Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

Original poster

Got into a bit of a spat in a fb group. Am I wrong?

23 replies

Blubell281 · 03/02/2021 17:50

I've asked for some recall advice on a Facebook group. My dog will recall beautifully except for when he's on the scent of something. Because of this he's been on a long line for a few months (he's still young at 18 months).

Anyway, a man has replied and I'm sure he's trying to be helpful but he first of all recommended a tracking device, I explained that I wasn't happy with that as I wouldn't be in control of my dog. He then says that he's had years of experience with the breed, he's a hunting/shooting man. His dogs will recall from anything except a scent (so the same as mine). He then uses the tracker to find them. He says this is fine as he knows 100% that his dogs would never chase livestock and he hunts in area without any.

Is that right? It doesn't sound right to me, I thought dogs used for hunting were extensively trained and could recall from anything. How do you even know if your dog wouldn't chase livestock?

OP posts:

Original poster

Blubell281 · 03/02/2021 17:52

I should add that no one else is commenting in the group so I'm wondering if in making a bit of an arse of myself! Happy to be corrected!

OP posts:

billybagpuss · 03/02/2021 17:56

I did look at the tracker devices having lost billypup in the woods for about half an hour, I think she was chasing squirrels. I don’t trust that they will stay on. We now use a longline anywhere where it is not safe for her to ignore me. Which is pretty much everywhere that you can go for free.in the woods she will disappear, I think she can probably see us all the time but she’s black and my eyesight is awful.

She will recall is excellent when I have her focus but she is too easily distracted, she is nearly 3 and I think it will be a few years before we can reliably let her off. Secure fields are the best.

billybagpuss · 03/02/2021 17:56

Also the best trackers seemed to be £12 per month.

Original poster

Blubell281 · 03/02/2021 18:01

Thats the same as our dog, he doesn't go far but he doesn't come back when he's called! I cant imagine letting him go hunting through the woods and then using a tracker to find him.

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 03/02/2021 18:12

I honestly think if you need a tracking device - your dog shouldn’t be offlead.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 03/02/2021 18:46

Some dogs just can't be trusted off lead. We have a Basset Fauve De Bretagne. Lovely dog. Very strong scent instinct. All the breeders say they will not come back when following a scent. One of the common cause of deaths for the breed is road accidents because they bolt. We never have her off the lead unless she's is a securely enclosed space.

You know your dog. Go with your instincts...

Fieldofyellowflowers · 03/02/2021 18:48

You can never know for certain that your dogs won't chase livestock. There can always be just one time. And take into account farmers, roads, opportunistic dognappers etc. Just keep doing what you are doing, OP.

Does he hunt for sport? That would explain a lot if so. They often live on another planet and not a particularly pleasant one.

Wolfiefan · 03/02/2021 18:51

It’s not fine. Because he’s not in control (which legally a dog must be in public.) And if it does a poo? If he can’t see it then he isn’t picking up.

PurpleM · 03/02/2021 19:04

Dogs aren't robots so can't expect 100% but surely accepting & letting the dog practice the behaviour you don't want I.e bogging off to do as it pleases, isn't going to help the dogs recall reliability.

I'm not sure if a farmer would necessarily wait to see if the dog would definitely hurt the livestock given just being frightened & running from the dog can cause harm. Though are lots of dangers to dogs roads, railway lines, tangled in barb wire. Let alone the claim risks if causes accident/injury to a 3rd party while out of sight.

addicted2spaniels · 03/02/2021 19:07

We've got a working cocker who is incredibly scent driven, and when he was about 14 months, he nearly ran out in front of a car because he was chasing a pheasant. I was nearly sick I was so scared.

I then kept him on a training line for nearly a year, until I was 100% sure of his recall. And even now, he only goes off lead if it's a familiar walk and I know where roads are etc. He has a "bear bell" on his collar too so I can always hear him even if he's in a hedge.

That bloke sounds nutty as a fruitcake.

PollyRoulson · 03/02/2021 19:17

You asked for training advice you got given advice from someone that does not/can not train their dogs if they are resorting to trackers.

Trackers also have rubbish signals and often dont work in wooded areas hilly areas wet areas- so often dont work! ( we use them for practice in search and rescue work).

