How to Train My Dog to Find Deer Sheds

Training a dog to find shed deer antlers is a fun and rewarding way to add more sheds to your collection. Nearly any breed of dog can be trained to find antlers, but retrieving dogs, such as Labs and Chesapeakes, are generally used for this task. Training is best started when the dog is a puppy.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Puppy
• Shed antler
• Power sander
• Balls
• Squeaky toys

1. Teach your puppy the basic commands of "sit," "stay" and "heel" before you begin training it to retrieve. When the dog is competent at these commands, obtain a shed deer antler. Round off the points with a power sander so the puppy isn't injured while chewing on it.

2. Give the puppy the shed and other toys, such as balls or squeaky toys. Set the toys a few feet away and command the puppy to retrieve. The distance should be short in the early stages so you can assist the puppy. Reward the puppy with a treat every time it retrieves a toy. Work with the puppy a few times a week. Make your training sessions short so the puppy doesn't get tired.

3. Increase the distance the toys are placed as the puppy gets older and learns the game. As the puppy ages and improves, hide the toys behind trees or other objects so the puppy learns to find the toys with its nose, rather than by sight. Gradually make the toys harder to find. Continue to reward the puppy each time it retrieves a toy.

4. Phase out the treats when the puppy retrieves balls or other toys, but continue to reward it every time it retrieves a shed. This teaches the puppy that you want it to retrieve the shed.

5. Hide the antler by tossing it as the puppy's skills improve. This prevents the dog from following your scent to the shed and forces it to use its nose to sniff out the shed. Do this when the puppy can't see you throw the shed.

6. Practice a few times a week until the puppy becomes proficient at finding the antler. Now the puppy is ready for the real thing.

7. Take the puppy along shed hunting. If you spot an antler, don't touch it. Call the puppy over and have it find it. This ensures there is no human scent on the shed and teaches the puppy it needs to concentrate on bone scent only. At this point the puppy should be capable of finding sheds on its own. Continue to reward the puppy whenever it retrieves a shed.

References

• Doug Coleman; shed hunter and dog trainer; Lewiston, Idaho
• "Shed Hunting;" Joe Shead; 2006

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish