Deer dog training blueprint.....Paul Michael NZ
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Siggy
Well-Known Member
I watched it from the get go and have the whole series, I don't work my dog in the same way, but I used the blue print to solve a few training issues I encountered. I agree Paul Michels is a great instructor and full credit to him for pulling it all into a great video series. He doesn't claim to have reinvented the wheel, but he has put it together in a coherent comprehensive format that's all you need to train a dog for finding deer.
The New Zealand way of working dogs really fascinates me - where the dog works in front and indicates the deer - there is a bunch of stuff on you tube from Paul Michels but also, check out:
Trap and Trigger
Trusty222
nun_hunter
Well-Known Member
I remember reading about this method a while back and it is how is like a deer dog to work for me (when I get one). Whilst I would like a dog to find deer once I've shot one I'd much prefer to work as a team locating the deer during the stalk.
Hayduke
Well-Known Member
Bloody excellent, I really rate Paul's approach. I was using the Niels Sondergard methods for about three months, and my pup was doing grand, following up to 500m jinked trails just using cleaves and the odd blood spot every 15m or so. However I want the hound as a hunting companion that will mark deer I haven't seen. I started using Paul Michaels guides and haven't looked back. My pup thought it was all about following ground scent trails (and hunting mice and voles!) and when I started trying to work her on air scent she always wanted to have her snout on the ground. Now she is looking up and picking up air scent from 100-200m out, and we work in towards it. Got her gun steady with Paul Michaels methods. The first thing I stopped and un-trained her on was walking to heel, and now I have her pretty much steady 2-4m in front of me which where I want her, and I can pick up on her marking deer. Once I am totally happy on the air scent work, I will do a bit more on ground scent, but I think she is pretty much hard wired for that bit.
Terrydeer
Well-Known Member
Hello, well looking at the above timescales, I wondered how people had got on with the blueprint. I have had a look at it and for what I want to do with my vizsla this ticks all the boxes. So the big questions are how did you get on, what bits did you think oh we aren’t going to get there and then on reflection thought you could have done that differently. I have the summer to get this into place so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time Terrydeer
Siggy
Well-Known Member
Ended up not following the blue print directly - I wanted my dog to work at heel and blood trail on a leash, but I use loads of the training lessons, methods and philosophy. It really made me think about how I train dogs and actually seeing the methods rather than reading it in a book and trying to work it out.
Terrydeer
Well-Known Member
jimmy milnes
Well-Known Member
Used to love his videos on YouTube but lately all he seems to be doing are these podcast type QnA things that unfortunately send me to sleep
I bought the blueprint and followed it from the first day I got my pup. For someone who had absolutely no experience training dogs of any kind I now have a very well trained dog. She is now 2 years old and is steady at the deer and will also retrieve. I found the blueprint invaluable and I know my dog would not be nearly so good without it.
yellow belly
Well-Known Member
I believe it starts with a full fresh skin on a post and you walk the dog down wind of it and soon as it takes an interest in the scent and goes to it you reward the dog. Gradually increasing distance and decreasing the size of the skin.
Terrydeer
Well-Known Member
Terrydeer
Well-Known Member
DescriptionThe New Zealand Heading Dog is a working and herding dog that uses its visual prowess and quick movement to control sheep. Bred from Border Collies, Heading Dogs are a sturdy, long-legged and even-haired breed. They are generally black and white in color, but may also be tan.
countrryboy
Well-Known Member
I'll have to make the time and watch some of his videos.
Reading the deer skin thing, which dOes sound a good trick to get air scenting, dunno if it would be worth also introduce putting a collar on before u do the air scenting training.
Many of the tracking boys do something similar when starting a track and putting a harness on being a switch
While u want to encourage it, possibly u only want to encourage it when ur actually stalking, ie not when ur out for a walk or on a game shoot.
Often u read about gun dog trainers using a slip lead ( or a sit) as an 'off' switch esp for hard hunting dogs, ie put lead on dog can just relax walking to heel and not sniffing/pulling on every scent.
Possibly say putting a collar on before stalking as a stalking switch to turn air scenting mode on and then swap for a harness for ur tracking switch.
Might seem a hassle swapping collars etc, but it also might make ur normal walks far more pleasurable if dog constantly not pulling/ indicating.
Esp if u need to walk dog often in public areas with others and other dogs.
But with experience many dogs will learn the difference anyway without swapping collars etc.
Mibbee over complicating things but might be worthwhile to make the rest of ur life easier if more of a pet too
Reading the deer skin thing, which dOes sound a good trick to get air scenting, dunno if it would be worth also introduce putting a collar on before u do the air scenting training.
Many of the tracking boys do something similar when starting a track and putting a harness on being a switch
While u want to encourage it, possibly u only want to encourage it when ur actually stalking, ie not when ur out for a walk or on a game shoot.
Often u read about gun dog trainers using a slip lead ( or a sit) as an 'off' switch esp for hard hunting dogs, ie put lead on dog can just relax walking to heel and not sniffing/pulling on every scent.
Possibly say putting a collar on before stalking as a stalking switch to turn air scenting mode on and then swap for a harness for ur tracking switch.
Might seem a hassle swapping collars etc, but it also might make ur normal walks far more pleasurable if dog constantly not pulling/ indicating.
Esp if u need to walk dog often in public areas with others and other dogs.
But with experience many dogs will learn the difference anyway without swapping collars etc.
Mibbee over complicating things but might be worthwhile to make the rest of ur life easier if more of a pet too
Jollybee
Member
Hi sjc1987 - really interested to hear that the blueprint translated well for you from NZ to the UK. I am interested to know if you have joined the blueprint facebook page / 'inner circle' group and if so if you found it useful. I have avoided setting up a facebook account up to now but would consider doing so if the blueprint facebook page is useful. I am looking to train a 6 year old GWP rather than a pup (not ideal but if we have another dog in the house the place will start to look like Dr Doolittle's gaff). Would be very interested to hear your perspective. Cheers.
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