How To Train Your Dog To Find Antler Sheds

Dogs are considered mans best friend for a number of reasons; they are loyal, loving, and can be trained to do amazing things. Police departments use them to locate narcotics, firearms, and explosives with their keen sense of smell. But did you know that dogs can be trained to help you find antler sheds as well? If you're interested in training your dog to find antlers, continue reading and I'll tell you how you can train them to become your new favorite shed hunting buddy.

Benefits of Using a Dog To Find Antlers

• The sense of smell a dog has is far superior to that of a humans. Using their smell, they can locate shed antlers that you and me would otherwise never be able to find.
• Dogs are able to get into thick, dense brush to retrieve antlers.
• It's a heck of a lot more fun taking a dog with you to hunt for sheds than doing it alone!

My Antler Hunting Lab

Let me first start off by saying that I'm not a professional dog trainer and when I got my Golden Labrador Retriever, Jesse, I had no intentions on training her to become a shed hunting dog. In fact, I wasn't even aware people trained their dogs to find antlers. Not long after getting her, one of my hunting buddies saw my dog and was telling me about how he had seen someone train their Lab to sniff out sheds in the woods. I thought I might as well try and train Jeese.

After talking with some people who trained their dogs to find antlers, and scouring the internet for advice on training Labradors, I had a good idea of what was needed to train her. What I didn't know, though, was just how quickly she would catch on. Now, Jesse goes on every antler hunt I go on and is almost certain to find more sheds than I do.

What Breeds are The Best Shed Hunters?

I've only trained my Lab, Jesse, to find sheds, so I really can't say what the best shed hunting breed is. I do know Labrador Retreivers are one of the most popular breeds for this because of their intelligence, sense of smell, and ability to obey commands. I've also heard that Daschunds can be trained to be effective shed hunters. The most important thing, though, is making sure your dog will obey and follow your commands in the woods. You don't want your dog running off chasing animals, as this can be dangerous for them.

The Basics of Training

Before you start, you're going to need lots of treats and lots of  antlers. You can either go out and try to find some sheds in the woods, or you can buy them online. Try to get ones that are fresh and not completely sun bleached or dried out. Old antlers are likely to have lost most of their scent, making it difficult for your dog to locate them by smell.

Step One

You'll want to give your dog antlers as early as possible to get them used to the look, feel, and scent that they give off. This will be one of the keys to successfully training your dog to find antlers. Try tossing some deer antler sheds out in the yard and say a command, such as "go get it" or "get the antlers". If your dog obeys your command and retrieves the antler, give them a treat followed by lots of petting and praise. Positive reinforcement goes a long ways when it comes to dog training.

Don't worry if your dog wont immediately go after the antler. You may need to get them used to playing with it by putting it under their nose and trying to entice them to be in a playful mood. This shouldn't be hard, though. Most dogs will grow fond of playing antlers pretty quickly.

Step Two

Once you've got your dog accustomed to antlers, try going into the woods and hiding them throughout. Place them underneath some leaves about 30 to 40 yards apart and tell your dog the fetch command that you've been training them with. If they don't immediately go after the antlers, which they probably won't on their first try, just walk over to the areas with the antlers and see if your dog can sense it. When they've found it, them a treat and lots of praise. Keep doing this once a day and you should see start to see improvements in how fast your dog is able to uncover the antlers.

Step Three

Once your dog has some training under their belt, it's time to take them out on a real antler hunt with you. Just go about your search as you normally would, walking down trails and scanning your surroundings. Hopefully, your dog will pick up on a scent and follow it. If they find an antler, continue with the rewarding and praise. If you see an antler that your dog doesn't, say the fetch command and let them uncover it.

That's really all there is to training your dog to find antlers. Just keep taking your dog out there on your hunts and give them the time and chance to find the sheds. Keep rewarding your dog when they make a find and before you know it, your dog will be uncovering sheds left and right.

Tips For Training Your Dog To Find Antlers

• Always be positive and reward your dog with a treat and praise when they find an antler. If they don't find anything, don't punish or scold them.
• Keep your training sessions short. Typically, 20 to 30 minute sessions per day is more than enough needed to train.
• Let your dog play with antlers and use them as chew toys. Not only will this allow them to get used to the antlers, but antlers are loaded in beneficial nutrients like calcium.
• Always keep your dog in sight and if they run too far away, call them back. It can be dangerous for your dog to chase after animals in the woods.
• If you haven't already, you may want to train your dog basic commands, such as sit, stay, and come. This will help ensure your dog is obedient and will obey your commands when you're out in the woods.