Australian Shepherds are a breed of dog known for their intelligence and versatility. They are often used as working dogs in a variety of different capacities, including herding livestock, hunting, tracking, and search and rescue. Australian Shepherds can be trained to do just about anything! In this article, we will explore the possibility of training your Australian Shepherd to hunt.
Can Australian Shepherds Hunt?
Yes, Australian Shepherds can make great hunting dogs due to their high levels of intelligence, near-unlimited energy levels, and constant eagerness to please their owner.
Can An Australian Shepherd Become Your Primary Hunting Dog?
Due to the fact that Australian Shepherds are bred to herd, be active, and listen well to commands, Australian Shepherds typically have what it takes to make a great hunting dog. Aussies are loyal, compassionate, and passionate about making sure you’re happy with them. If you put in the time, effort, and energy into training your Australian Shepherd, it can become your go-to hunting dog.
If you’re serious about training your Australian Shepherd to hunt with you, expect to put in about 6 months of consistent training with your Aussie. The day-to-day might be challenging, but it will result in a well-trained Australian Shepherd who will listen to your commands and happily assist you in your hunting needs.
What Does A Hunting Dog Normally Do?
The most common type of hunting dog is a bird dog. A bird dog’s main purpose is to flush out game birds from hiding so that the hunter can shoot them. Australian Shepherds have the stamina and athleticism to do this type of work.
Can An Aussie Track & Retrieve a Prey?
If you want your Australian Shepherd to become a hunting dog, then teaching them how to track and retrieve prey is a necessary skill. Australian Shepherds are bred to have a strong sense of smell, so this should not be too difficult for them to learn. You will need to invest in some training aids, such as dummies or birds, to help your Australian Shepherd learn this skill.
Australian Shepherds are also bred to be very athletic, so they should have no problem running after and retrieving prey. Again, you will need to invest in some training aids to help your Australian Shepherd learn this skill.
Hunting Ducks & Geese
One of the most popular types of hunting is waterfowl hunting. Australian Shepherds are well-suited for this type of hunting because they are bred to be good swimmers.
If you want to train your Australian Shepherd to hunt ducks and geese, you will need to invest in some training aids, such as dummies or birds. You will also need to find a place where you can do some hunting with your Australian Shepherd. Waterfowl hunting is a popular type of hunting, so there are likely to be many places where you can do this.
Hunting Pheasants
Another popular type of hunting is pheasant hunting. Australian Shepherds are well-suited for this type of hunting because they are bred to be good trackers.
Other Small Game
Australian Shepherds can also be trained to hunt other small game, such as rabbits and squirrels.
Deer Hunting
Believe it or not, Australian Shepherds can also be trained to hunt deer.! Deer hunting is a popular type of hunting, so there are likely to be many places where you can do this.
Hunting Related Skills to Teach Your Australian Shepherd
Listening To Commands
One of the most important skills that you will need to teach your Australian Shepherd is to listen to commands. Australian Shepherds are bred to be intelligent and versatile, so they should be able to learn this skill relatively easily.
Sit
One of the first commands that you should teach your Australian Shepherd is “sit.” This command is important because it will be used frequently when you are hunting.
Stay
Another important command that you should teach your Australian Shepherd is “stay.” This command is important because it will keep your Australian Shepherd from running off after prey.
Come
Another important command that you should teach your Australian Shepherd is “come.” This command is important because it will bring your Australian Shepherd back to you if they run off.
Down
Another important command that you should teach your Australian Shepherd is “down.” This command is important because it will keep your Australian Shepherd from getting up and running around while you are hunting.
Heel
Another important command that you should teach your Australian Shepherd is “heel.” This command is important because it will keep your Australian Shepherd from getting ahead of you while you are hunting.
Tracking Prey
One of the most important skills that you will need to teach your Australian Shepherd is to track prey. Australian Shepherds are bred to have a strong sense of smell, so this should not be too difficult for them to learn. To help your Australian Shepherd master this talent, you’ll need to invest in training aids like dummies or birds. Because Australian Shepherds are bred to be very athletic, they should have no trouble chasing and capturing prey. You’ll also need some training equipment to teach your Australian Shepherd this task.
Prey Retrieval
Yet another important skill that you will need to teach your Australian Shepherd is prey retrieval. Australian Shepherds are bred to be good swimmers, so they should have no problem retrieving prey from the water.
You’ll likely need to invest in training equipment, such as dummies or birds, to assist your Australian Shepherd to learn this talent. Australian Shepherds are also bred to be very athletic, so they should have no trouble chasing and fetching prey. You will also need to spend money on some training aids to enable your Australian Shepherd to learn this new skill.
