The less space for a dog, the more difficult it is to breed. Dogs are energetic and mobile animals in need of constant movement, and small dogs need special attention and constant play.
Talking to others before picking up a dog is important because if someone in the family disagrees, it will affect the dog's energy and upbringing.
If the dog is kept in an apartment, then the size of the dog must correspond to the size of the home. The rule is - better, smaller than a large dog.
When the dog is large it is always disturbed in small rooms or in a room with a lot of furniture. This makes the dog feel tormented, restless, and troublesome.
The dog should be walked daily.
The length of the walk also depends on the size and breed of the dog. In addition, a half hour daily walk is also healthy for the dog's owners.
It is better to take a purebred dog than a dog of unknown origin.
Purebred breeds are the result of scientific and experimental intervention by humans. Certain qualities and typical appearance are especially important for hunting dogs, which are passed on to the next generations without changes. It is important to note that the qualities of the breed are manifested only after the 6th month of the dog.
According to their purpose, hunting dog breeds are divided into the following groups:
Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Jagdterrier, Fox Terriers, Dachshund, english setter, irish setter, Brittany dog, German Hound, Bulgarian Scenthound, Serbian hound.
Important accessories for hunting dogs
The collar is the most important accessory.
The collar catches and holds the dog tight. It is correct to have a metal plate to indicate the address of the owner. it must be made of leather, 1 to 3 cm wide and should be the size right for the dog. It should be neither tight on the dogs’ neck nor slips through his head. Currently we offer different models on our website.
Muzzle.
Neither the owner nor the dog likes the muzzle, but it is a necessity. Putting a muzzle is a necessity when walking a dog in public places, entering restaurants. Even the calmest dog can be so annoyed that it can bite someone and it will cause problems.
It is recommended the muzzle to be of soft leather and fit so that it neither tightens nor rubs the skin of the animal. We have to make sure that the dog can't bite through the muzzle.
Dog vests are designed and tailored to your dog's convenience and safety. Bright color is preferred because it provides excellent visibility for the hunter in the forest setting. It is crucial that you choose the right size vest and in no case a smaller number. Smaller vests squeeze the dog’s chest and becomes difficult to move. Protective vests are made of high-quality materials in the event of an attack from the game.
GPS technology has proven extremely suitable for hunting with dogs.
There is no better way to find out where, when, and for how long your hunting dog has been chasing a wild animal. Most GARMIN, DOGTRA, DOG TRACE, TRACKER, or INTELINK devices may be equipped with all possible speed, real-time, maps, and some brands like the TRACKER supra model even allow commands over the dog's phone.
Training a hunting dog
Needless to say, this is the most important part of a dog's life. A dog that is not bred and does not execute commands is useless for hunting purposes. Coaching aims to develop those habits that teach a young dog the discipline which is the basis of his training.
The habits can be divided into the following:
Choosing and calling the name.
The name is thought from the earliest age of the dog. Before learning it, however, choosing a name is important. It is best for the dog's name to consist of 1-2 syllables, be able to speak clearly and sound well.
Clear vowels are preferred. Examples of suitable names are: Fifi, Jerry, Rocky, Tommy, Sharo, Barry, Loupe, Valdy, Cora and more. These are just examples to make it clear. It is not appropriate to choose dog names that are also human names, this is ethical. The choice entirely belongs to the owner.
The best method to learn its name quickly is to have the dog indoors repeatedly called out and encouraged with treats. In a few days the dog will start responding to its name.
Calling
The main command used in this exercise is a gentle, low-pitched "here", or a whistle and mouth signal. When teaching this signal, a treati s also received when the dog obeys. This exercise is performed after the dogs second month.
Keeping up the dog with the hunter.
A command to follow their owner must be in place and put with a strict tone. This command aims to make the dog walk side by side with the hunter when hunting. This habit should be developed when the dog is about five months old. It is desirable that the classes take place in places where the animal does not loose concentration, indoor and so on.
Conditional irritant is the command "Come/Here", and unconditional - pulling the occasion and giving a treat.
The sequence of actions is this: the hunter grabs the leash with his left hand near the collar, the rest of the collar holds in his right hand. When the dog does not perform moves forward, sideways, or holds tight, the command is repeated over and over again firmly, accompanied by a retraction. The proper execution of the command is encouraged by the giving of a treat and the affectionate command "well done!", "come/here!"
When the habit is acquired, the leash is gradually released until it is completely removed and the dog can move freely with the hunter without the help of a leash. When a command is fully mastered, the treat is discontinued and replaced only with approval praise as "good."
