La woodcock is a mysterious and fascinating animal at the same time: hunting this bird creates great expectations and every good hunter can only focus his attention on the role that will cover the dogs, the great protagonists of hunting. A good preparation it's a training adequate can only concern both young and adult specimens. L'training must be taken care of in the smallest detail and you have to pay attention to a series of precautions. The woodcocks are stubborn, fleeting and tenacious, consequently dogs engaged in this type of hunting must be even more so for an exciting and satisfying day. Training auxiliaries means making them understand that they will be dealing with a unique bird and that it is no coincidence that it has been renamed "queen of the woods".
To better prepare our four-legged friend for hunting woodcock, it is good to take some precautions. Only a fit dog and well trained will be able to face a extensive experience in some ways a lot tiring, without damage to the body. THE hounds for their masters, they are faithful companions during the hunting trip, and at the same time they are from to cuddle and to be treated with the utmost respect when I am at home.
There are many initiatives and behaviors to pay attention to. Let's see together how to train a dog for hunting the "queen of the woods"
Supply
La Physical training of a dog through power it is important during every outing, even more so when it comes to the woodcock hunting, which the more experienced know to be a lot challenging. This can come to take place over the course of aall day and on sometimes rough terrain.
So the preparazione, taking into account the power supply, it must begin several months earlier. THE'summer with the consequent closure of the hunt, means that the hound, who can be considered a real athlete, arrives at the first outings a little weighed down and with slowed movements.
For this reason thesupply must be balanced also, and above all, in months of rest, when physical activity is less and the chances of disposing of the daily energy intake are halved even more.
During the hunting period la diet It will be simple and will have to be divided between a good supply of carbohydrates, the right amount of fibers, without forgetting the right presence of fats.
Currently i feed available for power supply fully comply with the needs of a athlete dog, but they exceed in quantity. In this case it is better to reduce them and compensate them with food prepared by us, such as meat or rice.
In addition to the type of nutrition, to have a dog in shape, we must not underestimate the importance of the moment in which we decide to give him the meal. Dogs have a digestive system very slow, for this reason they struggle to assimilate food. One piece of advice is that make them eat during the first light of the will be. In this way our four-legged friend will have time to digest and in the morning he will be full of energy without unnecessary fatigue.
Prepare the dog for outings
In addition tosupply to prepare the dogs for woodcock hunting, they must be caught confidence with the environment in which it will have to operate. To allow him to move at ease, it is best to take him in wood, here they will begin to get used to the odors of the bird, alternating open land with the more dense ones.
This method is valid for both i experienced dogs, both for those more young. As for the first, the exits will serve him to resume confidence with the terrain. For the younger ones it is an opportunity for understand how to move up in different fields to feel comfortable with the surrounding environment.
Training
This is the most important stage that allows the dog to be ready for the hunting season. For an optimal result, the contribution of the hunter is essential. Only he can direct the animal and make him behave correctly.
As previously stated the knowledge of the terrain and the environment is important, so it is better to take him to the woods to make him familiar with herbs.
The best thing is to do it close to the hunting season. In the summer months, the fauna and the soil have different smells compared to a humid environment typical of autumn. So to get him used to it, better take him around one month before.
After this period, by the time the woodcocks arrive, the dog will already be used to it and will feel comfortable with those smells, ready to hunt down the queen of the woods.
Running and hunting in open spaces is simple, le woodcocks however they nestle in places with dense vegetation. So the hound will have to get used to walking in inaccessible places and terrains. To get the best result little by little you have to take the dog to areas where the vegetation is very dense.
During the first few exits better leave it free to move. The hunter's task will be to observe his behavior and correct it in case of a mistake.
If you are struggling with a young dog, better side by side with an older one. While for the latter it is a way to do a little workout, for the younger it is an opportunity to gain self-confidence.
Rifle free, these outlets are perfect for teach the dog the commands that we want him to perform through hand gestures or sounds. Everything must be done with extreme calm and the hunting experience must be simulated in the best possible way.
How to use GPS
even the GPS must be introduced step by stepThis is because the dog has to gradually get used to new sounds that he has never heard. Technology becomes fundamental when dealing with dog training, even more so when dealing with woodcock.
For this species they are three alternatives, the collar beep, GPS and Campania, but the beeper is the most prevalent one. For this reason, the collar should be worn already in the first days, without forcing and avoiding differences in treatment between training and practical hunting.
Every good hunter must keep these practical tips in mind: in hunting woodcock you must not be in a hurry and expect a dog that is 100% prepared in a few days. You need to arm yourself with patience and the wait will be rewarded by one satisfaction after another.