Pettin dogs

part of the problem with petting the hunting dog could be timing...if the dog gets called in and then petted the dog could intepret this as a reward for staying by the handler and so he doesn't range out because he wants to please. not saying this is fact but a possibility that the dog is misunderstanding what we want from him. We see it as just petting the dog but the dog saw it in a different way...these type of situations happen more often than not...these are the little things that can make the dog excel to a higher level or could be the little things that sets him back.

When I see a dog that is out of control I can almost bet that the kids are out of control. And this to me is due to the lack of parenting skills...and chances are these parents are weak in dog handling skills as well.

one method to get a dog to range out is fairly easy if the dog has it in him. Take the dog straight from the kennel to the dog box and take him to the woods and turn him loose and get busy while ignoring the dog. The dog will get bored and with the stored up energy he will go off and explore.

So to me it is not so much the petting but how we train our dogs...

I do very little training...I just try to make the right calls at the right time.

if it works then I have a good dog, and if it don't... then he is a cull...