Shed dogs

[kbetts]

Its finally time.  I went home yesterday and before I let my lab out, I hid some sheds in the field behind the house.  I let Cole out and let him do his business.  When he was done he brought me over a tennis ball as he always wants to play.  I took the tennis ball from him and took a little three point shed out of my pocket and told him "hunt'em up".  He brought all three horns back in less time than it took to hide them.  This is not his first time playing with antlers, but it is the first time he didn't hesitate when he crossed their scent to pick it up and bring it to my hand.  I was very careful not to contaminate the sheds with my own odor (except the one in my pocket).  Today I bought him a reflective collar and a bell so I can keep up.  Game on!
Anyone else use their dog?

[Blackhawk]

That's why I'm not finding any...so guess I better take the dog with me next time.

[mickeys4]

I was stumpin' a few weeks ago.I stopped and sat in an old home built blind just to enjoy the day.My old beagle went walking by and I watched him sniffin' around an old downed tree.Shortly he came walking by with a shed in his mouth.I went back a few days later and as I passed that tree I looked down and there was the matching shed.They were so small I told my son they came off a jackalope.

[elkken]

I have two golden retrievers that I take hiking with me. In the last month they have found two Blacktail sheds.

The first one along the edge of a grassy road. They usually go way ahead of me but they stopped to sniff and scratch at the ground like they were after a mole or mouse. When I went up to see what it was they were after, there lay a nice three point shed with a very knarly base. It was in perfect shape. I could not really tell how long it had been there, this year or last.

Then just a few days ago about 150 yards from where they found the first one they found another one, a very nice 4 point. It was very obvious that they were sniffing the horn not just a fluke find. The first horn was the left side and the second the right side. The second horn was bigger and also had a very knarly base.

Now I just need to stick closer to my dogs on our hikes      

[kbetts]

Today I added a bell to his collar so I could keep track of him.  That really helps because I can turn him around when he has the wind wrong or I want him to concentrate in a specific area.  I also introduced some "treats" when he brought me the antler.  Now he knows for sure what the game is all about.
Camo collar = birds.  
Orange collar w/ bell = antler.

[Hill Hunter]

I have an English Shepherd I am working with a little, she will bring 2 or 3 a year in on her own, you just have to get them before she chews them up, this year we are going to try hunting them.

[ethan]

I've got an 8 month old lab pup that I've been working with for blood trailing.  She plays with old sheds I have lying around constantly.  I've taken her in the woods with me on hikes a few times and she's found a couple of old deer bones.  I'm hoping she'll do this with sheds as well.  

But I have no idea of how to "train" a dog to do this properly.  Anyone have any ideas?

[doeboy]

i have a 12 week old yellow lab pup im going to start to train. there a bunch of web sites out there on the topic. She already has taken to playing with the horns instead of balls and such. Thanks to a friend from tradgang i was able to get a bunch of small sheds and purchased a few larger ones at a hunting show. she can find them burried(8"-10") in the snow after i toss them! I'll try topost some pics.

Bill

[Lone archer]

I have a basket full of sheds in my office. My lab since he was a pup (11 mon old now) goes and takes one out and chews on it. He'll empty the whole basket in a day. Sometimes he even puts them back. I have yet to start hiding them in the yard but I will soon.  

Rob

[antler chaser]

I have a yellow lab, osage 4 1/2yrs old that sheds with me, he has brought me quite a few and 2 to 3 he has found on his own.He has the typical lab blood where he flushes left to right about 20 yrds in front not leaving me.osage also finds lost arrows.

[4 point]

I have a year and 1/2 old chocolate lab that I taught to find sheds. She finds about half the sheds on her own and I let her find the ones I see first for practice. Here is a pic of her digging one out of the snow.

[bridog]

My 1 yr old pup Max found his first "wild" shed several weeks ago.  I have worked with him since 12 weeks just for shed hunting.  The big snows have killed us recently for finding stuff - Should be able to head back out again this weekend.  I'd post a pict but don't know how?

Bridog