UKC Forums (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/index.php)
- UKC Coonhounds (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=4)
-- Teaching Dogs to Heel From the Tree (http://forums.ukcdogs.com/showthread.php?threadid=196053)

Teaching Dogs to Heel From the Tree

I occasionally read accounts of dogs that will heel nicely off a tree in which they just treed a coon. That's impressive and I don't doubt it's true. My dogs heel well in the yard and woods but not when pulled off a tree. It usually takes them a couple hundred feet of draging before they settle down enough to mind me. I'm sure you could switch them or tickle then with an e-collar to get their mind off the tree, but is that the right thing to do? Please share your methods of getting this done. Thank you.

If you get in the habit of recasting them right off the tree, that is where it starts.

Method is nothing special.
Same as at home , I'm the boss.
Too many people worry about " doing the right thing " at a tree.
My dog has to mind me at the tree just like anywhere else. If it takes a switch , it takes a switch.
Start by setting him , down and getting his attention. Give the " heel " command and make him mind.
Granted , this is the first dog I've taught to do this , but it's also the first time I've ever tried.
Twice I've shot coon out to young dogs while he treed and he stayed. But , when I tell him to heel and c'mon , he comes. And , if I tell him to go find another one , he goes and doesn't look back.
Do I have a " special " dog? I don't think so. I think they all can be trained that way. I'll let you know as I train my new pup this spring. LOL

__________________
Bob Brooks /
Jordan Tyler (grandson)

BackWoods River Walkers/Beagles
Just all 'round , meat gettin' hounds.

I start by dropping the lead and let them drag it on the way back to the truck when Im done hunting for the night. If they start to wonder off, just step on the lead and give the heel command.


On realy hard headed dogs I might not drop it untill I get within sight of the truck at first, backing it off over time untill I can just tell the dog to heel off of the tree.

__________________
GRNTCH GRCH ROBINSONS ENGLISH LOOSER

RIP Loose

Good information here. Jackbob hit the nail on the head "identify the boss" and it is downhill form there. Larry is also spot on by dropping the lead and then expanding the distance.
The importance of recasting from the tree can't be overstated. A few times back to the tree and your going home a looser.

Thanks gentlemen for the advice and insight. Livng well outside of the coonhound world, I get few opportunities to see this sort of handling in action. I'm always interested in learning the little details that can make a big difference.

" It usually takes them a couple hundred feet of draging before they settle down enough to mind me. "

There's one of your problems.
You don't make them mind you at the tree.
Why do you suppose they heel well in the yard, but not at the tree?Could be your to concerned of what is up the tree and not training the dogs. Just coonhunting per say.


A dog will learn what it is taught. It will also learn what it is allowed to get away with.

Teach, what it is ,that is required of it.
A thin switch works wonders.
JMO.
But it works for me and my dogs

Look in this months Cooner, I think they have an entire article on this. I dont have it in front of me now or I would give you the page number.

__________________
Justin Blotkamp
Go Hoosiers

I'm making progress getting my dog to lead better. I took larrypoe's advice with the dog dragging the lead while walking back to the truck after a hunt. It works. The other night I lost my lead and after recovering my dog, he followed me back to the truck with his nose just behind my knee. It was about a 1/2 mile walk too.

I also tried a cast from the tree and he went, although it took some stern words with a good tickle from the e-collar to convince him it was time to go. He's 11 months old, been treeing coon's like a jr. pro and he should be ready to start learning to cast from the tree. He even won some money in his first comp hunt last weekend so he needs to learn to cast.

Thanks!

Rick,

One thing that I might add to the excellent advice that you have already received is to throw in a key word or command.

Mine is simple "dead". Over a period of use I can now tell my older dogs "dead, heel" and I don't need a lead strap, and in harvest season, they will drop a coon and be ready to either go to the truck, or hunt on....depending on my wishes.

It just takes a little work, some attention to detail, and the most important ingredient common sense. Whatever you do, be firm, fair, and consistent with your dog...it sounds like he's already trying to please you, now all you have to do is to teach him what it takes to please you.

__________________
Joe Newlin
UKC Cur Advocate
Home of Oak Ridge Kennels

My dogs are trained to heel with a dropped leash. When they are heeled with a dropped leash you can walk them over a hot coon and they stay heeled. With repetition they learn that they aren't allowed to hunt when the lease is on them. There are other advantages to using the leash. I ride a mule and have them heel with the leash. I can ride a distance, get off the mule and remove the leash and cut them and it's just as if I cut them in competition. They go hunting. If you cover some distance and don't use the leash you can easily create problems or confuse the dog about when he is to hunt. You might end up with a dog that you have to walk. Try it. It works.

quote:

---

Originally posted by JiM
If you get in the habit of recasting them right off the tree, that is where it starts.

---

__________________
OAKS POINT KENNELS

HOME OF

PKC CH GRNITECH GRCH 'PR' OAKS POINT COON BUSTIN' BELLE HTX 2013 UKC Top 100 (May 2006-January 2017)

'PR' OAKS POINT STRIKE-EM OUT BEAU (May 2006-June 2016)

PKC CH NITECH GRCH 'PR' COON BUSTIN' WHITE STUFF

CH 'PR' GOLD RUSH EXPO

'PR' BLACK KNIGHT'S BALU JETTA (May 2013-October 2015)

CH 'PR' CHERRY CREEK XBOX 2016 Treeing Walker Days King of Show