Thread: Is the Deer Dog Blueprint any good?

Originally Posted by stug

I use the blueprint with my dog and take her bow hunting. It is a bit of a mission with both a dog and a bow, but she has got me close to several deer I would have walked past other wise. She has only cost me one deer when she scragged a possum as we stalked in on a stag.
I just signed up for the monthly version of the blueprint, don’t know if he still does that.

How useful do you find the dog with bow hunting? I know the dog will track and indicate the same as if you were using a firearm but how do you find having to get so much closer to shot with the bow whilst you have the dog present?

No problems so far, she has got me close to deer I would have walked past otherwise, or given me a heads up earlier than if it was just me.
Watch Avidhunter on YouTube he has a few vids of bow hunting with his Vizslas.

Originally Posted by BobbyP

How useful do you find the dog with bow hunting? I know the dog will track and indicate the same as if you were using a firearm but how do you find having to get so much closer to shot with the bow whilst you have the dog present?

With the right training one option is to get the dog to sit with a hand signal while you move in closer. I have sit, lie down, and come hand signals for my dog

Originally Posted by stug

No problems so far, she has got me close to deer I would have walked past otherwise, or given me a heads up earlier than if it was just me.
Watch Avidhunter on YouTube he has a few vids of bow hunting with his Vizslas.

Yeah I saw his vids of him with his Vizslas and it looks like a good combo. As Stagstalker mentioned: it's hard to find a lot of good info on training hunting dogs for newbies like myself but finding info on bow hunting with dogs seems to be even harder

Originally Posted by Cigar

With the right training one option is to get the dog to sit with a hand signal while you move in closer. I have sit, lie down, and come hand signals for my dog

Do you know if this is something that the Deer Dog Blueprint teaches?

Originally Posted by BobbyP

Do you know if this is something that the Deer Dog Blueprint teaches?

I'm pretty sure it is in there, but it's pretty easy to teach. Lots of practice, starting with verbal commands, then adding the hand signals, then drop the verbal command. The hardest bit is getting the dog to stay (quietly!) until you give the release signal

Training for bow hunting is really no different to training for bush stalking with a rifle.

Originally Posted by Elrond

I’m training my first dog using this approach and keen to avoid losing the joy of Bruce’s mental Labrador personality.
What’s you advice to avoid getting a robotic pup.

How far along the course are you and how are you finding it?

Originally Posted by Elrond

His stop is is very good, recall steady with room for improvement, struggling a wee bit with range when he gets on a scent.
Firearm exposure excellent.
I’m learning as I go which is probably slowing his progress a little, but I. Find it easy to follow and it makess sense.
Going to get him into the bush very soon and see what happens.

right..so stop dog...THEN recall....if goes to move off, STOP again...its your get out of jail card...USE IT. same with range,stop him till you catch up,then nudge him onwards.Meg plays this as a game...she will go 10 yards,stop,look at me,walk forward,stop look again over n over again...its like she egging me on telling me she KNOWS how far is ok....bit harder when on hot scent and VERY hard when deer are moving,making noise.....
the first rule...the last rule..the most important rule...ALWAYS trust the dog...ALWAYS go and see what dog wants to show you ALWAYS.... if its not what you are after.a firm "leave it" and carry on....

Originally Posted by Elrond

I’m training my first dog using this approach and keen to avoid losing the joy of Bruce’s mental Labrador personality.
What’s you advice to avoid getting a robotic pup.

let go of the reins as soon as you can..whenever you can..... MAYBE put on dog coat = work... no coat= walkies and can just relax..... maybe...

Originally Posted by stug

Training for bow hunting is really no different to training for bush stalking with a rifle.

The training might not be, but there is a significant difference in shooting an animal on alert with a bow compared with a rifle.

Where a well place rifle shot will lead to a very short distance before an animal that was on alert drops, the same animal shot with an arrow might run twice as far. Since you have a dog , in either case is does not matter too much since the tracking will be done by the dog.
The problem is that an animal on high alert can dodge an arrow but not a bullet. In the best case the arrow misses completely, in the worse case it is a gut shot wound which can lead to hours before the animal dies. Andin quite a few videos you can see that the deer being indicated is already looking toward the dog or the hunter or both before being shot. Ok with a rifle, not ideal with a bow. So if you go with a bow, pick your shots.

Originally Posted by Friwi

The training might not be, but there is a significant difference in shooting an animal on alert with a bow compared with a rifle.

Where a well place rifle shot will lead to a very short distance before an animal that was on alert drops, the same animal shot with an arrow might run twice as far. Since you have a dog , in either case is does not matter too much since the tracking will be done by the dog.
The problem is that an animal on high alert can dodge an arrow but not a bullet. In the best case the arrow misses completely, in the worse case it is a gut shot wound which can lead to hours before the animal dies. Andin quite a few videos you can see that the deer being indicated is already looking toward the dog or the hunter or both before being shot. Ok with a rifle, not ideal with a bow. So if you go with a bow, pick your shots.

That's something else that I'm wondering that you've brought up: is it worth while using a dog whilst hunting with a bow? I know the act of the dog tracking an animal is exactly the same whether you're carrying a rifle or a bow but does the dog make it harder due the range differences between the rifle and the bow?

Originally Posted by BobbyP

That's something else that I'm wondering that you've brought up: is it worth while using a dog whilst hunting with a bow? I know the act of the dog tracking an animal is exactly the same whether you're carrying a rifle or a bow but does the dog make it harder due the range differences between the rifle and the bow?

Don't see why it would make a difference if you've set your dog up to hunt the tight stuff which is where the dog really shines anyhow, I've shot (with a rifle) most of the deer my dog has put me onto at less than 30 or so yds anyhow which is bow hunting ranges

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Don't see why it would make a difference if you've set your dog up to hunt the tight stuff which is where the dog really shines anyhow, I've shot (with a rifle) most of the deer my dog has put me onto at less than 30 or so yds anyhow which is bow hunting ranges

Thanks for that. This sort of info is really handy, as it's coming from you guys that've already done this sorta thing as where I'm just making guesses

Originally Posted by Jake77

Did it with my first hunting dog, great to steer you in the right direction if you are starting from scratch. I find it hard to make the training stick with the kids and wife doing everything you shouldn’t but still pretty good results overall.

How do you find it with a Mrs and kids? I've got a Mrs and I'm a farther of 3, so there's plenty of distractions in my house. Plus, as you mentioned, plenty of people who will not be treating the dog the way the system teaches you to. Have you found the Mrs and kids interacting with dog in a way that differs from the system to be detrimental to getting the dog through the program and is it worth using this system when you have others in the house with the dog?