Take the introduction up a level
Training a hunting dog can be a difficult and time consuming task. One tool that can be useful in developing a dog’s skills is the place board. A place board is essentially a small surface mounted at an elevation, such as on a table or bench, that acts as a training tool for teaching specific behaviors and commands. The purpose of the place board is to restrict the dog’s movements through posture-dependent guidance. By placing your dog in specific positions with precise verbal cues and/or hand signals, results can often be achieved quickly and effectively. Additionally, this method allows for instantaneous reinforcement when dogs obey commands correctly, which can lead to more efficient behavior responses from your hunting partner. Using the place board to train your hunting dog ensures that your partner learns commands quickly and effortlessly while becoming a versatile companion in the field.
Flesh out the idea of rewards
When training a versatile hunting dog to complete a place board, rewards are an essential part of the training process. Rewards should be used as positive reinforcement and can come in the form of verbal praise, treats, toys, or physical affection. The type of reward that is best depends upon the individual dog and their desired motivation; treats may work especially well for food-motivated dogs while toys may be preferred by other dogs. Regardless of the chosen reward, it should always be given immediately after each completed command and should come with plenty of verbal praise in order to cement the desired behavior in their mind. Rewards are important for creating a positive foundation in place board training because they connect the desired behavior with a positive outcome and help build necessary trust between the trainer and their dog so that when further commands are eventually added into the mix, they will listen better.
Offer more on special equipment
When training with the place board, some hunters use special equipment to help support their dog in learning the behavior. One helpful tool is a long lead which can allow the hunter to take their dog out of the room before they call them back and help keep them on the board until they are released. Another type of special equipment that can be used is a treat pouch with treats they can reward the dog with when they stay put. A harness may also be beneficial as it helps secure the dog on the board and keeps them in place until given further instruction. Finally, using a collar and leash with a tab or loop at one end of it can be useful for convenience and safety purposes during recall training. In addition, providing standard marking devices such as small clickers may help to reinforce good behavior quickly. All of these pieces of equipment help increase chances that dogs will learn how to properly identify and obey commands from their owners on a hunting field.
Add more games
One way to create a more versatile hunting dog is to include games like hide-and-seek, fetch, and tug of war. Unlike place board training, these games often require active participation from the handler, which can help build the bond between human and pet. When using these games in addition to basic place board training, it may be necessary for the handler to give verbal or physical cues instead of food rewards. For example, for fetching an object throw a stick or preferably a ball and encourage them by clapping and praising when successful. Likewise, tug-of-war should not become too confrontational; instead the goal should focus on teaching your pup how to hold onto items gently while taking direction from you. For hide-and-seek, you can ask your dog to sit at one end before initiating the game. As they try to follow you while running away start rewarding their increased levels of concentration with treats until they find you. Once complete shower them with positive reinforcements like pats and attention.
Offer more on distractions
Distractions such as sounds, smells, and people can be used to introduce a variety of new experiences into your place board training. For example, if you are introducing sound distractions to your training session, start by playing a low volume recording of hunting noises (e.g. gunshots). Slowly increase the volume as the dog becomes more comfortable. Once comfortable with the sound, progress to adding other sounds (e.g honking cars or barking dogs). Similarly, adding smells to the place board training is done by first introducing favourite scents (e.g cheese) and gradually introducing new, unfamiliar smells (e.g garlic). Finally, for distractions involving people, begin with having one person on either side of the dog as they go over the place board and add more people gradually to increase difficulty.
Offer more guidance for testing out
To test their dog’s proficiency in place board training, hunters should begin by setting up a basic course in a large enough area for the dog to practice and move around with plenty of space. Hunters should then test both long and short distance commands with standard impediments like gates and tunnels to gauge accuracy of response. Other easy set ups that could be used include determining left/right or up/down based commands as well as different types of dabbles such as whole-body jumps or balanced landings from elevated surfaces. Finally, the hunter should observe their dog’s ability to accurately complete whichever task has been set out for it – whether it is a retrieve, mark, or other task – regardless of any distraction that may occur during the run. At the end of each course, hunters can have their dogs perform an “all done” command to finish off the session and evaluate how well they have performed based on speed, agility, accuracy, focus, and overall performance.
Increase maintenance tips
• Encourage regular and consistent reinforcement of place board commands, using positive reinforcement techniques, such as giving treats for a job well done.
• Replace the place board with other objects, such as rocks or logs, to keep the dog curious and engaged in their training.
• Use the place board outdoors to keep your dog’s reflexes sharp while in real-world hunting environments.
• Training off-leash can help improve your hunting dog’s obedience and build their confidence.
• Incorporate additional activities into your training regimen; for example, long retrieves from specific points, multi-step problem solving exercises, maneuvering around obstacles on a hunting course, and working with live birds or game.
• Remind yourself to be patient when working with your dog; sometimes repetition is key in reinforcing certain behaviors that require consistent and committed practice.
Welcome to the blog! I am a professional dog trainer and have been working with dogs for many years. In this blog, I will be discussing various topics related to dog training, including tips, tricks, and advice. I hope you find this information helpful and informative. Thanks for reading!
