JRT nimega Ruudi: september 2010

laupäev, september 25, 2010

Blood tracking - first steps

So, finally, today I took the time to "properly" train blood tracking with Ruudi. We have participated in several courses and trainings but I have been so lazy to do it properly myself. Well OK, I have done 10 m tracks with him for a simple treat but....

...now I took the roe deer sking with a head (that I shot a week ago), marked down the track (by just dragging it on the ground) about 80 m total length with one change of direction about 80 degrees. The german Schweißhundstation said that the track MUST be at least 4 hours old but I have to admit that I used it after two hours. And it was visible that the smell was too strong for Ruudi. First I tried to command him with two separate commands "track" and "search" because he doesn't know the "track" command but knows the "search" command. But he instantly started searching and was even too fast and keen for a blood tracking dog. But I was so happy to see that he didn't only smell the air but also smelled the ground quite a lot. The next time I will let the track age at least 4 hours or more because there was still quite a lot of cent in the air but I want him to understand that in the "real life" he can get the reliable information only from the the ground.

So he started searching very fast while being on a leash about 7 m. That 7 m leash seemed to be too short. Again, the German guy was right, the leash has to be very long - and it is the most important part connecting the dog and the master. It is like an umbilical cord. I realised it now - the dog can freely run in the perimeter but he still has the feeling that he has to work with you. It was a brilliant way to keep Ruudi "on the track" without guiding, commanding or telling anything that would ruin the whole meaning of searching. Basically Ruudi was a bit fast for a blood tracking dog but he was able to mark down the "resting place" at the turning and was able to follow the track until the prey.

All in all I was very happy how he worked together with me and found the prey. I have to get myself together and start doing it every weekend. I will reuse the roe deer skin next weekend. Next weekend is also start of the moose hunting season - very interesting times. And I also have one wild board leg in the deep freezer for more difficult tracks.

From Blogi pildid

Cranberries

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laupäev, september 18, 2010

First hunting experience

Today I finally had a change to go hunting. The plan was to go waiting in a tree stand and preferably meet roe deer, fox or raccoon dog. I took Ruudi with me to introduce tree stand to him and explain that he has to be SILENT in it - but nooooo.... if a raven passes by, he has to bark! Luckily I was able to shut him down by sayng that "Good, Ruudi, I noticed it, but now we have to be silent. OK?" And he somehow understood me and went to sleep. It is BOOOORING to wait in a treestant.

From Blogi pildid

But Ruudi only had less than an hour to sleep until one roe deer came with one youngster. Usually roe deer has two childs but that one had lost one already. And when I started moving and aiming and my pulse was 200 - Ruudi has to bark!!?? Damn that dog! "Good Ruudi, be silent now" And the old roe deer looked at my direction and I was sure the next minit she is running but.... luckily she cooled down. At last I was able to make my shot and hit the young. I went down and let Ruudi to run forward to the killed animal and Ruudi almost missed it but still, a meter far from the prey he suddenly smelled it (surprise!). And then he acted like it was him who shot the deer :)

From Blogi pildid

Back at home of course we had to skin and cut the animal. Ruudi got a piece of liver and the whole heart but that was already enough for him because he was "helping" me in the whole proccess and you cannot say to a cook or chef that you cannot eat that you are doing.