A good hunting dog always has his nose pointed at the ground when he is out. This expression is especially true for "hounds". If you wish to hunt raccoons, make sure you have a dog trained to do so, a "Raccoon Dog", such as the Red Bone, Blue Tick or English Coonhound. After teaching him the basic commands as a puppy, it shouldn't be too difficult to teach him to hunt and in a short time you will have fun outdoors together.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Teaching Basic Commands
Step 1. Enroll your puppy in an obedience class to learn the basic commands
Step 2. Practice basic commands, such as "sit", "stop", "come" on a leash
Repeat the commands until you get the correct behavior. It may take several attempts.
Step 3. Remove the leash and continue practicing the commands
Again, keep practicing it until the behavior is always the same.
Step 4. Take your puppy for long walks every day and practice the commands
This will help him bond with you, get him used to not giving in to the distractions of being outdoors, helping him focus on your commands.
Method 2 of 4: Teaching to Follow a Smell: Begins at about 3 months of age
Step 1. Bring a raccoon-smelling carcass or sack onto your property
Step 2. Tie the carcass or sack to a tree so that the pup begins to associate the animal with the trees
Step 3. Change the route every day, always ending at the tree
Step 4. Reward and praise the puppy every time he takes you to the tree
Step 5. Trap a live raccoon and let the cub scrutinize it, after successfully following its scent trail
Step 6. Release the raccoon in an open field with some, but not too many, trees
Step 7. Release the cub when the raccoon is out of reach
Step 8. Observe how the cub follows the raccoon's trail to a tree
Step 9. Praise him when he does it correctly
Method 3 of 4: Desensitize the Pup to the shots
Step 1. Place your puppy safely in the crate
Step 2. Place the pet carrier outdoors
Step 3. Fire a couple of shotgun rounds at a target opposite the carrier
Never shoot a weapon in the air.
Step 4. Pay attention to the puppy's reaction to the loud noise
If he appears frightened, move a little further away from him and repeat the exercise. Calm him, say encouraging words and reward him.
The alternative is to have someone else shoot and give the puppy a toy or a treat in the meantime. He will associate loud noise with something positive and are less likely to be frightened
Step 5. Repeat this exercise for several days or until the puppy is no longer frightened by the noise
Method 4 of 4: A True Hunter: Always at Night
Step 1. Take the puppy to his first raccoon hunt when he is about 8 months old
Step 2. Also bring an older and more experienced raccoon dog with you, so that the younger one can follow him; in this way the puppy will learn from the oldest
Step 3. Take your puppy on a hunt alone when you feel he is ready to hunt without the support of another dog
Advice
- Raccoons eat a variety of grains and grains such as corn, acorns, frogs, and fish. Try hunting in territories where these products are present.
- When you trap a live raccoon, the cub should be very interested in the captured animal. If it isn't, keep training it with smell.
- Always check that the dog has clean ears before the hunt.
- An experienced dog will teach your puppy a lot of things in the course of a proper hunt. By imitating the older dog, the puppy will gain more confidence.
- Another training method is to take the puppy to a "hot track". For example, if your neighbor has problems with raccoons on his property, you can take advantage of this opportunity to train your puppy.
- Always reward the puppy whenever his behavior is correct. Never punish him for bad behavior.
Things You Will Need:
- Raccoon dog puppy
- Collar and leash
- Raccoon carcass or scent
- Carrier
- Live animal trap
- Shotgun
- Rewards for the dog