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/02/2021 19:36

@tabulahrasa

I honestly think if you need a tracking device - your dog shouldn’t be offlead.

Generally I agree, but they're an excellent back-up just in case.

No dog has 100% recall - they're not robots. Nothing wrong with having one - if, for example, your dog happens to slip their lead or something. It happens even to the best of us, and I know I'd feel much more reassured if I could see where mine had buggered off to.

Original poster

Blubell281 · 03/02/2021 19:49

Thanks everyone. Pretty unanimous replies there. Glad to know I'm doing the right thing by my own dog. If he comes back at me with more 'advice' I'll give him some more of my own opinions.

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 03/02/2021 19:56

“No dog has 100% recall - they're not robots.”

No, but if you’re losing your dog often enough that you actually need a tracking device... it shouldn’t be loose.

Gadget because you feel like it and it might come in handy one day, sure, it’s not my money, people can buy what they want with it, lol.

But if you actually need one...

sunflowersandbuttercups · 03/02/2021 19:59

@tabulahrasa

“No dog has 100% recall - they're not robots.”

No, but if you’re losing your dog often enough that you actually need a tracking device... it shouldn’t be loose.

Gadget because you feel like it and it might come in handy one day, sure, it’s not my money, people can buy what they want with it, lol.

But if you actually need one...

Oh, I agree with that.

I do think they can be handy as a back-up for nervous owners, though.

Original poster

Blubell281 · 03/02/2021 20:37

I know of someone who has quite extensive grounds and a dachshund who likes to disappear into the wooded area. They use a tracker on her. Perfect solution on private, enclosed property so I can see they have their uses.

OP posts:

lighteincastlewindow · 03/02/2021 21:35

He is not wrong and either are you. Two seperate situations. If he has gundogs, he wants to them to scent or set or spring most of the time. The odd time he needs the tracker, the gundog can get lost in their regular task. You don’t want yours to do the same at all and so you use your longline.I wouldn’t take umbrage at his advice, he is speaking from his point of view. You have your own. Just do what makes you feel safe with your dog.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 03/02/2021 21:43

I know a bloke who works his dogs under hawks and one of them has a tracker as she has form for going off piste. Obviously he's only on land with permission.

Does he hunt for sport? That would explain a lot if so. They often live on another planet and not a particularly pleasant one.
Cheers. Hunting household here. We eat what DH shoots.

Fieldofyellowflowers · 03/02/2021 21:53

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

I did say does he hunt for sport. By that I meant the people who shoot just for the fun of it/because they are under the delusion that it makes them badass. The kind of people who kill animals and then take selfies with them in stupid positions etc etc. Trophy hunters in other words.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 03/02/2021 22:07

I did say does he hunt for sport.
That's a bit vague, to be fair. Thank you for clarifying.

I do not myself understand trophy hunting, but there is an argument that, when controlled, it can be good for conservation.

Fieldofyellowflowers · 03/02/2021 22:18

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

Just reread my original comment and yes, it was a bit vague, sorry. It is trophy hunting that I have the problem with.

I work in conservation. It can't be controlled. The idea is that trophy hunters pay to shoot the old individuals that can't reproduce anymore. But trophy hunters don't want to shoot the weak, old, frail animals. They think that it is more 'macho' to shoot something strong and healthy and corrupt reserve owners etc pander to them, supplying young animals. Also, in animals like rhinos, it has been found that if numbers fall really low in a population, old males will become fertile again. Conservation seldom receive any money, what we do get is sucked up in fixing the damage caused by unsustainable trophy hunting. Normally the money goes into the corrupt reserve owners back pocket.

Sitdowncupoftea · 05/02/2021 15:22

I have dogs that are scent and prey driven. They are only off leash in a secure dog field. I walk them on a custom made longline. My dogs are trained but I know with the lure of prey they would be off after it. I live rural so I'm not taking the risk with my dogs. As for face book I wouldn't take advice or heed from anyone on that platform it's toxic.

legalseagull · 05/02/2021 15:39

If you can't see your dog you're not in control of it. A tracking device won't teach recall. The man is a prat

Flip