things, we as the handler and team member can give them a gentle reminder.
The other and last part of the foundation of our training is our trained retrieve method. This entails having our dog fetch on command and understand when they are supposed to bring our prey, whether it’s a bird or big buck horn. It’s a slow process using differing methods that convince our hunting companion that they will gain great rewards by bringing back what we are hunting. It’s also a great step when looking at things through the view of conservation. If a dog brings back our downed game, it was not harvested in vain.
All of the above training principles are the same as with a young dog. The only difference is you may have years of bad habits that make your older dog a slightly bigger challenge. But in the end you will be glad you offered you four-legged buddy a chance to excel at what they were bred for!
This article is brought to you by Soggy Acres Retreivers.
Read and join the discussion on Old Dog, New Tricks? at OutdoorHub.com.
SportDog Brand WetlandHunter 425
January 31, 2013
The WetlandHunter 425 electronic collar is designed for the waterfowl hunting environment with close-working dogs. This new electronic collar by SportDOG Brand takes the most advanced, industry-leading technology that SportDog Brand has ever built into its electronic collars and packed it up in the most compact system ever offered.
Switch instantly between stimulation, vibration and tone to adjust the correction or communication to your dog’s temperament and learning ability. This model is finished in Realtree Max-4 camo, so it looks great while also blending in with the rest of your waterfowl hunting gear. You can stay hidden. You can get wet. You can work your dog. You can bag birds. What else is there? This new 425CAMO Model is an upgraded replacement for the WetlandHunter 400.
The SportDOG WetlandHunter 425 package comes complete with a remote transmitter, collar receiver in Realtree MAX-4, camo collar strap, adapter, test light, lanyard, long contact points, operating guide and basic training DVD and manual.
- 500-yard range
- Realtree MAX-4 Camo
- Waterproof design technology
- Seven instantly selectable stimulation levels; medium/high STIM ranges
- Option to train with vibration or tone
- 2-hour charge
- Expands to three dogs without loss of vibe/tone feature
- Offers seven different programming modes; including a mode to run remote beeper (SD-Beep)
- Basic training DVD/Manual included
- Transmitter weighs only 2.4 ounces
- Collar receiver weighs only 3.3 ounces with collar strap
- Ergonomic “shaped” collar receiver design
Read and join the discussion on SportDog Brand WetlandHunter 425 at OutdoorHub.com.