Sitting down
The main command is "sit" accompanied by movement with the right hand, raised high forward, the unconditional command is pushing the dog, pulling the reins and giving treat.
This habit is developed in the following order. With his right hand, the hunter takes the reins short, puts his left palm on the dog's and pronounces a sit-down command.
After giving the command, press down with the left hand, and with the right raise the lever up while the dog sits.
Any proper performance is encouraged by gentleness and gentle "well done".
Lying down. The basic command is "lie".
This habit is made after the dog has mastered the sit command.
Conditional stimuli are the command "lie down" and the gesture - a sharp descent of the raised right hand from the level of the chest to the right thigh. Unconditional irritants are pushing or trimming the dog's front legs.
The habit is made as follows: the hunter kneels on his right knee. With his right hand he holds the leash short. The left hand is placed on the dog's hoop. Command "lie down" and then pull the reins with the right hand down and forward, with the left pressure on the hoop. When the command is executed, "lie down", "well done" is repeated and a treat is given.
Praise and reproach must be clearly distinguished by the intonation of our words. We praise in a soft, kind, loud voice, we reprimand strictly, briefly, vigorously with a firm, low voice. It is absolutely pointless to raise the voice. However, the dog hears 16 times better than the human.
The owner should not exaggerate with the praises or reproaches.
Their impact is reduced when used. Termination of adverse actions is carried out with the command "NO!", Which is a conditioned irritant and unconditional with the help of a prickly collar. It is appropriate for the restraining order to be carried out in places where there are irritants such as: food, pets, other dogs. When the dog tries to run or play with them, the command "NO!" Is clearly stated with a strong and strict intonation, accompanied by a strong pulling of the leash or a stroke with a stick. When you learn that the dog is executing the command, the use of a leash becomes unnecessary.
Getting used to shooting
The approach is the following, go out for a walk with a hunter friend, he shoots about a hundred meters away from you and the dog (necessarily with blanks) and watch the dog's behavior. If the dog is calm, signal the hunter to approach fifty meters, shoot again, notice if the dog shows a sign of fear. Give him a treat and soothe him so that the dog gets used to the shot even at close range and accepts calm shots afterwards.
Important accessories for hunting dogs.
The choice of accessories in today's industry is huge. You need to make a good judgment of exactly what you need and what your dog will be used for. However, here are some of the required accessories:
Collar. The most important accessory for your dog.
With it we catch and hold the dog firmly. The collar should be made of strong leather between 1 and 3 cm wide. It should neither tighten the neck nor protrude from the head. The dog should always be with collar in public places.
Lead - should be 1-2 cm wide strong leather and up to 140 cm long. It is recommended that the dog is kept on a lead whenever you leave your home. Even if used to leisure walks and among people, there are possible incidents that can be caused by a variety of irritants to the dog. Therefore, the recommendation is always on.
A place to lie down and sleep. Just like in humans, where the dog rests and sleeps are of great importance for his calmness. The place where he sleeps is his kingdom, where he feels safe. This is the place that the dog retrieve in illness, anxiety, fear. For this, it is nice to provide maximum comfort, such as a pillow, a blanket, even a mattress, but they should not be very soft because this damages the dog's skin.
Therefore, they should not be filled with feathers or down, but horsehair, seagrass or other similar solid material. For small dogs it is good to be in a wooden box with an opening, and the boards are necessarily smooth and planed.
It is recommended that hunting dogs be raised in a box with a hut in the garden or in the yard. The box made for the dog, should be with well stretched wire mesh, placed deep in the ground so that the dog cannot snatch it and, accordingly, so high as not to jump over it. The floor is recommended to be of concrete, which is slightly sloping to allow water to drain, if it is made of soil, it is necessary to cover with a thick belt of sand. The location should also be carefully chosen not to be in a windy or overly sunny place.
Special dog feeders are suitable; the dog should only eat from a specially designed bowls. Pet bowls and human dishes and utensils should not be mixed, because the dog is getting used to them and will try to eat from your plates, be sure to use other than your own and specifically adapted for dog food. The food container must be made of durable material and be constructed so that the dog cannot push it and turn it with its nose. To maintain cleanliness, place the food bowl on a rubber or wooden support. For dogs with long ears, a narrower and deeper feeder is recommended to prevent dipping of the ears in the food.
The water tank must be heavy and constructed so that it cannot be turned over. Water and food containers are placed side by side, the water must always be fresh.
