Free Ranging Dogs

[Austesus]

I saw a post the other day about a group of guys, I believe it said back in the 80’s, going to study all of the “superstar dogs” that had made big names for themselves in hopes of finding a connection. It said that they found the one thing they all had in common was brains, and that they were never put on a chain or in a pen, always were allowed to roam free. This concept is interesting to me, as my cousin had a little farm when we were growing up and they always had 4-5 yard dogs that ran free. These were typically lab crosses, some yellow and some black. They were about 100lbs, and would not let a stranger on the property unless one of the family members told them it was okay. They would protect the live stock, and regularly roamed the property. They would sometimes disappear for a day or two and come back, always were very calm and smart dogs.

It makes perfect sense to me that a free roaming dog would be more intelligent. Instead of sitting penned up with the exact same environment 24/7, they have the opportunity to constantly explore, stimulate their brain, and use their nose. They were always in great shape because they were so active, and they were calm natured because they were always exercising and burning off energy.

Now around my area, there’s not many places where you could let a dog roam free. These days there’s too many roads, houses, and development going on. I’m sure that some of you that have your own ranches or very large pieces of land still have the ability to allow dogs to stay loose. For those of you that do this, or have been able to do it in the past, have you noticed a big difference in the dogs? I would think that a dog raised running loose would hunt out further, as they are comfortable with going out exploring by themselves throughout the day. I would also think their nose would be more refined from constant use of it.

I’m curious to hear some more thoughts on it. I have been trying to let my 3 puppies run loose for at least an hour each day to allow them more opportunities to learn. I’m also taking them to the creek that’s a quarter mile down the road and walking them for a few hours once or twice a week. They’re right at 19 weeks old right now and so far they seem to be doing well. I’ve got them to swim several times, they’re crossing logs, exploring, ranging out, etc.. I have no expectations at this age, just letting them get comfortable in the woods and watching/observing them and taking notes on what each pup is doing so I can go back and track progress or see if one pup stands out over another. I have a better schedule than I did in the past, so this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to spend this much time with pups, I’m hopeful that all of the extra exposure they’re getting will help them in the long run. And if nothing else it’s a fun way for me to relax and enjoy walking around in the woods.

So for those of you that have dogs that run loose or have in the past, do you see a difference in those dogs?


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[Cajun]

   I am very lucky that I can allow my pups to run loose and they do so until they start running deer and that can be anywhere from 4 1/2 months to 6 months. There is no substitute for pups running loose. They are learning and useing their nose 24/7. When I do chain them up, I will put them in my 25 acre running pen. I only keep a running hog in there. I am not concerned about them baying, I want them using their nose trying to trail the hog up and getting him jumped. By the time they are 9 months and I start hunting them, all I have to do is put them in hog sign and they will do their best to trail it up. Between running loose and the pen, I believe it puts me a year ahead by the time I start hunting them.
   All that being said and the very best dogs I have had all ran loose. It will not make a superstar out of a dog that does not have the genetics for it. All it does is bring out the dogs potential at a faster rate and no doubt dogs are smarter because they are exposed to more stuff running loose. JMO

[Slim9797]

Let em loose as often as you can and take them everywhere possible for you. You will see the difference it makes.


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[t-dog]

To me if a dog has “hunt” they are gonna do just that no matter what. Now that being said, I do believe the dog running loose will mentally develop sooner. The exposure that they get allows them to learn how to deal with adversity and how not to panic. The yard/kennel raised dog has to learn everything at once( new smells and animals, navigation, water obstacles, how to move a track or line out what they’re smelling, etc.). Smarts is another thing that they have or don’t have. Again, that being said, the more interaction you have with a dog the better they are going to understand you and learn your expectations. The loose dog can engage you at will where as the confined dog can only engage you at your will. The smart dog will learn the little tricks and all the ins and outs of hunting where as the dog that grew up loose starts their hunting career off knowing many of those. So to me, running loose makes a difference and it speeds things up but I do not believe it determines greatness. I have hunted with a lot of people in a lot of terrains. I have hunted with a handful of GREAT dogs and owned one. They were raised everyone a little different. The common denominator that I found in ALL of them was want to. They all lived to hunt. If you had allowed them to free range they would’ve everyone stayed gone because they would’ve been looking at pork somewhere every single day and night. They also all had another thing in common but I won’t mention that for sake of your thread getting off topic. The one I owned hunted in circles or loops and they got bigger and bigger until he found sign. If he believed it was there he wouldn’t quit until he dug it out. He had a great nose, super track pushing speed, bottom for days (literally), smarter than most people (he could all but talk using words), and a work aholic. I have have hunted him hard on Saturday morning and came home and got all fresh dogs except for him, went back to the woods and hunt all evening hard, get home feed and go to bed then get up Sunday morning and hunt hard again and the other dogs still couldn’t out find or bay ahead of him. Get home from Sunday hunt and he would bail out of the truck and jump the hog pen fence and go to baying those. He did it because he enjoyed it and it was what he wanted on top of the fact that he knew that’s what I wanted him to do. Zero quit in him. As long as you could go he would keep rolling over to another hog and it didn’t matter how long it took to get to him he was going to be there. He was bred for cattle but started himself on domestic hogs the guy had running in his pasture as a pup. The second time the guy came home to his hogs being bayed by this pup he decided to get rid of him because he showed no interest in cows. That was before six months old. What you are doing with your pups right now to me is the number one thing you can do with pups. Take a chair and sit and have some cold ones while they explore if you want range. If you’re moving constantly then they will pay as much attention to that as they do anything, you are their pack leader.  That’s my thoughts for whatever they are worth.


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[Reuben]

As a kid all my dogs and pups ran loose and they never knew a kennel nor a leash...all my dogs were good hunting dogs but all specialized in their positions...they had to be good because that was their meal for the day and we hunted most every day and whenever I couldn’t make a hunt they went without me... I always had three type of dogs...strike dogs, fast catch dogs and flushing dogs...if the game made it to the rose hedges the flushing dog or dogs would go in and flush out the game to the circling strike and catch dogs...
Yes...there is no doubt about it, running loose as pups is by far the best way and if that isn’t available do what Tdog has said...

If the pups are kenneled is best to load them straight out of the kennel into dog box...you want them chomping at the bit to go...you also want them doing their training exercises before feeding...this will perk up their hunting instincts and they won’t poop as much in dog box...take them to a good spot and unload them and get back in buggy or sit on a log...ignore pups and let them range...once they come back move further and repeat and on every training exercise do not over do it, puppies can get bored...learn each pup because one day you will probably want to breed the best one...

Another thing...buy a cheap pack of chicken and pork wieners and cut them up in small pieces and scatter them in an area and then hiss and sic the pups as you turn them loose...always do it so the wind is carrying to the pups...but first have them learn that these treats taste good...so when they get the smell they perk up...this little exercise teaches them a few things...they learn goodies and hogs can be winded...when you open the gate you hiss, sic and clap your hands as the pups rush to find the treats...watch them circle and find...so when they are older and you drop them in hog sign you simulate what they have been taught coming out of the gate and they will go searching...learn your pups as they learn...

When you don’t have access to letting them run loose then these little training exercises will benefit them as well as beneficial to you...usually the pups that do best will eventually be your better hunting dogs...

[Austesus]

Man this one is turning in to a good conversation, been some really good reading so far!


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