Gundog Training Forum

Any tips on adding scent to a dummy or ball out of season when you don’t have any game to hand?

Had anyone used those scent sticks or liquids please?

Thanks

Lloyd

If you already have them they probably do no harm. If you need to buy them don’t bother. I was given a full set of these years ago when training a pup. I found they made zero difference to the pups interest and excitement on dummies and no difference how well she found them. She was as happy finding and fetching ones with only the scent of my hand as the ones loaded with “pheasant juice”. I think their noses are so good they never really confuse the scent of real game with a commercial product.

Spit on your hands and rub it on your balls
Another good source is road kill if you see it knocked over first thing or early morning. Around here occasionally a rabbit may be bowled over and get some use out of it.
Failing that we have a dedicated game freezer, contains most species we will likely have contact with.
Pheasant hens and cocks, partridge, hare, rabbit, pigeon, woodcock, snipe, duck and a teal.
And all ways fire a starter pistol in your bag with top pulled over.

Springcopse spaniels wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:28 am Spit on your hands and rub it on your balls

Before Dawnrazor asks am I on the wrong forum?

I think you are! Lets just say my dogs have no bother finding retrieve articles... make of that what you will.

Nickheref wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:50 pm

Springcopse spaniels wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:28 am Spit on your hands and rub it on your balls

Before Dawnrazor asks am I on the wrong forum?

Just cant beat that feeling though, watching a bitch hunting for your balls in the long grass, especially in low light. Makes them work harder for it

I dont understand this but surely if the dog lacks the drive towards dummies and needs the scent..... then surely by that logic it will then associate the scent to the dummy and the same lack of drive will apply?

I would imagine an unwashed dummy will have enough random scents all over it that most dogs who get the game of dummies and receiving dont need the extra scent?

Rough_mut wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 9:16 pm I dont understand this but surely if the dog lacks the drive towards dummies and needs the scent..... then surely by that logic it will then associate the scent to the dummy and the same lack of drive will apply?

I would imagine an unwashed dummy will have enough random scents all over it that most dogs who get the game of dummies and receiving dont need the extra scent?

He doesn’t lack drive on dummies, or a ball, when thrown he will furiously dive into cover these days to get the retrieve.

In this context I’m talking about setting him off hunting with no seen incentive.

When he’s on scent he hunts much better, hence I thought adding some scent and hiding ball/dummy when he’s not around and then hunting him there later would be good for training. When going into a test or trial the vast majority of points should come from hunting so the dog needs to be a furious hunter and the receiving is just a bonus.

And that is why you should always hunt your dog on real scent.
Nothing else will be any of use, these scent stick are a waste of money.
If your struggling to find scented ground this time of year your better off avoiding that part of training until September partridge days 9r going out 4am ir 10pm to find the odd rabbit scent. No good hunting dogs after 6am or before 8pm in the summer.
Rabbit pens have limitations and should merely be used for steadiness work not a substitute.
As you state, in tests or trials hunting features highly in the points.
But bare in mind hunting can win it, retrieving can loose it. It has to be a whole package.

Lloyd90 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 9:28 pm

Rough_mut wrote: ↑Tue Jun 04, 2019 9:16 pm I dont understand this but surely if the dog lacks the drive towards dummies and needs the scent..... then surely by that logic it will then associate the scent to the dummy and the same lack of drive will apply?

I would imagine an unwashed dummy will have enough random scents all over it that most dogs who get the game of dummies and receiving dont need the extra scent?

He doesn’t lack drive on dummies, or a ball, when thrown he will furiously dive into cover these days to get the retrieve.

In this context I’m talking about setting him off hunting with no seen incentive.

When he’s on scent he hunts much better, hence I thought adding some scent and hiding ball/dummy when he’s not around and then hunting him there later would be good for training. When going into a test or trial the vast majority of points should come from hunting so the dog needs to be a furious hunter and the receiving is just a bonus.

Ahhh now I get what you mean.

I've never tried scent for that but what I can say with mine is there Is a big difference when mine gets birdy, to when hes hunting for a ball.

If you disguise the ball as a bird, he will know the difference?

I don't think given the sense of smell a dog has that they cant tell the difference if you know what I mean?

I have a spot near me that has a couple of 'wild' pheasants but it's a massive area and he knows there will be something there but he normally has to hunt the entire hill side to find them, he goes birdh as soon as I take him there but I don't do it often.

I have got mine hunting for tennis ball but just tend to throw one in cover when hes not looking and give him the get on command, the dog soon figures out get on = something somewhere so hunt.

On gamey ground or ground with scent I would hope most spaniels do it without being told, and wont stop even when told