5 Ways to Train An Australian Shepherd to Hunt
1. Brace Method:
The brace method is a popular technique used to train bird dogs. At a glance, this method involves two hunters working together with their dogs. One hunter will flush out the game bird while the other hunter stands ready to shoot it. The dog that flushed out the bird will then be rewarded with a treat.
The Brace method is a unique one, leveraging an already well-trained hunting dog to help train a less-trained hunting dog. Those who are interested in this method should start by introducing their Aussie to a more experienced, well-trained hunting dog. Bring both dogs to an open area and begin to follow you and the other dog around, introducing the environment, expectations, and related to your Aussie. Start taking your Aussie on hunts once a week and start to slow train them through the bracing of the more-experienced dog.
If you’d like more about the brace method, WagWalking.com has a great article about it.
2. The Force Fetch Method:
AKA force-breaking, 6he force fetch method is a popular technique used to train retrievers. This method involves teaching your dog to fetch an object on command. Once your dog has mastered this skill, you can then begin to teach them how to track and retrieve prey.
The goal of the method is to teach your dog to hold and carry an object on the command Fetch (or Hold), release it on the command Give (or Leave it or Out or Drop), and then reach for and pick up the item on the word Fetch. This method is really not that complicated, it really focused on the fundamental skills of hunting, which are utterly important.
If you’d like more about the brace method, DeltaWaterFowl.com has a great article about it.
3. The E-Collar Method:
The e-collar method is a popular technique used to train hunting dogs. This method involves using an electronic collar to train your dog. The e-collar will emit a sound or vibration when the dog is not performing the desired behavior. This method may be used to teach your Australian Shepherd to track and retrieve animals.
The E-collar method is a unique one, as it allows you to quickly (and easily) provide positive or negative feedback to your Australian Shepherd. This can help accelerate the learning curve in many instances. However, this method only really helps if your Australian Shepherd can understand the collar itself and what messages you’re trying to convey with it. Always spend time introducing your furry friend to the collar, and do your best to ensure he or she clearly understands good vs bad feedback via the collar.
Dogtra has an amazing write-up if you’d like to read more about the E-Collar method.
4. Freedom Method:
The freedom method is a popular technique used to train hunting dogs. This method involves giving your dog the freedom to roam and hunt as they please. This method can be used to train your Australian Shepherd to track and retrieve prey.
The freedom method is one that is best used for Australian Shepherds who are already good listeners. The Freedom method consists of bringing your Australian shepherd to a large open land (simulate hunting environment), using a rope to tie up an already hunted animal, allowing your dog to pick up on the scent. From there, you can work your way towards hiding the prey and allowing your Aussie to track it down using their unique sense of smell.
A lot of hunters like to add on a simple “speak” command such that your Aussie barks when he or she ultimately finds the prey.
5. Tracking Method:
The tracking method is a popular technique used to train hunting dogs. This method involves teaching your dog to follow a scent trail. After your dog has learned these abilities, you may teach them how to track and collect prey.
Typical Hunt Training Gear For An Aussie
Training an Australian shepherd to hunt with you can be a challenge. Below are a number of related products that can further help assist with training your furry friend to be ready for hunting season.
Jackets
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Training Tools
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GPS Tracking
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are Herding Dogs Generally Considered Good Hunting Dogs?
Yes, herding dogs are generally considered good hunting dogs. Australian Shepherds are a breed of herding dog, so they fall into this category. Even If you consider yourself a beginner or intermediate hunter, an Australian Shepherd may be trained to be your loyal, furry companion to hunt dog while you’re out on the hunt.
Do Australian Shepherds Have a Strong Prey Drive?
Yes, Australian Shepherds have a strong prey drive. This is one of the reasons why they make such good hunting dogs. If you are planning on training your Australian Shepherd to hunt, then you will need to invest in some training aids, such as dummies or birds, to help them learn this skill.
How Do I Know If My Australian Shepherd Is Ready to Hunt?
Australian Shepherds are a breed of dog known for their intelligence and versatility. They are often used as working dogs in a variety of different capacities, including herding livestock, hunting, tracking, and search and rescue. Australian Shepherds can be trained to do just about anything! In this article, we will explore the possibility of training your Australian Shepherd to hunt.
Conclusion
Australian Shepherds are a breed of dog known for their intelligence and versatility. They are often used as working dogs in a variety of different capacities, including herding livestock, hunting, tracking, and search and rescue. Australian Shepherds can be trained to do just about anything – including hunting. If you enjoy hunting and want the help of your Australian Shepherd, consider teaching them how to hunt using one or more of the above training methods.
