Ridgeback - starting to become almost useful

I have been getting my Ridgeback onto becoming a deer dog. Not because they're great pointers or classic deer dogs but because he's my dog and he might as well be as useful as he can be. It's also entertainment for me, and a bit of pleasant company.

We started out about 6 months old having my mate go 100m ahead and shoot a deer while I stated with the dog to make sure he wasn't freaked out. Then we let him find the animal and rewarded him. Next day we did it again - but just behind the shooter. He figured out that "bang" means "deer" and this is an exciting noise. He's definitely not gun shy.

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I've been trying to get him onto deer every month or two, and he's now 13 months and onto #7. He has rushed at a few but got a telling off and last weekend he sort of pointed at the ones he saw - he's figured it out! He was a bit miffed at me as I didn't want to shoot any hinds with fawns so we passed everything up until we found a spiker.

Awesome, nice to see a ridgeback in NZ :thumbsup:

Awesome!! Not the dog but the handler!! Good skills LB :D

Nice ridge

Low box, there is a South African breed called "boerboel" - imagine a Rottweiler but St Bernard size

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When you cross a ridgy and one of them, you get IMHO the best dog in the world :D

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Pup, about the size of a german sheperd...

Shizer, thats one huge dog!

Great stuff, having a mate in the bush by your side is just as good or better than one thats great at hunting. A bit of company is all you can ask for

Good stuff Low box.

I bet the "boerboel" could eat a few burglars and still be hungry.

Nice one. Was this the weekend just been?
I think my sister came round to yours on Saturday while you were out.

That would be correct - Hope she gets the pack to you for Xmas!